An article last month in The Washington Post sang the praises of Asheville as "Dog City USA." It's written from the perspective of dog owner Melanie D.G. Kaplan, who brought her dog Hamilton to Asheville for a visit. "In just two hours, this mountain town in Western North Carolina blew his little beagle mind," writes Kaplan.

Kaplan says "Asheville is nirvana for dogs and humans who love the outdoors... I learned that this progressive city is canine-friendly in ways that go far beyond biscuits." She took "Hammy" on a dog-friendly tour offered by The Dog Door that stopped at Three Dog Bakery, ZaPow, Tasty Beverage Co., and Catawba Brewing -- all welcoming to dogs. Hammy also enjoyed "a gorgeous meal of diced carrots, sweet potato, zucchini and salmon" prepared by the Twisted Laurel restaurant.

Read more about Kaplan's experiences here. Aren't we lucky to live in "Dog City"?