Fall is one of the best times of year to go on a vacation with your furry best friend. Together you can experience colorful landscapes, vibrant festivals and delicious food. One way to guarantee an unforgettable trip is to book a stay in a luxurious lodge. Designed with nature in mind, these pet-friendly properties connect you with stunning surroundings and offer a warm and inviting place to relax and enjoy the season.
Luxurious Lodges to Visit With Your Dog This Autumn
Posted by Billy Francis
Mill Falls at the Lake
Mill Falls at the Lake in Meredith is a timeless resort on Lake Winnipesaukee that comes alive during New England’s leaf peeping season. The Inn at Mill Falls, a restored 19th century linen mill with views of a 40-foot waterfall, welcomes four-legged guests with a goodie bag containing treats, toys, beds and bowls at check-in. Choose from spacious balcony rooms with lake views or cozy rooms with private fireplaces. Pups are invited to join you for breakfast or lunch on the pet-friendly patio that overlooks the waterfall and lake at the resort’s Waterfall Café. Then, meet canine greeters Ozzy and Olivia at 603 Paws when you shop at The Mill Falls Marketplace. Or, get out on the water on one of the resort’s pontoon, SUP or kayak rentals. For the best leaf views in the region, drive north to Kancamagus Scenic Byway and wind through White Mountain National Forest.
Mill Falls at the Lake welcomes dogs for an additional fee of $25 per pet, per stay.
Cougar Ridge Lodge
Bronco the ranch dog and Patty Cake the ranch cat are on hand to greet four-legged visitors at their little slice of heaven in The Beehive State. Cougar Ridge Lodge is located in Capitol Reef Country, which is one of the best places in Utah to view fall foliage. This beautiful lodge boasts a number of pet-friendly casitas that feature kitchenettes, living rooms and decks with grills. Discover the changing trees on Scenic Byway 12, which comes to an end near the lodge in Torrey. This epic road winds up Boulder Mountain and offers views of Henry Mountain and Capitol Reef National Park. Be sure to visit the park and pick apples with your pup from trees planted by the Mormon pioneers who settled there.
Cougar Ridge Lodge permits dogs of any size for an additional fee of $50 per pet, per night.
Skyline Lodge
“Leafers” flock to Highlands, NC to see oaks, red maples, black cherries and birches turn an array of colors in fall. Tucked away in a secluded corner of Flat Top Mountain, Skyline Lodge is the ideal place to pitch up with your pup in the midst of the forest’s vibrant colors. This gorgeous property designed by Arthur J. Kelsey, a longtime student of Frank Lloyd Wright, offers a range of pet-friendly rooms with ridge top views, balconies, and easy access to the exterior gardens. Husky mix Nya greetss canine guests with a pup cup welcome beverage, in-house dog treats, and beds and bowls to use during their stay. If Fido needs to stretch his legs, head to Pinky Falls, an easy waterfall hike just a short stroll from Skyline’s main entrance. After exploring, have dinner on the beautiful terrace at the on-site Oak Steakhouse Highlands, then head to the inviting lawn for sunset views and s’mores around the fire bowls.
Skyline Lodge allows dogs of any size for an additional fee of $75 per night (up to a maximum of $300).
The Lodge at Spruce Peak
Bring Fido on an autumnal adventure to Stowe, one of the best small towns to visit with your dog, and stay at The Lodge at Spruce Peak nestled at the base of Mount Mansfield. At check-in, pups receive a plush dog bed to use during their stay and a chew toy to keep forever. Pick your favorite pet-friendly room from suites and penthouses with kitchenettes to mountain cabins with private access. Dogs are welcome in all of the resort’s common areas, including the lobby, and outdoor areas like the winding paved walking path and the Enchanted Forest playground. For more time in nature, surround yourself with an epic fall display on the pet-friendly trails of nearby Smugglers' Notch State Park.
The Lodge at Spruce Peak welcomes two dogs with a combined weight up to 100 lbs for an additional fee of $125 per stay.
The Ocean Lodge
Cannon Beach quiets down after summer, transforming into a relaxing oasis for those who don’t mind cooler temperatures. Book a stay at The Ocean Lodge for a centrally-located hub to retreat to after a day of exploring this popular pet-friendly beach town. Furry friends will find a basket of goodies already in their room with a sleeping sheet, towel, treats and bags inside. There are a number of pet-friendly rooms to choose from, including oceanfront suites that open up into a shared garden. Take a stroll with your Terrier along windswept Cannon Beach and enjoy views of Haystack Rock, then clean up your pup’s sandy paws at the lodge’s dog wash station. Or, drive down Oregon Route 53 with your best friend and bask in the beauty of The Beaver State’s changing fall colors. Wind down for the night on the pet-friendly patio at nearby Warren House Pub.
The Ocean Lodge permits two pets of any size for an additional fee of $20 per pet, per night.
Lake Placid Lodge
Lake Placid Lodge provides five-star accommodations surrounded by some of the most impressive fall foliage in the Adirondack mountains. Offering “rustic luxury” in its cabins, the lodge features stone fireplaces, inviting hand-carved wooden beds and lake views through picture book windows. Guests with pets can stay steps from the water and enjoy privacy away from the main lodge. Dogs receive an Opal Paws welcome pack upon arrival that includes a plush bed, bowls, place mats, dental stick treats, and waste bags. Fido is sure to enjoy walking around Mirror Lake as you take in the orange, reds and yellows of the trees. When you return to your home away from home, relax in an Adirondack chair on the lawn and enjoy beautiful views of Lake Placid and Whiteface Mountain with a cocktail from the bar.
Lake Placid Lodge welcomes two dogs of any size for an additional fee of $75 per pet, per night.
Have you ever stayed in a lodge with your dog? Leave a comment or tweet us @BringFido!
Banner photo by Unsplash/Cole Keister.