Dog-Friendly Travel Across the U.S.

Dog-Friendly Destinations and Travel Tips for You and Your Dog

At Seconds to Go, we believe that most adventures are better when our dogs can come along. So, we are always on the lookout for dog-friendly destinations and tips that make traveling with dogs easier. We even keep a running list of the best dog gear we discover, so you can make those trips go a little smoother.

Dog Gear Reviews

Puppy sleeps on a road trip knowing that he has everything he needs in his dog gear travel bag.
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Dog Gear Travel Bag Essentials: Protecting Fido from Head to Tail on Your Journey

By Kathleen Hesketh | February 11, 2020

When it comes to traveling, I often go out of my way to find places that welcome my dog, Nemo. That can mean carrying around a hefty dog gear travel bag. Over the years, I’ve collected a wide assortment of gear meant to simplify my excursions and protect my dog from head to tail. Some … Read more

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Dog-Friendly Destinations

dogs walking at MInto Brown Island State Park
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Explore Minto Brown Island Park: The Most Dog-Friendly Place in Salem

By Ali Patton | March 16, 2023

Minto Brown Island State Park is the perfect dog lover’s paradise. This riverfront West Salem park offers walking, hiking, jogging, and swimming, all with the option to take man’s best friend with you! The Search for Dog Friendly Parks at the Halfway Point When I stumbled upon Minto Island Brown Park in Salem, I was … Read more

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Royal Terrace falls on the McDowell Creek Falls trail
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McDowell Creek Falls- A Mythical Oregon Hike

By Ali Patton | January 25, 2023

McDowell Creek Falls Oregon is a moderate hike located north of Sweet Home. It features beautiful forest views and serene boardwalk stairs leading to the base and summit of two waterfalls. Oregon Hike Views For us, the McDowell Creek Falls trail started out in a small gravel parking lot at the Royal Terrace Trailhead in … Read more

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girl and golden retriever look inside Dover Stone Church
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Dover Stone Church, Our Gateway to New York’s Abandoned History

By Kathleen Hesketh | January 22, 2023

As the fall laid down a blanket of leaves and blazed in glorious colors, it seemed a strange time to leave New England, but New York state is a magnificent bastion of historical references all rolled into one endless sweep of stunning terrain. And it’s just over the Connecticut border, where a place called Dover … Read more

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Top Pet-Friendly Vacation Destinations in Oregon, The Most Dog-Friendly State in the Union

By Kathleen Hesketh | October 5, 2022

If you’re like us, you’re always seeking new pet-friendly vacations, restaurants, and specially, pet-friendly hotels. We always find ourselves hunting for dog friendly places in Oregon and New England because, after all, going on an adventure just isn’t the same without your dog. And if you’re like us, you also know that pet-friendly vacations and … Read more

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tokatee falls cascading down the rocks with bright blue water
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Toketee Falls Trail in Oregon and the Hunt for a Red Toyota

By Ali Patton | March 8, 2022

By far, one of our favorite waterfalls is Toketee Falls in Oregon. Water, in shades of green and blue crystal, cascades over a sheer basalt cliff, falling into not just one, but two turbulent turquoise pools. The Toketee Falls trail winds through stone staircases and the most elaborate treetop trail before it finally gives up … Read more

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a historic home in a field located at Fort Hoskins
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Fort Hoskins Hiking Trail – Oregon History Hidden in the Valley

By Ali Patton | March 4, 2022

Oregon’s Willamette Valley is known for its endless hiking opportunities, many of which are intertwined with rich Oregon history. Fort Hoskins sits nestled into the valley, as a little-known historical secret. If you are planning an Oregon vacation, you may want to add this hidden gem to your list. Fort Hoskins History Originally created to … Read more

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Waterfall at Drift Creek Falls with suspension bridge in the background
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Drift Creek Falls Hike- Oregon’s Most Surprising Hike

By Ali Patton | March 2, 2022

The Drift Creek Falls hike winds through a dense, damp forest. Ferns carpet the ground, blanketing everything in shades of green. As you walk, the hike may seem to be leading you in endless circles, but soon enough, the forest’s secret is revealed. About Drift Creek Falls Located in Oregon’s Siuslaw National Forest, this 3 … Read more

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rows of different colored tulips at wooden shoe tulip festival
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Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival 2022- Not Your Typical Tulip Patch

By Ali Patton | February 4, 2022

The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival 2022 is not your grandmother’s tulip patch! This Oregon tulip festival boasts 40 acres of rainbow tulips with snow-peaked mountains as the backdrop. Beautiful doesn’t even begin to explain the sights here. If you are looking for things to do in Oregon in the spring, look no further! Our Journey … Read more

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Garibaldi Train Stattion on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad
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Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad Review: See More, Travel the Old-Fashioned Way

