Many of us as an individual, a couple or even a family, get to a stage where we want to add to it and that can often me the introduction of a puppy. It is exciting, they are cute and lovely and just want all cuddles and attention. But you also need to factor in that a puppy will have a lot to learn in those first few months and you will be the one responsible for it.

Road trips can be an amazing experience for both you and your dog. However, if not done properly it can be a dangerous and uncomfortable environment causing man's best friend to be an uncontrollable beast or worse.

Wine lovers will find that a stay at the Bernardus Lodge will warm their hearts in a special way. It's a fabulous property surrounded by vineyards and horse ranches but still close enough to the Bay Area that it makes for an easy weekend getaway. For those who have never visited, Carmel Valley is a true hidden gem. The area is sometimes overshadowed by other California wine regions and missed by travelers seeking golf in Pebble Beach or beaches in Carmel-by-the-Sea. However, for those that do visit, they are in for a fabulous experience that you will dream of going back to.

It is important as an owner of a dog that you are aware of the problems that your breed may experience at one point in its life. Whether you have already adopted a dog or you are thinking about it and want to know more about the various breeds, you will want to educate yourself regarding the various health concerns that they could end up with and the treatments that may be available to help.

Aside from the destination itself, deciding where to stay is probably the most important thing to determine. Typically for me this has ended up being a hotel room or a resort villa but another great solution for a group is a vacation rental such as the one we stayed in on Anna Maria Island, Beachy Villa Vista provided to us by Island Real Estate.

Portland, Oregon is a city that I've wanted to visit for quite a while but just never seems to work out for a visit. However, the folks at River's Edge Hotel invited Heather and I to spend the night there on our way back home and so I figured that was kismet. While some destinations might prove to be a challenge to visit with Niki, Portland was a fantastic dog friendly getaway with great food and friendly people. In fact, my only regret is that we couldn't stay in Portland longer.

Miramonte Resort  and Spa is located about half way between Los Angeles and San Diego in the Coachella Valley about 30 minutes south east of Palm Springs. It is in the perfect location for anyone who can't decide if they want an active weekend getaway or one with breakfast in bed followed by relaxing by the pool topped with a relaxing visit to the spa. The simple answer here is you can have both... and it's very pet friendly, so there's no reason to leave your dog at home!

This hotel was booked for us by Visit Santa Fe. One of the things that I love to see is when older properties are renovated - rather than simply leveled to create something with a cookie-cutter design conceived of without any regard for the community. It shouldn't be a surprise that this was the path that the owners of the Santa Fe Sage Inn took, considering the dynamic and unique nature of Santa Fe itself. What on the outside looks like an older motel, has been lovingly restored and updated with a low-frills but comfortable and inviting decor matching the vibe of the town.

Las Vegas may be the king for people all around the world, but there's another city in Nevada that is the Prince... or at least the Duke. While Las Vegas has virtually no redeeming qualities outside of being hot as hell, Reno is located close enough to the ski resorts around Lake Tahoe and a major airport that this could be your basecamp to launch an awesome Reno / Tahoe mancation adventure.

Are you planning a trip this summer? If so, I think it is awesome that there are so many new options for dog friendly hotels, restaurants with dog friendly patios and at least here in California you can even take your dog into a lot of retail stores too. Niki Belle loves to travel with me and one of her favorite things to do is look out the window as we do so.

However, no matter how dog friendly a destination is, you've got to get there somehow. These five Road Trip Tips provided by Milk-Bone and Milo's Kitchen should help make that new road trip even more enjoyable for you and your best friend!

As you drive on I-15 from Las Vegas to Southern California, you will find a cluster of hotels, a "fashion outlet" and a California Lottery store. Each time I drive by, I've wondered what they were like but I've never actually stopped till this past weekend. Frankly, I'm still not sure why people would stop there instead of going all the way into Vegas or back home to Los Angles, Orange County, or San Diego. Despite that, here's what we found inside :)

If you aren't familiar with Carmel California, I bet you are familiar with it's cousins of Pebble Beach and Monterey. Don't worry though, there's a lot to offer in Carmel itself including a great beach, great food, unparalleled driving experiences in Big Sur, sports, and of course it is one of the most dog friendly cities in America. Oh yeah and many celebrities call Carmel home so don't be surprised if you see them walking around town including Brad Pitt and former mayor of Carmel, Clint Eastwood. 

Last month, Heather and I set forth to escape the summer heat in San Diego and head north to Carmel-by-the-Sea, located just south of San Francisco. Our host on this trip was the absolutely beautiful Carmel Country Inn, a bed and breakfast that offered us a 2 bedroom suite.