transportation

Back in 2005, Honda featured a minivan that was made for you and your best friends — furry and non-furry alike. With passenger seating for up to six people, you'd think there would be plenty of room for Fido to ride along without any problems. But Honda thought that having an abundance of room wasn't enough. The "Dog Car," based on Honda's "Wonderful Open-Hearted Wagon" (or W.O.W) concept, had a spot for your pooch either right up front in the dash or in the second row seat in a popup dog crate that folds down into the floorboards when not in use.

Even better, the "Dog Car" offered wider doors and a floor-mounted seat belt to secure your larger breeds. My question is: where are you, Dog Car!? Although this was a concept in Japan four years ago, it would be amazing to check this out now. I'm sure there are plenty of dog owners that could benefit from the car's safety features and the convenience of having a builtin crate for your dog to ride easy. If the "Dog Car" were real, would you consider driving it?

I never thought I'd want to live in an old boxcar, until I saw this cheerful cafe built into a converted train on Treehugger. Located in Deptford, London, the pop-up shop is selling sustainably farmed coffee while the nearby train station, originally built in 1836, is being renovated.

I'm surprised how sunny and spacious the space is. It makes me want to park an old train car outside my house and use it as a guest quarters. With so many old railway cars around, I wonder why more people don't do this. What do you think of the idea?

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If you happen to be in Kobe, Japan, make sure to ride the rails, since through May 6th, the train is decked out in Ikea seating and textiles. The Kobe Portliner Monorail has been decorated in Ikea gear to celebrate the launch of an Ikea store at Port Island.

I know that I get tired of the bland interiors of my train. Don't you think it would be refreshing and reinvigorating to ride in one of these?

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We talk so much about crates and carriers, and how handy they are when it comes to travel, but the design of this carrier seems to be totally unique . . . and perfect for the kitties! Sleepypod Mini ($134.50) is a plush resting place for your tiny pal (under eight pounds) that's easy to care for, and best of all — take anywhere. Since I can't stress enough about how important car safety is, this carrier is PetSugar approved, since both the sleek Sleepypod and Sleepypod Mini come equipped to be buckled in while your animal sleeps inside.
I remember trying to lure my childhood cat, Precious, into one of those standard plastic carriers — there wasn't a single appealing thing about it and, I swear when she saw it, she knew it was time for the vet! This carrier, however, could easily double up as a pet's bed – with the removable top off — and it seems easier to coax a kitty inside this cuddly creation than a hard, sterile one. To make nap time even cozier, Sleepypod has an available Warmer ($55) that slips into the bottom layer, keeping your pets comfy on chilly nights . . . and, just to get a little more geeky, it even has a car adapter to keep the toasty warmth coming on the road! Maybe this should have been a Spoiled Sweet or Rotten poll, no?

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Taking a trip on a bus or streetcar in Seattle with your pooch is super easy as lap dogs ride free and large, leashed pups are welcome at your feet for a fee! Did you know that Washington State's ferry system is the largest in the nation? With boats traveling to several outlying islands (my favorites are the San Juans), this is a great adventure to take with your pets. The boat rules are fairly straightforward:

• If the ferry has outside stairwells, pooches are allowed on the car deck and on the outdoor decks above the car deck.
• If the ferry has indoor stairwells, dogs are only allowed on the deck where they boarded the ferry. So, if you drive on board, pup must remain on the car deck and, if you walk onto the boat, your dog is welcome on the outside deck where you boarded, not the other decks.
• And, best yet, pooches ride free!

Click here to share your own tips with PetSugar's Out and About travel group – and stay tuned as our week of Washington continues!

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