By Ali Patton | April 20, 2021

If you need a relaxing way to see the Oregon Coast while visiting Oregon, or if you have a kiddo that is obsessed with trains, The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad is for you and your family! The railway features a historical authentic Oregon steam train which takes you along the Coast and shorelines from Garibaldi … Read more

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Hiking McLean Game Refuge: 2 Trails That Will Make You Want to Visit This Small Connecticut Town

By Kathleen Hesketh | June 21, 2020

“I want the [McClean] game refuge to be a place where some of the things God made may be seen by those who love them, as I loved them, and who may find in them the peace of mind and body that I have found.” From the will of Sen. George McLean.   The small Connecticut town … Read more

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Abandoned Becket Quarry, the Land that Time Forgot

By Kathleen Hesketh | February 4, 2020

Heading out for a hike in the snow can be an adventure in and of itself, but searching out abandoned Massachusetts quarries adds an extra element of mystery. That’s particularly true when the destination is one where the workers walked off the job and left everything just as it was at quitting time. Welcome to … Read more

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Young woman and golden retriever walk in front of Hearthstone Castle ruins
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Seeking the Abandoned Ruins of Hearthstone Castle

By Kathleen Hesketh | January 15, 2020

Hearthstone castle is a less a trip than it is an exploration. For us, it tied some peculiar history into an outdoor adventure that left us a bit nostalgic for the past. Setting out for Hearthstone Castle in Danbury, Connecticut If you know much about Connecticut, you’ve probably heard of Danbury. It’s one of the … Read more

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Travel blogger, Ali Patton, poses with mascot Nemo in a cave at Chatfield Hollow State Park in Connecticut
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The Secrets Surrounding Chatfield Hollow State Park

By Ali Patton | May 9, 2019

DISCLAIMER: Our posts may contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, you won’t pay a penny more, but we’ll get a small commission, which helps to keep the lights on. Thanks! Chatfield Hollow State Park, with water wheels and trails that lead to old water mill ruins, is a must visit … Read more

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Cape Meares Lighthouse
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Cape Meares Lighthouse- A Seconds to Go Short

By Ali Patton | May 4, 2019

DISCLAIMER: Our posts may contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, you won’t pay a penny more, but we’ll get a small commission, which helps to keep the lights on. Thanks! 11 miles outside of Tillamook Oregon sits Cape Meares Lighthouse, offering beautiful views of the Pacific and a glimpse into … Read more

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Wreck of the Peter Iredale, Haunting Shipwreck on the Oregon Coast

By Kathleen Hesketh | March 24, 2019

The Oregon coast is home to rich and varied habitats as well as unique glimpses into history, and that’s where the wreck of the Peter Iredale fits right in. Resting on the Oregon Coast at Fort Stevens Where it couldn’t best the waters of the Pacific Ocean and the treacherous voyage into the mouth of … Read more

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Abandoned car in overgrown brush in beazell Memorial Forest
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Beazell Memorial Forest Hike Combines a Love Story with Beautiful Scenery

By Ali Patton | March 10, 2019

If you’re looking to explore a rare ecological area with a unique backstory, try a Beazell Memorial Forest hike in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Setting out for Our Beazell Memorial Forest Hike On a humid August Oregon morning, we grabbed the dog and made the short drive from Corvallis for a Beazell Memorial Forest hike. We … Read more

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Hiking Case Mountain in Manchester, Connecticut

By Kathleen Hesketh | March 1, 2019

Before going to Case Mountain, I never thought of hiking in Manchester Connecticut. Apparently, I was a member of a small minority unaware of Case Mountain’s history and splendid sites. Case Mountain: New England Hiking, History and Cliff-Top Views Fall color has been dim the last couple of years in Connecticut. Instead, we’ve been given autumn in fits and starts. … Read more

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Aussie dog standing in front of the Painted Hills
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Painted Hills- Created by Mother Nature’s Paintbrush

By Ali Patton | January 29, 2019

Rolling Hills in sunset colors spread across the desert landscape of the Painted Hills State Park, part of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. They offer a beautiful photo opportunity, but if you look closer, you’ll see much more than that. Painted Hills State Park History The Painted Hills, with their almost alien-like quality, … Read more

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Ice Glen Trail, Like Ireland in the Berkshires

By Kathleen Hesketh | January 27, 2019

DISCLAIMER: Our posts may contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, you won’t pay a penny more, but we’ll get a small commission, which helps to keep the lights on. Thanks! You can easily spend days driving the backroads of the Berkshires, slipping into a daydream, imagining what life would have … Read more

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Rock House Reservation: Visit Massachusetts’ Slot Canyon

By Kathleen Hesketh | January 15, 2019

Travel across New England is filled with surprises, particularly when you stumble across Rock House Reservation. I never expected to find the equivalent of a slot canyon (Think Zion National Park and southern Utah) in the woods of Central Massachusetts, but Rock House Reservation features a similar, if much smaller, geographical phenomenon. Exploring Rock House … Read more

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