Planning a Dog-Friendly Family Retreat

Posted by Billy Francis

Finding the perfect destination for your pet-friendly family retreat doesn’t have to be stressful. BringFido can help you find a great location with plenty of activities that’s big enough for everyone to make memories together. Book one of these incredible pet-friendly vacation rentals that are guaranteed to make your next family retreat hard to beat.

The Country Estate

“Let’s hope this fun game doesn’t result in another fight!” Photo by VRBO

Bring the whole pack for a long weekend together at this Tudor country estate that sleeps 16 in Marengo, IL. This 7,000-square-foot home is the centerpiece of a 28-acre private property designed with humans and canine guests in mind. Get up nice and early for a walk with your favorite furry family member on hiking trails that wind around 15 wooded acres, then stop off at one of two ponds for a dip. Let your pup and her cousins run free together in the two-acre fenced dog park behind the house. Canine visitors during winter will love the garage that has been converted into an enclosed recreation area with five dog beds, kennels, a dog wash station, a big screen with a subscription to Dog TV and doggy doors leading to a small fenced relief area and the larger dog park. Book a table for the pack on the pet-friendly patio at Old Republic Kitchen + Bar, and listen to live music while you catch up.

The Sweet Escape

“If these were tennis balls, this scene would be different.” Photo by @mud_puddles_2

Families heading to The Sunshine State for their next get-together will be blown away by The Sweet Escape, a dreamy five-acre mansion near Orlando. Whether you want to take a dip in the ice cream cone-shaped pool with a Hershey's chocolate water slide or take your canine caddy to the mini-golf course for a quick round, this sprawling property has enough space to accommodate up to 52 guests and a remarkable amount of amenities to keep everybody entertained. Inside, your pooch can sing soprano in the karaoke room, dive into the ball pit bedroom, help you figure out the on-site escape room or join you for a movie night at the indoor or outdoor theater. For more fun away from the house, go for a sunset tour nearby with Rusty Anchor Mount Dora.

Downtown Cabin

Your next family reunion is going to be lit. Photo by Airbnb

On your next family reunion to the pet-friendly Great Smoky Mountains, be sure to book The Hilltop Chalet for Fido and 16 of his two-legged family members. This multi-level home is ideal for people who want some breathing space from their loved ones on one of three expansive decks. Spend your days soaking in the hot tub, enjoying the view or watching Fido’s favorite flicks in the movie theater. Inside, the hardwood floors make for easy cleanup. When the sun starts to go down, gather around the fire pit outside and reminisce. If you’re looking for a family excursion, stock up on supplies at Apple Valley Mountain Village General Store and trot along the walking path that winds around the mountain town of Townsend.

Coastal Estate

Stomp in the sand. Photo by Airbnb

Make a pet-friendly stop along the California Coastal Trail in Half Moon Bay and relax with all your West Coast relatives at this beachfront coastal estate that sleeps 16. Here, you can share Pacific views while you cook grandma’s secret cookie recipe or make your own “Barkuterie board” for Fido in the spacious open-plan kitchen. Your furry best friend can soak up the sun in the large fenced backyard, then cool off next to a swinging chair under a shade tree. Wander up the coast to Half Moon Bay Brewing Company for a pint with your brother and his Beagle, and watch the pup take a dip in the ocean at Pillar Point Harbor.

May River House

“I see why they call it fishing, not catching.” Photo by Airbnb

Banish all cat people to the guest house reminiscent of “a cottage in the French countryside” when you meet up with your relatives at the May River House on your next family retreat in dog-friendly Savannah. Canine lovers can hang out with their hound in the gorgeous open-plan home with three expansive porches, a farmhouse dining room for family meals, a swimming pool, an outdoor grill and a pizza oven. Outside, your pooch can join you for an off-leash walk on the property’s winding nature trails with views of the May River, and get out on the water in a complimentary canoe or kayak. Then, hark back to family trips of the past around the fire pit together. Take a family jaunt to nearby Hilton Head Island and play in the surf at Fish Haul Beach Park and Burkes Beach, two of the most pet-friendly shorelines in the area.

Hip Haven

Where memories are made. Photo by Airbnb

Bring your whole family on a Texas Hill Country retreat to “Hippy Haven” in Austin, and stay together with 15 other guests in the pet-friendly Airbnb, Hip Haven. Bring Fido’s tennis ball or Frisbee for a fun family game of fetch in the large, shady and enclosed backyard. Then after a day of play, the kids can enjoy a sleepover in the bunkbed room while parents enjoy a glass of wine around the fire pit outside. When you want to venture out with your nearest and dearest, explore the winding paved trails through a diverse selection of plant life from around the world at nearby Zilker Botanical Gardens.

Row of Townhomes

Nobody will feel blue at these townhomes. Photo by Airbnb

With enough room to sleep 48 people in 14 bedrooms with 23 beds, you can invite everyone including Fido’s second cousin twice removed to this row of townhomes in St. Louis, MO. Each booking includes the use of four townhomes with hardwood floors throughout. Outside, there’s a fenced backyard with a lawn and plenty of outdoor seating for family to kick back. Located downtown, this unique Airbnb is within walking distance of Bar K St. Louis, a fun gathering place where four-legged family members can let loose off-leash or head to the grooming salon to relax, while the humans raise a pint to a family retreat done the right way.

Where does your family get together? Leave a comment or tweet us @BringFido!

Banner photo by iStock/skynesher.