Author: Jenna Donleavy

When going on a road trip with dogs that’s over 2 hours, pre-plan a place to stop for a quick stroll and a water or bathroom break. As much as we humanize our dogs, they can’t talk and tell us when they need a break. Plus, not all dogs love being in the car, so planned breaks at highway rest stops, or even a fun dog park that’s just off your proposed route, are so worth the detour.,How to Travel With a Dog Stress-Free

I began searching for luxury pet-friendly lodging right in town, and a place that would pamper Bear as much as they would spoil us. Enter The Little Nell. The Little Nell is the only Forbes Five Star accommodations with ski-in and ski-out access to Aspen Mountain. Sounds spectacular, but what about the pup pampering? The Little Nell offers luxury pet amenities including epicurean treats, a special pet menu, walking and pet sitting services, and a Puppy Jet Lag Kit. It’s definitely a splurge. Standard rooms start at around $500 to $1,400 per night, depending on the season, but it was exactly what we were looking for. Booked! We began our dog-friendly Aspen adventure with a long day of travel from Boston to Denver and then Denver to Aspen. I was sure to keep Bear extra hydrated as I wasn’t sure how he would take to the altitude. Side note: Pets can be affected by altitude sickness as well. It is essential to keep them hydrated and let them rest when you are going to be 8,000 feet above sea level. Bring along a travel water bowl to make sure your dog has access to fresh water. Lixit’s travel water bowl, for example, holds up to 3 quarts of water. Lucky for us, and Bear, we had no problems with the high altitude.,Growing up in Vermont and being an East Coast skier, I’ve always wanted to visit the majestic Colorado mountains. A few months ago, when I finally decided to check skiing the Rocky Mountains off the bucket list and began researching the most dog-friendly places in Colorado, I realized just how welcoming the entire state is to dogs. With tons of outdoor activities during all of Colorado’s seasons, there is an abundance of pet-friendly places to check out. After lots of back and forth, I landed on dog-friendly Aspen. I mean, you can’t really go wrong with a quaint ski town surrounded by breathtaking mountains, an A+ après-ski scene, and most importantly, an exceptional dog-friendly atmosphere. You just can’t.