If Paris Hilton and Britney Spears have taught us anything (besides the importance of wearing underwear), it’s that pets are people too. Well, since Brit and Paris are probably not the best parents, let’s look to Oprah as our role model. She takes her pups everywhere and you can too. Here are a few destinations we think are Best in Show.

Reno flights | hotels | cars
Take your outdoorsy dog to Lake Tahoe for fresh air and lots of exercise. While many California parks ban your four-legged friend from hiking trails, Northstar and many other Tahoe ski resorts welcome pets on designated trails. We recommend Grass Lake Meadow or Echo Lakes Trail. While you can walk your pooch anywhere, in Lake Tahoe, you can take him rafting down the Truckee River. Too much adventure? How about a leisurely swim at Kiva Beach or Taylor Creek. Tahoe also has a long list of qualified pet sitters to keep your friend occupied if you want some solo time.

New York flights | hotels | cars
Is your dog more city than country? New York cannot be overlooked as one of the most dog friendly cities in the world. You’ll fit right in with the locals who take their dogs everywhere including grocery stores, boutiques and cabs. Of course, their dogs are wearing doggie-sized designer duds and jewelry nicer than anything you’ll ever own. Central Park is of course a must see and Jemmy’s Run in Union Square is THE place to pee and be peed on. Most hotels including Crowne Plaza, Embassy Suites, Westin and the oh-so glamorous Soho Grand will welcome your pets with open paws and complimentary doggie amenities.

San Diego flights | hotels | cars
San Diego continuously makes the list for one of the most dog and kitty-friendly cities around. There’s plenty of off-leash beaches and parks to keep you busy. Try out Dog Beach and Fiesta Island to start your vacation. Take a stroll through Old Town State Historic Park and dine together at one of the many outdoor cafes and restaurants. Next, head over to the historic gold rush town of Julian to take in some mountain scenery and then the wine country of Temecula. No doggie wine tasting allowed. If you’re interested in seeing Sea World, they offer kennels for as little as $5 a pet (Shamu-size pets extra).

Seattle flights | hotels | cars
Seattle not only offers a pet friendly vibe, but even allows well-behaved pets on the public buses, trains and ferries. Relax at Warren G. Magnuson Park, Seattle’s biggest fully-fenced back yard. This nine-acre site includes a winding trail, with several open areas and a pig pool, aka Lake Washington. Explore the shops, cafes, fish market, and culture at Pioneer Square and the Sculpture Garden. Finish off your trip with a visit to Washington Park Arboretum and a ride on Blake Island Adventure Cruise.

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Give Us Your Trip Ideas!

Next Week’s Newsletter: Father’s Day Getaways

Send us 50-70 witty words of wisdom to share with our 600,000 subscribers and we might just pick you! Be sure to double check your spelling, event dates, and locations. (Your favorite fish restaurant on Maui might now be a Pizza Hut.) Send your entry to us via our feedback page or e-mail. Include your name and hometown unless you’re in the witness protection program and prefer to remain anonymous.
Did You Know?
Travel Dates Flexible? Click on the results link that reads “My dates are flexible” and then choose a date with a three day before and after option. Your results will appear in the order of price. You can further refine your search to number of people tagging along, if you are going first class, economy, etc. Any stop-overs along the way? Amsterdam perhaps? Or Paris?

Don’t forget the pooper scooper,

Steve and Paul, Kayak.com co-founders

Avast, me hearties! Ye time has come to see the final installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy. Arrrrr. We’ve searched high and low for the Caribbean’s best swashbuckling destinations to share with ye so sharpen your sword, snap on your peg leg and pack enough limes to ward off scurvy because this Kayak’s a sailin’ south in search of buried treasure. All hands ahoy!

Jamaica flights | hotels | cars
Port Royal, in Kingston Jamaica, was not just a setting for the blockbuster trilogy; but a Pirate’s playground in the 17th century full of looting and debauchery. Pay respects to the original rock stars of the Caribbean with a stroll past St. Peter’s Church, tip your hat at Fort Charles, catch a glimpse of the ghosts of hanged pirates at Gallows Point, and have a drink fit for a scoundrel at the Grogge Shop. Next, head to Montego Bay for a Calico Pirates Cruise where you’ll sail with fellow shipmates to raid and capture Margaritaville.

