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Taking Your Dog On A Road Trip
Expert tips for traveling by car with your favorite canine companion.
It wouldn’t be a family car trip without Fido, but if you want everyone who’s along for the ride — two-legged and four-legged — to have fun, you need to do some prep work.
“People just jump in the car and think they are prepared,” says animal behaviorist Kristen Collins, MS, CPDT, with the ASPCA Animal Behavior Center. “But preparation needs to start as far in advance as you know you are going on a trip.”
Preparing for a Road Trip with Your Dog
Acclimate your pooch to the car in the weeks leading up to your trip. Collins recommends taking your dog on short car rides around town. It will help him get used to the doggy seat belt or carrier — a must for safe travels — and it will reveal any tendencies to get overly nervous or carsick. Ask your vet about motion sickness and sedation medications. If your dog gets in your vehicle only for dreaded trips to the vet, take him somewhere fun, like a park where he can run, Collins says. That way, he’ll begin to associate getting in the car with receiving a reward.
Many dogs, Collins says, only feel comfortable eliminating at home, so it’s also essential to train your dog to go to the bathroom in unfamiliar places. “The poor dog could be near exploding because it doesn’t feel right to go elsewhere,” she says.
Before you leave on vacation, spend a few weeks developing a potty cue. Whenever your dog is on the verge of eliminating, say a phrase like, “Time to go!” Then, when he’s done, praise him and give him a treat. By the time you hit the road, saying your cue should get him to do his business on demand.
Research where you will stay along your route. Not every hotel is dog-friendly. If you reserve online, don’t take a web site’s word for it; pick up the phone. “You don’t want to show up in the middle of the night and find they don’t accept pets,” says A. Chea Hall, DVM, of the Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital in Beaverton, Ore. “You need to sit down and plan where you will be each night.”
Traveling with Your Dog
Most dogs are like their humans — they can’t go too long without a potty break. Plan to stop every few hours. Look for places where your dog can get some relief but also enjoy some exercise, which will help your pet relax in the car. So will chew toys.
Stick to your dog’s feeding schedule. If he eats at 8 a.m., feed him then. And keep plenty of bottled water handy. Another rule of the road: Dogs should not be left alone in the car. Cold and hot weather can be deadly to animals. If you absolutely have to leave your dog for a short while, park somewhere where he can see you, and crack a window so he can get some fresh air.
Finally, make sure your dog’s head stays in the car window. You want to make sure everyone arrives in one piece.
Doggie Road Trip Tips
Make sure you don’t leave home without these dog travel essentials:
- Medical and vaccine records, in the event an emergency trip to the vet is needed
- Pet tags with your cell phone number in case he gets lost
- Favorite toys that will help your dog feel at home
- Your dog’s meds, if applicable
- Food, bowl, and scooper
- Leash should always be worn out of the car
- Doggie harness or travel seat
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One Tank Trips From Jacksonville, FL – Horse Stamp Inn
Destination: Horse Stamp Inn
Address: 2418 Horsestamp Church Road; Waverly, Georgia 31565
Directions from Jacksonville: Take I-95 north; take Exit #22/Horse Stamp Church Road. Head west for 3.5 miles.
Details: Nestled on a secluded tree-covered property with expansive green fields, rustic horse barn and a fresh water pond, this Southern mansion has been restored and allows people to escape their troubles for a peaceful getaway.
Family Friendly: Yes.
Cost: Complimentary winery tours and wine tasting are offered 7 days a week from 10 am-6 pm with Sunday tours starting at 11 am.
Contact: 912-882-6280
WAVERLY, Ga. is a coastal Georgia town that is home to the Horse Stamp Inn. The bed-and-breakfast is nestled on a secluded property that houses dramatic trees, expansive green fields, a rustic horse bar and an artesian fresh water pond.
It was the dream of owners Kris and Tom Hutcheson to one day own a bed-and-breakfast inn. Once the sprawling property became available, the couple jumped at the chance to transform it into a getaway for those looking for a quiet getaway.
