The 15 Most Pet Friendly Destinations In America
So you may or may not know this on here but I take obsessed with my dog to another level. Which includes not just baking her an entire dog safe cake for her birthday and including her on the majority of our dates… it also means taking her with us on vacation whenever possible. Stella (my sweet 6 year old pup) has even stamped her non-existent passport and went to Canada with us when my husband was competing in a half iron man! Needless to say her and I had a lot more fun than he did that day exploring around the Niagara Falls area.
Anyway- let’s get back on track because today I am talking about the absolute best places to visit in America if you are brining your much loved furry family member(s) with you! Let’s get right into it so you can start planning your next trip with your pup in mind-
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The 15 Most Pet Friendly Destinations In America
Travel locations you can bring your pets to!
Austin, Texas
Austin is like the peak Millennial city (and as a millennial I say that with love) for a lot of reasons but the one we are focusing on here is that it is soooo pet friendly.
Filled with dog parks all over, dog focused bars, and patio weather all year round it is such an easy and fun trip to take your pet with. And make sure to prioritize a stop at Barton Springs Pool where your dog can even swim at! Perfect for cooling the pup down in the warmer months if that’s when your trip is.
Portland, Oregon
Portland loves all things eccentric and pets instead of kids is a prime example of that! The majority of breweries and coffee shops are pet friendly (often inside too nut just the patios) so you can enjoy two of the things Portland is known for (coffee and craft beer) while also spending time with your pet.
There is also multiple big pet focused events that take place in Portland so make sure to check those out if that interests you- you could even focus your trip around one of the events!!
San Diego, California
If you have a high energy dog like I do then San Diego has to be a top location for you to take them too. With both gorgeous beaches and hiking trails EVERYWHERE there is so many opportunities to explore nature and spend time with your dog. Also, finding dog friendly accommodations in San Diego is a breeze compared to so many USA hotspot destinations.
Asheville, North Carolina
I feel like I am talking a lot on here about Asheville recently and that is because I just shared an article all about the best brewery cities and Asheville is at the top of that list! But it also makes this list because basically every brewery in Asheville is not only pet friendly but pet welcoming!
Most breweries, cafes, and restaurants in Asheville will have dog watering bowls waiting for you around the patio and it is not uncommon to see a dog menu to feed your pup too!
Stella loves a brewery day- tipsy people giving her treats? The dream!
Also have to include one of the coolest things- the Biltmore estate that is one of the biggest and coolest tourist attractions in Asheville is also dog friendly. Which honestly is iconic of them and I plan on bringing my pup back there this summer (thankfully we only live a few hours away!).
San Francisco, California
San Francisco treats pets and their owners to with equal amounts of love! There are so many stunning scenic walks to take your dog on and a bunch of off-leash beaches if that is your speed.
Plus lots of unique and fun cafes and restaurants that also welcome pets- often indoors as well.
Seattle, Washington
Let’s be honest- for a similar reason and vibe as Portland, Seattle loves their pets. Plus the culture is so outdoor focused so not only is there hiking options so you and the pup can enjoy the views but there is also so many other outdoor activities to take them along with. Also- many of the ferries that can bring you around to the surrounding islands and activities are dog friendly! Transit being strictly not pet friendly is often one of the reasons we end up not bringing our dog when traveling so I was so excited to hear about their ferries!
Denver, Colorado
Denver is literally known for its love of dogs, with sooo many pet-friendly hotels and restaurants, more dog parks than you would ever need, and pet-friendly shopping centers. The nearby Rocky Mountains provide plenty of outdoor adventure opportunities for active pet too!
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston might surprise you on here but the first few times I went all I could think was “wow there are dogs everywhere” which for a major metro area was surprising! But there is honestly a kinder and more welcoming culture in Boston for dogs than people (same lol) and tons of the historic sites including the freedom trail are pet friendly!
Last time we stayed at the Staypineapple in Boston and saying it’s dog friendly is an understatement- when we checked in the front desk staff even had their dog with them Basically a dream come true!
Orlando, Florida
We spent a ton of time with Stella in Orlando and were so pleasantly surprised by how many parks, walking trails (in the downtown area) and restaurants were pet friendly. Plus with generally beautiful weather year round you can hang out on patios even in the winter with your pet.
Plus you’re only about 1.5 hours from dog friendly beaches too-
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Sante Fe has a slower pace than a lot of the cities on this list making it great for senior pups or dogs that get overwhelmed easily! Plus if you enjoy some great culture like beautiful parks and cool (lots are pet friendly) art galleries than this is the destination for you.
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago was actually one of the first places that we took Stella to! And I’ll admit it scared her at first (their train line is LOUD) but it’s so worth it. You gotta take your pup to the Navy Pier for a super fun day if you take them with to Chicago!
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is just a fun smaller beach city to visit in general but it is also a great dog friendly destination. So many of the famous restaurants allow dogs on their patios and even a lot of the shops on King St!
Also specifically the Folly Beach area is SO SO SO dog friendly! Seriously I swear we saw more dogs at restaurants and the beaches than we did humans.
New York City, New York
Alright so NYC has everything so things for dogs can’t really be that surprising…
But it had to make the list because I am pretty sure per capita it beats every other city on this list for dog friendly restaurants and hotels!
Also what would be cuter than bringing your dog along to explore everything that New York City has to offer?
Key West, Florida
Key west is a vibe. A chill and relaxed vibe which goes hand in hand with their love of pets and a chill approach that allows you to bring your pet with you basically everywhere! Plus, like Orlando the warm weather means patio season is basically year round.
Nashville, Tennessee
Outdoor concerts you can bring your dog too?? Yeah that is pretty much a music lovers dream right!
Plus with lots of breweries, bars, restaurants, coffee shops etc. there are lots of options and plenty of hotels and AIRBNBs that are pet friendly too. But the outdoor concerts are definitely the star of the pet friendly show!
Korra The Explorer
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