The Bahamas flights | hotels | cars
Some of the most infamous pirates including Calico Jack Rackham, and female pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read called Nassau home, while the notorious Blackbeard declared himself Nassau’s magistrate. Two hundred years later, Pirates II and III were filmed among this former pirate playground. For the ultimate adventure on the high seas, take a 25-minute boat ride to Blackbeard’s Cay to enjoy a day of snorkeling, sunning and sipping (umbrella drinks are a must). Back in town, make ye way to the slightly cheesy but very entertaining Pirates of Nassau Museum or tour Fort Charlotte’s underground passages, dungeons, and drawbridge. Shiver me timbers!

St. Lucia flights | hotels | cars
Think those fierce ships in the movies are just sitting on a Hollywood lot somewhere while tourists in fanny packs pose for snapshots? Blasphemy! Get down to sunny St. Lucia for a cruise aboard the Brig Unicorn, an authentic 140-foot replica of an 18th century ship which was featured in The Curse of the Black Pearl. We recommend the family cruise where kids can play dress-up, participate in face painting and hunt for buried treasure. Be ye warned, ye may want to walk the plank for a swim in picturesque Marigot Bay. All this plus landlubbers get to tour St. Lucia’s Sulphur Springs and famous drive-in volcano.

Dominica flights | hotels | cars
Dominica’s rustic and lush landscape brought Hollywood scouts knocking. Explore this living movie set with a hike to Shipwreck Cove and a cruise up Pantano River where the Black Pearl anchored. Next, take a Pirate inspired hike through Trois Piton National Park to Titou George waterfall. Visit the sinisterly named Cannibal Village and enjoy the impressive views over Martinique Channel and ruins of Fort Cachacrou. But all this Pirating is sure to make you tired, so try a soak in the Soufriere Sulfur Springs to bring back the piratettude.

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• Jamaica
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• Saint Lucia
  Cheap Airfare to St. Lucia
• Nassau
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Kayak’s Instant Win Giveaway
The Instant Win Giveaway contest organized by Kayak and our partners at Gourmet Magazine and KSL Resorts is still running. We’re giving away a prize every day, including a 6-night trip for two to a KSL resort. Try playing today to win.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for us,

Steve and Paul, Kayak.com co-founders

No, we’re not suggesting a weekend with Proust; your correspondent couldn’t make it through the Cliff Notes. Memorial Day is coming fast, and the holiday is more than an occasion to dig out your white shoes and seersucker suits. The date was first marked in 1866 to pay tribute to fallen Union soldiers. Why not make time this holiday weekend to pay a visit to the final resting grounds of soldiers, leaders, and thinkers you most admire?

Washington flights | hotels
Arlington National Cemetery is a beautiful and moving memorial to the men and women who exhibited extraordinary bravery to fight for the United States. Take a historical trip through the country’s history as you visit graves and memorials from the Revolutionary through the Iraq Wars, or honor the astronauts, presidents, explorers, artists, and other national heroes who embodied the American spirit of innovation. There is also a memorial to the victims on 9/11 who died in the attack on the Pentagon. The Visitors Center can help you arrange tours highlighting Black history, women’s history, Jewish history, or any other personal interests.

Boston flights | hotels
As the site of much early American history, Boston offers up all sorts of cemetery treasures. In the Granary Burial Ground downtown lie Revolutionary heroes (and beer brewing geniuses) Samuel Adams, Crispus Attucks, Paul Revere, John Hancock — and the woman believed to be Mother Goose (apparently she had webbed feet). Across the river in Cambridge, the Mount Auburn Cemetery is a beautiful spot for a stroll, along rolling hills, winding trails and some of Boston’s wealthiest corpses.

Savannah flights | hotels
Dripping with Spanish moss and pulsing with Southern history, Savannah’s Bonaventure Cemetery was made famous in the bestselling novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (terrible movie but great book). The land was originally a plantation house, and the small family burial plot became the core from which the current 70 acres spread. As you wander beneath the shady live oaks you’ll find the graves of many of Georgia’s historical figures, including Revolutionary and Civil war soldiers and the state’s early governors. Jack Leigh, who took the iconic photograph on the novel’s cover, is buried here, but the “Bird Girl” memorial, made famous by his picture, has been moved to Savannah’s Telfair Museum of Art.

Paris flights | hotels
Pere-Lachaise in Paris may be the world’s most visited cemetery. Jim Morrison is the most famous resident, and fans leave Jim all the things he needs in the afterlife including wine bottles, drug needles, graffiti, and litter. In fact, there are so many treasures left at his grave that the cemetery has hired a full-time guard and Parisian officials are considering sending Morrison elsewhere. If the Doors are not your cup of tea, you can also find Oscar Wilde, Maria Callas, Edith Piaf, Frederic Chopin, Marcel Proust, Alice B. Toklas, and Richard Wright here.

