DOG-FRIENDLY PARKS IN ALBANY, OR

Living up to its welcoming name, this Portland-area city of 57,000 spreads across the fertile Willamette Valley where mild, wet winters transition to dry, warm summers. The valley's agricultural heritage remains visible in the surrounding farmland, even as suburbs expand eastward. January temperatures hover in the low 40s while July climbs into the low 80s, with the city receiving about 42 inches of rain annually—most falling between October and May. The Cascades provide a dramatic eastern backdrop to this quietly growing community.