Said Tom: “It’s very serene, tranquil and peaceful,” he said. “It’s close enough to cities like Jacksonville, Savannah, and Atlanta to be one-day trips.”
The Horse Stamp Inn offers five bedrooms along with a full Southern-style breakfast that is made with fresh eggs straight from the chicken coop. Opening the inn has been a labor of love for the Hutchesons. Kris and Tom attended to every detail when they were getting it ready for its debut.
During a tour of the lodge, Kris pointed out the features of the B&B.
During a tour of the Sea Biscuit room, she said it is the largest room in the inn and, “is the only one with access to the top veranda,” adding that it provides a place for guests to “relax, have fun and reconnect.”
The owners said they hope their inn provides some peace of mind to guests who visit.
“Life can be busy and if we can take some of that load (so that a guest) feels like they’ve really relaxed and leave here with a good feeling and feel ready to go back out and hit it again then we’ve accomplished our job,” Tom said.
Jacksonville Bucket List
My husband and I have been settled into our new home in Jacksonville, Florida for almost 2 years now. However, we still have not seen nor experience everything there is to love about Jax. So with that thought in mind we compiled a bucket list of things that we wanted to see and do in this beautiful place we call home.
1. Go to a Jacksonville Jaguars game
2. Go to a Jacksonville Sharks game
3. Go to a Jacksonville Suns game
4. Go to a Jacksonville Giants game
5. Visit the Jacksonville Zoo
6. Visit the MOCA museum
7. Go Parasailing
8. Rent a Jet Ski
9. Fish Jax
10. Ride the skyway tram
11. Take a sunset cruise
12. Spend the night at the Crowne Plaza Riverfront
13. See the Blue Angels Air Show
14. Go to the Greater Jacksonville Fair
15. Go to JazzFest
16. Play with the dolphins & manatees
17. Go snorkeling
18. Explore Huguenot Memorial Park
19. Ride the St Johns Ferry
20. Attend some of the local festivals
21. Take a tour of the Budweiser Brewery
22. Visit the MOSH museum
23. ????
I know that there is so much more to this great city that I am over looking some things. So if anyone have any great ideas on what to do and/or see in Jacksonville, FL drop me a comment. We would love to hear from you. Thanks!
One Tank Trip From Jacksonville – Graham Swamp Mountain Bike Trail
Destination: Graham Swamp Mountain Bike Trail
Directions from Jacksonville: Take I-95 South; The trail is located on Colbert Lane at Flagler Beach in the Graham Swamp Preservation Area, about half-way between SR100 and Palm Coast Parkway
Details: Just a few short miles from beautiful Flagler Beach lies one of Florida’s premier mountain biking destinations, Graham Swamp. Situated on The Graham Swamp Preservation Area, it provides nearly 7 miles of intermediate singletrack littered with advanced features including everything from sweet drops, nasty climbs, and double jumps to tight switchbacks, log rides, and gnarly rock gardens.
Family Friendly: Yes
Cost: Free
When you think of mountain biking, you probably don’t think of Florida. But we found a place that’s a hidden gem on this one tank trip.
Before hitting the trail. Who better to talk to then local bike shop about the best place to ride.
“Palm Coast has gone in the direction of make it the cycling capital of Florida,” said Tony Libretti of the Bicycle Doctor. “It’s become a place to bring your bike, ride the trails, see the scenery, stay the night. We actually have rolling hills, tough decents, and everything out here.”
Flagler county offers miles and miles of trails. The one that came highly recomended was the Graham Swamp Trail. The best thing about it is it’s free. Just bring your bike and your helmet. Volunteers carved out this challenging single track out of the landscape.
One Tank Trips From Jacksonville – iFLY Orlando
Destination: IFLY Orlando
Address: 6805 Visitors Circle • Orlando, Florida 32819
Directions from Jacksonville: Take I-95 South to I-4 west. Turn right on International Blvd. Exit at Visitors Circle.