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• Boston
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• Paris
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• Washington
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Give Us Your Trip Ideas!
Starting this week, we’ll include a topic for the following newsletter. If you’d like to share your Trip Idea for this topic with our 600,000 subscribers, send us 50-70 witty words of wisdom and we’ll pick one each week. Be sure to double check your spelling, event dates, and locations. (That cute Corn-dogs ‘n Coleslaw stand in Boise may now be a Walmart.) Send your entry to us via our feedback page or e-mail. Include your name and hometown unless you’re in the witness protection program and prefer to remain anonymous.

Next Week’s Newsletter: Crop Circles

Thinking back but looking forward,

Steve and Paul, Kayak co-founders

Over the years, family vacation disasters have played out on the big screen from classics like National Lampoon’s Vacation to catastrophes like RV. Kayak wants to help make your summer vacation picture perfect with these unique trips ideas for the active family.

Yellowstone flights | hotels | cars
We did some digging around and found a dino-mite trip for your budding paleontologist at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center. The entire family can participate in a day-long dig. Special “Kids Dig” programs throughout the summer let parents drop off kids 8 to 12 years old for a day of digging, prospecting, and scavenger hunts on their own. Complete the day by visiting the museum to view over 200 displays, including dozens of full-size mounted skeletons. Yellowstone is just around the corner, so spend a few days hiking, biking and canoeing.

San Juan Islands flights | hotels | cars
You can go to Sea World and see trained marine life or experience these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat in the waters of the San Juan Islands. Some of the more common wildlife sightings include minke whales, dall’s porpoises, harbor seals, and river otters. The lucky might see the more exotic whales such as gray, orca, and humpback. The San Juan islands offer a diverse set of activities for everyone in the family, from kayaking around the beautiful waters of Lopez Island to hiking on Orcas Island to checking out one (or all!) of the three skateboard parks in the island chain.

Costa Rica flights | hotels | cars
Costa Rica is a great place for an up-close look at biodiversity, cut with plenty of adventure and fun for the whole family. The country’s friendly inhabitants, democratic and non-violent history (the country abolished its army in 1948), and an abundance of English-speakers make it a safe and easy international family destination. Text books come alive in Costa Rica, so foster a love of nature with an ecological and natural history tour through the rainforest. Take a zipline tour for an above the ground peek into the forest canopy. You can also find canoe rentals, horseback riding, mountain hiking, and plenty of beaches.

Charleston flights | hotels | cars
Need a little R&R with your activities? The resorts along South Carolina’s barrier islands are among the best family-friendly beaches in the country. Our favorites resort communities are Kiawah Island and Wild Dunes, both located a short drive from history-filled Charleston. Both resorts offer a wide range of kid-friendly activities, including nature workshops, bike and baby jogger rentals for seaside rides, and river cruises where you can watch for loggerhead turtles, alligators, and bald eagles. Go the weekend of May 18 for Tall Ships Charleston. In addition to really cool ships, the kids can also participate in pirate camps, sailing, rowing and family boat-building–all for free.

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  Cheap Flights to South Carolina
• Seattle
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• Yellowstone
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Trip Idea from a Featured Kayaker
We’ve gotten great suggestions from readers about their favorite places. This week, we’re trying a new feature and including a reader suggestion in the newsletter (thanks Allison). Yay or nay? Let us know what you think. Got an idea of your own? Share it with other readers

Hot Springs, NC flights | hotels | cars
Hidden in the mountains of Western North Carolina, 30 minutes from Asheville, is the excellent family adventure destination of Hot Springs. Outdoor activities include hiking or backpacking on the Appalachian Trail, whitewater rafting or canoeing on the French Broad River, not to mention fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, llama trekking, and most importantly, enjoying the natural hot springs. Lodging options accommodate all budgets and amenities, and include shelters and camping on the Appalachian Trail, campgrounds, both primitive and luxurious cabins, vacations homes, and bed and breakfasts. Insiders tip: visit during the annual Bluff Mountain Music festival, Saturday, June 9, which is a free event featuring some of the region’s best traditional and bluegrass music.

-Allison Taylor, Pisgah Forest, NC

Heading to Walley World,

Steve & Paul, Kayak.com co-founders