Chicago-Based Road Trips to Take Your Dogs On This Summer

The weather is warming up and you know what that means; road trips! Here’s a few spots that you and your pups will love to travel to this summer. So let’s roll down those windows and hit the road!

Marquette, UP Michigan – 

Just above Wisconsin, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula offers breathtaking scenery. With countless tree-covered walking trails, hundreds of scenic lookouts, a coastline with beaches that stretch all along the lake; the UP truly has so much to offer for both you and your best furry friends. Take a windy drive up Marquette’s scenic 550 to arrive at Wetmore Landing. Follow the trail to the water and hit the beach! If it’s a gorgeous day, take a dip on the way out! Keep following the trail and prepare for exciting and ever-changing terrain: roots, rocks, boulders, bridges, rolling hills, etc. If you need a rest, there’s sitting areas along the trail to pause and catch your breath. Then you’ll discover amazing clifftop views of Lake Superior, stretching as far as your eyes can see. If you get lucky, you could even see the magical Northern Lights up there. Marquette has hundreds of other walking trails for you to check out as well!

 

Oglesby, Illinois –

Living in Chicago, you probably know of all the fun places to walk your pups already. But, just about an hour and a half southwest of the city, you can find the gorgeous Starved Rock State Park located in Oglesby. Starved Rock offers loads of fun for everyone with 13 hours of walking trails, warm beach areas, guided hikes, and even occasional live events throughout the season. More than 13 miles of trails allow access to waterfalls or natural springs, sandstone overhangs, and spectacular overlooks. Recreational opportunities abound, from hiking to camping to fishing and boating. This drive is short enough for a quick weekend day trip, or you can even rent out some cozy dog-friendly cabins on site to spend the night.

 

South Bloomingville, Ohio –

Hocking Hills State Park, just south of Columbus, is another great destination to bring the pups. While there are loads of dog-friendly trails in the wooded areas, surrounded by various waterfalls, cool stone bridges and gorgeous rock ledges, you and the pups can also explore Old Man’s Cave for a bit of a new environment! You might even come across the secret hidden waterfalls while exploring the cave. Make sure to bring your camera as this park offers a great photo op for you or your furry friends.

 

We hope you found some inspiration on where to take the pups as the weather gets warmer! These 3 road trips can offer you and your furry buddies an abundance of outdoor fun this season.

With love!

– Cusic Photo Team

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    Chicago Pet Photographer

    “Does she need a ribbon or a string? Because that cheers me up.” ❤️
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During his animal communication session, Wasabi told me he would give Gabriella all of his toys to make her smile. Then he wondered if she needed a ribbon or a string—because those are the things that cheer him up.
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Wasabi came to the studio with his mom, Nori, for The See Hear Love Project™, where animals participate in telling their own stories through animal communication, portraiture and film.
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Nori and Wasabi are available for adoption through SAYv Animal Organization. If their story speaks to you, maybe their forever home is with you. ❤️
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Sometimes love sounds like something enormous.
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And sometimes it sounds like:
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“I would give you all of my toys.”
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Seen. Heard. Loved.

@sayvanimalorg 
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#SeeHearLove #TheSeeHearLoveProject #SAYvAnimalOrganization #AdoptDontShop #AnimalCommunication #AnimalCommunicator #CatAdoption #ChicagoCats #ChicagoPetPhotographer
    This is pretty exciting.

**Bored Panda just featured The See Hear Love Project.**

The See Hear Love Project is the world’s only documentary storytelling project told from the animal’s perspective. 

Through animal communication, shelter and rescue animals share their own stories, and we create fine-art portraits and documentary films to help them be seen, heard, and adopted.

