What better way to weather the beautiful (though lesser-known) Dog Days of Autumn than to pack up the car and take a road trip to one of Minnesota’s myriad dog-friendly vacation spots? In nearly every part of the state, you’ll find lodging that would love to accommodate you and your dog.

The Outing Lodge interior is rustic and cozy.

Start in the South, with Red Wing’s Moondance Inn. The Inn’s 1904 Victorian rental house is a spacious, no-frills, private country getaway for you and your four-legged pals. Upriver, Stillwater boasts The Outing Lodge, where owner Carlota Estevez’s chocolate lab accompanies guest pooches on miles of wooded walking trails surrounding the lodge.

For rugged dogs who love to romp, Lake Superior is the place to let loose. The Inn on Lake Superior really rolls out the welcome mat with a check-in goody bag, which includes a tennis ball, a bandana, an “In case I get lost” dog tag, treats and a list of local pet services. Also in Duluth is Fitger’s Inn, where vacationing dogs find a dog bed, bowls for food and water atop a water-resistant mat and a welcome treat waiting for them.

The picturesque shores of Bluefin Bay.

Kah-Nee-Tah Gallery and Cottages in Lutsen is always looking for guest dogs to keep Jazmin the Shih Tzu company, and Bluefin Bay gives them space to roam right on the shores of the Great Lake.

For those heading out west, Mulberry Row in Detroit Lakes is home to Ebby, a chocolate lab/weimaraner mix who sometimes writes about her visiting friends on the B & B’s Web site. And for dogs who really want to see “Up North,” the Gunflint Lodge in Grand Marais is always pet-friendly, particularly during special “pet-lovers” weekends.

Then again, for Twin Citians who want to save gas money but still get away, downtown Minneapolis offers two dog-friendly

W Hotel in the Foshay Tower has a complete menu of pet services.

hotels: The Chambers (for fancy-pants pets), and the brand-new W hotel, where dogs are supplied with their own concierge.

Now there’s no excuse not to scour the state with your canine playmate. Get packing!

If the cost of gas is telling you to “stay home, stay,” but you love taking your dog wiht you, don’t despair.

There are several ways to get around the Twin Cities with your dog that don’t require a car!

Here is a list of some of the best alternatives for giving your dog a ride.

Ride
Metro Transit Customer Relations informed us that buses and the Light Rail allows dogs on board with one provision: they must be contained inside an airline-approved, hard sided locking pet carrier. If your dog is too heavy for you to lift the carrier yourself, you can ask the bus driver to lower the wheel chair lift, slide the carrier onto the lift the carrier with your dog inside, and they will be lifted up into the bus. Then just slide the carrier to where you will be sitting.

Bike
Minneapolis and St. Paul are known for their bike trail systems. Why not bike with your dog in tow? There are several wheeled carriers made for dogs. The carriers hook up to the back of your bike so you can pull your dog behind you. (What a work out that would be with my 84lb dog!) We found several models. Check out the Tail Wagon and the Rover from Burley, the jogging stroller people; the Croozer Dog from Croozer Designs and several options from DoggyRide.

All of these models fold down flat for easy stowing or storage. They all have weight limits, so do your homework before you purchase.

Pet Taxi
If you’ve given up gas-powered transportation all together, your pet can still ride. Just call Bandits Pet Express, Inc., for one-way and round trip pet taxi service for dogs and cats only starting at $15.