Have you ever considered how far you walk with your dog? If you walk just 15 minutes a day you will have walked far enough in your dog"s lifetime to cross the United States. With all that walking ahead of you, aren"t you ready for a new place to take a hike? This new book seeks to help you flush out those great hiking spots for your dog. DOGGIN" NORTHERN VIRGINIA: THE 50 BEST PLACES TO HIKE WITH YOUR DOG IN NOVA explores the state"s best trails with your best friend in mind. While walking the dog, author Doug Gelbert also brings along generous helpings of local history, botany, geology, architecture and more. Northern Virginia can be a fantastic place to hike with your dog. After a short drive you can be hiking with your dog on sand trails, climb hills that leave you and your dog panting, walk on some of the most historic grounds in America, explore the estates of America"s wealthiest families or circle lakes for seven miles and never lose sight of the water. Also included are Atlantic beach regulations for dogs...outfitting your dog for a hike...low impact hiking with your dog...Doggin" the Chesapeake Bay...area campgrounds...and much more. DOGGIN" NORTHERN VIRGINIA: THE 50 BEST PLACES TO HIKE WITH YOUR DOG IN NOVA is whimsically illustrated with original drawings by award-winning artist Andrew Chesworth. What makes a great place to take your dog hiking? Well, how about a paw-friendly surface to trot on? Grass and sandy dirt are alot more appealing than asphant and rocks. A variety of hikes is always good - long ones for athletic dogs and short ones for the less adventurous canine. Dogs always enjoy a refreshing place to swim as well. Our guides focus on the parks that are good choices to take your dog. We"ll tell you the ones dog owners needn"t bother with and feature the places that welcome your dog. For dog-friendly parks we describe the trail options for your dog, evaluate park traffic from other users, tell you whether you will need a guide dog to find your way around and, of course, tell you how to get to the park.