I’m incredibly grateful to the rescues who trusted us with their animals and their stories:

@onetailatatime
@sayvanimalorg 
@reddoorshelter 
@hinsdalehumanesociety 
@chicagolandpigrescue 

**Read the Bored Panda feature:**
https://www.boredpanda.com/see-hear-love-animal-project.../

**Watch The See Hear Love Project:**
https://youtube.com/shorts/18yGgXeEX-0?si=xp8lSbNR8OkKkSX8

https://www.boredpanda.com/see-hear-love-animal-project.../ See less
    The See Hear Love Project™ is the world’s only documentary project told from the animal’s perspective—combining animal communication, portrait photography and film to help animals be seen, heard and loved.
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George wandered into Owen’s backyard one winter.
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And stayed. ❤️
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During George’s animal communication session, I asked him about his life with Owen.
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Then George told me something wonderfully specific:
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“Cookies in bed make Owen happy.”
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Owen’s reaction says everything. 😂
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These are some of my favorite moments in animal communication. Sometimes what an animal shares is profound. Sometimes it’s heartbreaking.
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And sometimes a cat who wandered into your backyard knows exactly what makes you happy.
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Seen. Heard. Loved.
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The See Hear Love Project™
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#SeeHearLoveProject #AnimalCommunication #CatCommunication #RescueCat #AnimalStories #PetStories #AnimalCommunicator #ChicagoPets
    The See Hear Love Project™ wouldn't exist without the incredible rescue organizations that trusted me with the stories of the animals in their care.

Thank you for believing in an idea that was a little different, for opening your doors, and for introducing me to some truly unforgettable animals.

I'm so excited to share the latest sizzle reel for The See Hear Love Project™.

Every featured animal received a documentary film, fine-art portraiture, and an animal communication session designed to help people connect with the individual behind the adoption profile.

My hope has always been simple: to tell stories that help more animals find forever homes.

Thank you to every rescue, foster, volunteer, adopter, and supporter who has been part of this journey. This is only the beginning.
    Avalanche wasn't interested in being the center of attention.
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He just wanted to be close.
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Please visit my page to see Avalanche's full story.
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"I don't want
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to be alone."
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— Avalanche
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Seen. Heard. Loved.
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#TheSeeHearLoveProject #SeenHeardLoved #RescueRabbit @reddoorshelter
    Dama arrived at the studio in a wheelchair.
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That was the first thing I noticed.
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It was also the least interesting thing about her.
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What I remember is her determination.
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Her curiosity.
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Her joy.
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Please visit my page to see Dama's full story.
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"Maybe I'm not a misfit.
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I just have more to love."
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— Dama
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Seen. Heard. Loved.
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#TheSeeHearLoveProject #SeenHeardLoved #RescueDog
    I created The See Hear Love Project to help animals like Blanca.
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Painfully shy. Dumped on a road before the rain came. Nervous around strangers. Ears down. Tail tucked.
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For those new to the project, these are not carefree, well-adjusted animals. Many have experienced neglect, abandonment, fear, or loss.
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Sometimes we only get one photograph when they truly relax.
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Thankfully, we only need one.
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Please visit my page to see Blanca's full story.
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Special thanks to @sayvanimalorg for bringing Blanca to The See Hear Love Project.
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"All I want
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is to feel loved and safe."
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— Blanca
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Seen. Heard. Loved.
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#TheSeeHearLoveProject #SeenHeardLoved #RescueDog
    One of the best things about photographing Ramona is watching everyone react to a pig in the building.

People stopped.

They smiled.

They took selfies.

One gentleman asked if I could wait so he could FaceTime his girlfriend because she loves pigs.

The hardest thing about photographing a pig is that pigs don't stop moving.

Ever.

This portrait worked because Ramona kept walking in circles, allowing us to see her body and face at the same time.

Not shown: Ramona chewed up the paper backdrop on set. Her pig squeal echoed through the studio—loud, proud, and impossible to ignore, just like Ramona herself.

"Thank you

for saving my life."

— Ramona

The See Hear Love Project combines professional photography and animal communication. Each portrait is paired with one of the most powerful messages the animal shared during their communication session.

Seen. Heard. Loved.

@chicagolandpigrescue

#TheSeeHearLoveProject #RescuePig #SeenHeardLoved

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