Weekend fun: canine cruises
What better way to spend a warm summer’s day than on a boat cruise with your canine pal. A handful of tour operators throughout the country welcome well behaved pooches but only a few advertise this pet perk so you may need to do some digging ahead of time to find one in your area. 
Chicago’s Mercury Skyline Cruiseline invites leashed canines aboard for a special 90-minute lake and river tour with lively commentary about dog-friendly spots around the city. Along the way you’ll see the Navy Pier, John Hancock Center, Museum Campus and the Merchandise Mart. Special amenities include large bowls of fresh water, a newspaper-lined restroom and, of course, doggie treats.
Near the dock at Cyrano’s Riverside Cafe, restaurateur Didier Durant offers meals for people and their pets. A four-course doggy menu includes beouf a la jerky, bone marrow gateau, ostrich county pate, white rice croquettes, grilled staeh hache, root vegetables, carrot cake and mineral water.
The Canine Cruises are held on Sundays at 10 am beginning July 12, and run through the end of September. Tours depart from Riverside Gardens at the southeast corner, and lower level of the Michigan Avenue bridge and Wacker Drive.
Don’t live in Chicago? No problem. Here are a few more tour boat companies to try: Watermark Cruises in Annapolis, Maryland. Several different sightseeing cruises run until September, ranging from 40 minutes to a full day along the Severn River and Chesapeake Bay.
Fun Zone Boat Company in Balboa, California. The 45 and 90 minute na tours of Newport Bay view sea lions and homes of the rich and famous. Tours run all year round.
Potomac Riverboat Company in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Offers a 40 minute canine cruise of Alexandria’s seaport every Thursday through August. All are invited, with or without a four legged friend. Dogs even get to ride for free.
The New York City Canine Cruise is billed as a “yacht party for small dogs (under 25 pounds) and the people who love them.” The one day event is being held this year on September 12th with all proceeds from ticket and raffle sales going to animal related charities. Adoptable dogs will be onboard and pet professionals with grooming, training, and veterinary care knowledge are on hand for demonstrations and Q&A sessions.
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Maryann along the same lines a web site I’ve used in the past is (http://www.dogfriendlyhotels.org/)
If you and your pooches are taking to the road over the summer this is a great resource.
Sounds like a good resource for traveling dog owners! When on the road a book called The Next Exit is also a really great resource — for both owners and non-owners. As the title suggests, the book lists everything — animal hospitals, fast food restaurants, parks, etc — off of each exit on major highways. I don’t leave on a trip without it.
In response to another comment. See in context »