Give your pup an authentic dude ranch experience at Seventy-Four Ranch in Jasper. A working cattle farm and cozy bed and breakfast nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Seventy-Four Ranch provides an escape from daily life just an hour from Atlanta and Chattanooga. Their popular guided trail rides offer a taste of the cowboy life as you ride across thousands of acres of fields and creeks. This isn’t your typical nose-to-tail trail ride. Your guide will set a course based on your experience and then let you ride to your heart’s content. If Fido is comfortable around cattle, he can come along to enjoy a trail ride, too. The staff can create many adventures for you. During your stay on the ranch, you can also learn to rope like a cowboy or fish for your dinner in Parker Pond. They’ve got the poles, bait, and plenty of fish. Just bring your best fishing dog! They’ll even set up breakfast on the lawn so Fido won’t miss out.

The Butler-Cape house at Seventy-Four Ranch Bed and Breakfast allows pets in each of its four guest rooms, but, for a more rustic ranch experience, skip the main house in favor of the property’s Saddle House. Originally designed as a cowboy bunkhouse, this room offers four full-size double bunk beds (which can sleep up to eight). The room shares a bathroom with the Porch Cabin, and both rooms may be reserved together for a family-friendly accommodation.

Make your way to dog-friendly Jekyll Island for a charming retreat along the Georgia coast. Start your adventure at Jekyll Wharf on a cruise with Jekyll Island Dolphin Tours. Furry friends are welcome to join you in search of bottlenose dolphins frolicking in the East River and Jekyll Sound. After your cruise, enjoy delicious coastal cuisine on the dog-friendly deck at The Wharf at Jekyll Island Club Resort. Finish the day with a swim at picturesque Driftwood Beach, where leashed pups can romp around a unique seaside landscape of gnarled, weather-beaten trees.

Fido will be able to walk to the beach from his room at the Holiday Inn Resort Jekyll Island. In addition to stretching his paws in the sand, there are plenty of grassy spaces to sniff nearby. Explore more than 20 miles of pathways around the island, including the North Loop Trail and the Ocean View Trail. In the evening, get cozy around the fire pit with your canine as the sun sets over the water.

Is your pup ready for a river adventure? On the outskirts of the Bavarian-themed town of Helen in the northeastern corner of Georgia, you’ll find Cool River Tubing. The outfitter can equip you and your pooch with everything you need for a fun float down the crisp and refreshing waters of the Chattahoochee River. Smaller pups are welcome to sit on your lap, and larger dogs can ride their own tube. Once you’ve dried off, put on Fido’s Lederhosen and make the short trip to nearby Unicoi State Park. There, you can hike along a half-mile paved trail to the spectacular Anna Ruby Falls and then take the Unicoi to Helen Trail, a three-mile pathway that leads you to downtown Helen. When you arrive, swing by Hofbrauhaus Restaurant, where your hound will enjoy a free bratwurst while you dine riverside and sample some traditional German beers.

If your poochie can’t get enough of the Chattahoochee, he can sleep over at Bear Creek Lodge & Cabins. Featuring an assortment of lodging types, including a treehouse next to the river, Bear Creek offers something for everyone. Depending on where you choose to stay, you can be within walking distance of the action in downtown Helen, enjoy views across the river, or find a pet-friendly trail just beyond your door.

Ready for a Road Trip?

If this Ruff Guide to Georgia preview left your dog drooling for more, we hope you check out our new book - Ruff Guide to the United States. Remember to use discount code PEACH to save 50% on your copy. Happy Travels!