7 Dog-Friendly Weekend Trips

Need to get away but don't want to leave your pooch behind? You don't have to. Pups are welcome at these hotels and resorts.

Wylder Tilghman Island

Got a pooch with a penchant for porches? Most of this hotel’s 54 rooms have one, and doggos are welcome, with no restrictions on size, although general manager Kristin Seymour Bram recommends larger rooms for people traveling with larger or multiple dogs. And most people do bring their dogs. She says that on any given weekend, the hotel hosts five to 20 canine guests on its 9.5-acre property. Though dogs are not allowed in the heated saltwater pool, they have been known to hitch a ride on paddleboards or kayaks that guests can rent and take out on the Chesapeake Bay, which surrounds the 3-mile island. Tickler’s Crab Shack, an outdoor eatery that opened for the season on April 1, not only welcomes leashed dogs, but serves dog-friendly food such as a puppy charcuterie and homemade treats. The hotel charges $55 per dog per night to cover a post-visit deep cleaning. //21551 Chesapeake House Drive, Tilghman Island, Maryland

Quirk Hotel Richmond

Housed in a 1916 building that was once a dry-goods store, this mod hotel welcomes pups weighing up to 70 pounds for a fee of $75 per stay, plus a $75 refundable deposit. Take your furry friend for a walk in the downtown area of Virginia’s capital, or head to the nearby James River Park System, which offers trails of varying difficulty, including the beginner “Poop Loop,” Historic Slave Trail and Pony Pasture. At the hotel, human guests can check out art by local and regional artists and access the attached Quirk Gallery. Hotel happenings include Saturday brunch and Sunday happy hour in the Lobby Bar. //201 W. Broad St., Richmond, Virginia

Puppy room service at the Salamander Resort and Spa (Courtesy photo)

Salamander Resort and Spa

Canine comforts abound at this 340-acre property in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Many of the 37 guestrooms and four suites on the resort’s Terrace level offer access to the Grand Lawn, and all of them are outfitted with a dog bed, food and water bowls, organic treats, a toy and waste bags. The concierge can arrange for dog-sitting services should any separation anxiety arise in four-legged guests while their owners are out participating in resort activities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, archery, swimming or hanging with the resort’s mini horse, Cupcake. And the room service menu even includes a selection of house-made puppy “bites and treats,” from pumpkin puree to filet mignon tartare. Although there is no weight limit for canine guests, the resort allows a maximum of two dogs per room and charges a one-time fee of $150 per stay. //500 N. Pendleton St., Middleburg, Virginia

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Boating at the Tides Inn in Irvington, Virginia (Courtesy photo)

Tides Inn

It’s a dog-greet-dog world at this 66-room resort, which has its own resident “resort retriever,” a chocolate lab named Riley. Perched on a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, the hotel welcomes pups weighing 75 pounds or less with custom pet bowls and beds and an in-room biscuit barrel. For their humans, there are free doggy bags (the waste-collecting kind) and flashlights for evening walks. There are also plenty of pet-free activities, including paddleboard yoga, crabbing and oyster excursions, art classes, and a beekeeping experience. The resort charges $150 per pet and allows up to two dogs in a room, with advance notice. //480 King Carter Drive Irvington, Virginia

Craddock Terry Hotel

Give your doggie the ultimate experience with Penny Loafer’s Pampered Pet Package. Named after this Lynchburg hotel’s resident pup, it includes a spa day (read: shampoo and grooming) at Fur Kidz Pet Boutique, welcome treats and two bike rentals with pet carriers for exploring the city near Virginia’s geographic center. Pedal over to The Water Dog or My Dog Duke’s Diner, which has a dog-friendly patio. The pet-centric package is limited to pups weighing a maximum of 50 pounds and includes a $50 pet fee, plus breakfast for two (humans) delivered to the room. //1312 Commerce St., Lynchburg, Virginia

Roosevelt Crop
A pampered pooch at The Ritz in D.C. (Courtesy photo)

The Ritz-Carlton D.C.

How about a staycation in the city? The poshest pups will enjoy the swankiness of the Ritz, where they get a welcome amenity such as a toy at check-in and a dog bed and bowls in the room. For regulars, staff will put a framed photo of the pet in the guestroom, along with a gift such as a dog sweater, says Narinè Yeghoyan, a marketing coordinator for the property. Although there are no dog parks nearby to let Fido or Fifi run free, the hotel is just a short walk from Washington Circle, the first of D.C.’s traffic circles to be landscaped as a park. The hotel charges a $125 nonrefundable fee for cleaning and $50 per night for dogs. //1150 22nd Street, N.W., Washington, DC

Kimpton George Hotel

Leave no pet behind when you book a stay at this 139-room hotel near Capitol Hill, the National Mall and the Smithsonian museums. The George welcomes dogs, cats, birds, fish and other critters. What’s more, it charges no cleaning fees and puts no restrictions on the number or size of pets. Leashed dogs can stretch their legs with a stroll around the Capitol Hill Parks. Human owners will appreciate packages such as the First Family, which includes kid-friendly treats, a backpack and water bottle, a George Washington stuffed animal, and $15 electronic scooter credit per day. Mama Knows Best, a Mother’s Day special available May 2 through 31, includes a deluxe queen room, a $100 food and beverage credit, and a bottle of champagne. //15 E St., N.W., Washington, DC

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