visitors to experience the shops and sights of a quaint New England town and postcard-perfect nature on one easy walk.

The WOW Trail--which stands for the Winnipesauke, Opechee, and Winnisquam Lakes--is a work in progress. Currently just under a mile and a half long, it runs adjacent to the track for the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. (As an aside, should such train rides be your thing, note that "the Winni" only permits service dogs, unlike the dog-friendly Conway Scenic Railroad). The WOW Trail will eventually reach nine miles, connecting with a 27-mile-long bicycling and pedestrian trail around New Hampshire's Lakes Region.

As elsewhere around the country, fundraising for such trails is decidedly grassroots and often creative--such as the third-annual BOW WOW Fest to be held Saturday 4 May 2013. With a "pooch parade" blessing of the animals, and police K-9 demos, the event is one of several major annual fundraisers for further development of the WOW Trail.

Claire Hebert, the event's energetic volunteer coordinator, tells us the area has at least two dog-friendly lodging options. The Lake Opechee Inn and Spa is right on the WOW Trail itself. And in nearby Meredith, the Lodges at Church Landing on Lake Winnipesaukee also welcomes four-legged guests. The Lodges even donate $10 of their $25 pet fee to the New Hampshire Humane Society--something we've never seen before.

Touring the Lakes Region just for the day? After exploring Laconia on the WOW Trail, head over to the dog-friendly outdoor tables at Burrito Me for locally sourced burritos and New Hampshire craft beers, and some cool water for your canine companion.