America’s Best Historical Walking Tours (And They’re Dog-Friendly, Too!)

Published 2:00 pm Wednesday, September 9, 2020

istock/Sviatlana Barchan

Road trips aren’t just about dining out and relaxing – they’re about exploring something new!  Historical walking tours are a great way to learn about a place and understand its unique history and culture.  Many famous American cities and towns offer fun and engaging tours that take you right into the sights, sounds, and smells of the past. Best of all, many of the tours welcome dogs to join in, making them a perfect activity to enjoy with your furry sidekick!

War Eagle Cavern Tours

Rogers, AR

Part historical tour, part nature excursion, War Eagle Canyon tour offers a novel experience through a lush Arkansas landscape. Located at the edge of Beaver Lake, War Eagle Canyon is the only Arkansas canyon to feature a lakeside entrance. Follow your guide down wide, easy-to-navigate passageways along stream edges, where you’ll see breathtaking cavern formations, and learn how early man (and dog!) lived. The tour is an hour long, and afterward, you and your pooch can try out the attraction’s “Lost in the Woods” Maze, or hike the surrounding forest trails.

Skaneateles Historical Walking Tour

Skaneateles, NY

This one-of-a-kind, self-guided tour takes people and their pets along the picturesque Skaneateles Lake through the Skaneateles village.  As you wind through the charming old streets, you’ll learn about the village’s earliest settlers.  There are historic homes, inns, and churches to see while touring, some of which date all the way back to the 18th century.

Oliver Bentley’s Historic Dog Walk Tour

Savannah, GA

Shrouded in history and mystery, Savannah is one of the South’s most beautiful and iconic locations. The city offers a number of historic tours, but Oliver Bentley’s is tailored to those visiting the Hostess City with their pooches. This mile-long walk through the Historic District begins at Oglethorpe Square, and takes you through 7 of Savannah’s 22 iconic squares. These lush green spaces are staggered throughout the downtown area, and feature colorful azaleas, live oaks draped with Spanish moss, and centuries of history to explore. The tour lasts roughly 90 to 120 minutes, and there are plenty of places for you and your dog to stop and rest. And if your pup is feeling peckish, no worries–Oliver Bentley’s makes their own premium dog treats!

Tombstone Walking Tour

Tombstone, AZ

Tombstone is one of America’s most iconic Western sites, and you and your pup can learn all about its fascinating history together! This highly-acclaimed walking tour is popular with visitors, and not just because it explores Tombstone’s landmarks, gunfights, and famous residents. The tour’s guide, Dr. Jay, has perfected the art of balancing fun and information, by offering visitors a memorable experience in a style he calls “edutainment.”

Bulldog Walking Tours

Charleston, SC

Bulldog welcomes well-behaved, leashed dogs to join in several different outdoor tours of historic Charleston, as long as they are not disruptive to other visitors. Together, you and your pup can uncover centuries-deep layers of Charleston’s storied past, and see some of the city’s best-loved sites. Bulldog’s founders have a deep and genuine love for the people, culture, food, and history of Charleston, and it shows – they were voted best tour company

for nine years in a row!

Moonshine + Whiskey History Walking Tour

Gatlinburg, TN

This self-guided tour is a memorable trek through one of the South’s most fascinating historical periods. You and your pup will learn all about Tennessee’s “spirited” past as you visit three distinct distilleries that form part of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail. See how whiskey shaped Tennessee’s history before, during, and after Prohibition, and discover the secret to why the Smoky Mountains were so integral to Gatlinburg’s moonshine culture. Plus, get a peek into a present-day working distillery to see how the process has changed, and how it has stayed the same!

About TripsWithPets

TripsWithPets has been helping pet parents find pet friendly accommodations since 2003. TripsWithPets provides online reservations at over 30,000 pet friendly hotels & accommodations across the U.S. and Canada. You’ll find thousands of pet-friendly destinations like Greensboro, NCAtlantic City, NJ, and Flagstaff, AZ. When planning a trip, pet parents go to TripsWithPets.com for all they need to book the perfect hotel for their pet — including detailed, up-to-date information on hotel pet policies and pet amenities.

Marketplace