Details: You can experience human body flight! Indoor Skydiving at iFLY Orlando is safe for kids, challenging for adults, exciting for teens and realistic for skydivers. No experience is necessary, great fun for all ages, three and up.
Family Friendly: Yes
Cost: Contact the center at (800) 759-3861 or visit iflyorlando.com
Located off of Interstate 4 near International Boulevard, IFLY Orlando is one of only 24 facilities in the world where adventurers can
skydive indoors. The facility is a vertical wind tunnel that looks like a spaceship from the outside. From the inside, the adrenaline starts racing as you hear the roar of the engines.
The attraction uses five airplane engines that suck air into the tunnel, which creates the lift for your sky diving adventure. Starting at $54.99, an experienced instructor, like our guy striker, will walk you through instructions
Thrill-seekers receive two flights for 1 minute each. And while that may not seem like a lot on paper, it actually feels a lot longer while inside the wind tunnel. No experience is necessary and the only age restriction is that participants be at least 3 years old and in decent physical shape.
Judging from the experience recently by several kids who were at the center, the experience is a blast. As for the ride itself: One word, thrilling.
One Tank Trips from Jacksonville – Kayak Amelia
Destination: Kayak Amelia
Address: 13030 Heckscher Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32226
Directions from Jacksonville: Take I-295 north towards the airport; Take the SR-105 N exit, EXIT 41, toward Blount Island; Merge onto Heckscher Dr.
Details: Northeast Florida offers thousands of acres of tranquil inland marshes that can be explored via a variety of tours offered by Kayak Amelia.
Family Friendly: Yes
Cost: Ranges from $32-64 and daily hours are from 9am-5 pm.
Contact: 904-251-0016
One Tank Trip to Amelia Island, a peaceful resort that offers an urban getaway. “People can’t believe this is here in Jacksonville,” said
Ray Hetchka, owner of Kayak Amelia. “We are actually in the city limits. It’s peaceful.”
Kayak Amelia is an easy 30-40 minute ride from downtown Jacksonville. Located in Talbot State Park, it’s close to a major city and feels like another world — especially on the miles of tranquil inland marshes. Adventure seekers can go by themselves or take family and friends.
Prices range from $32-64 and the attraction is open from 9 a.m. to 5 pm. daily. Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, bug repellent and a zip lock bag for phone and valuables. Supplies can also be purchased at Kayak Amelia. There is plenty of wildlife but not alligators — they don’t like the salt water. Kayak Amelia is a good place to experience northeast Florida.
One Tank Trips From Jacksonville – St. Augustine Winery
Destination: San Sebastian Winery
Address: 157 King Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Directions from Jacksonville: Take I-95 south towards Daytona Beach; Take the SR-16 exit towards St. Augustine/Green Cove Springs; turn left on SR-16E; Turn right on N Ponce de Leon Blvd.; Turn left on W King St.
Details: San Sebastian Winery was founded in 1996 and is in a part of the state considered to be the birthplace of the American wine industry, dating back to 1562.
Family Friendly: Yes, for winery tours.
Cost: Complimentary winery tours and wine tasting are offered 7 days a week from 10 am-6 pm with Sunday tours starting at 11 am.
Contact: 904-826-1594
According to historians, St. Augustine is the birthplace of American wine, an industry that dates back to 1562. 
The San Sebastian Winery is keeping that tradition alive. Company officials consider themselves pioneers in the development of table, sparkling and dessert wine. Their facility has over 18,000 square feet of space inside, 40,000 gallons of wine storage capacity and houses an automated bottling line that allows them to bottle 1,250 cases of wine per day.
The wine is all made from hybrid and muscadine grapes. In addition to producing wine, the facility offers tours and wine tasting.
Don’t want to do the tour? Check out the cellar upstairs for music and drinks on the rooftop deck. The location provides beautiful views of the city with appetizers. And the best thing about the winery is that it’s free. It’s open 7 days a week, followed by a tasting. Visitors who want to avoid driving can catch a trolley that has convenient stops right in front of the winery.
I Am Lady Fab 