Top Dog-Friendly Activities Worldwide

Dogs are allowed on the beach, outside of the lifeguard-protected beach area, along the Maryland portion of Assateague National Seashore in Berlin. Pets are not permitted on the nature trails or anywhere within the Virginia portion of Assateague Island, and visiting pups must be on a six-foot leash at all times.

Jupiter Dog Beach is home to one of Florida's best off-leash beach areas. Dogs are free to roam a designated section of the beach running along A1A near Ocean Cay Park in Jupiter, FL. This 2.5-mile stretch of pet-friendly beach is located from beach marker #26 at Marcinski Road, going north to beach marker #57 (at the Carlin Park property line) and welcomes well-behaved, obedient dogs.

A visit to dog-friendly James Island County Park is a great way to spend an afternoon in Charleston, SC, with your pup. This park features a dog beach, four acres of open grassy space, a cleaning station, a fenced play area for small dogs and waste stations. A nominal fee is charged to enter the park.

Brohard Paw Park has a fenced dog play area featuring separate sections for small and large dogs, which leads to Sarasota County's only dog-friendly beach. Located in Venice, FL, pups are invited to enjoy a variety of park amenities, including drinking fountains and showers. There are also water fountains, picnic tables and benches. Please observe the posted signage stating where the dog beach ends.

Huntington Dog Beach in Huntington Beach, CA is considered a dog-friendly heaven by most visitors. Dogs come from all over the world to play in the sand and splash in the surf. Visitors are asked to abide by good doggy etiquette which includes properly disposing of pet waste and ensuring that your dog is non-aggressive and under control at all times. Dog Beach amenities include public restrooms, grassy area with picnic tables, and drinking fountains for dogs and humans.

Fantastic Caverns in Springfield, MO, is dog friendly! Because the beauty of Fantastic Caverns is vulnerable, the cave is toured in jeep-drawn trams. Since you ride all of the way through, you experience the magnitude, the stillness and the splendor of Fantastic Caverns while preserving its natural features. Leashed dogs are welcome to join their humans on tours.

North Side Park is a beautiful recreation area in Ocean City, MD featuring dog-friendly walking trails for you and Fido to enjoy. This 58-acre park is home to athletic fields, a foot bridge, a playground, picnic shelter, two piers and over one mile of walking paths. Dogs must be leashed at all times and cleaned up after during their visit.

Bring Fido on Biloxi Shrimping Trip in Biloxi, MS, and learn all about the shrimping industry on their dog-friendly, 60-minute tour. The staff is made up of a crew of dog lovers with an excellent knowledge of the Gulf Coast and the surrounding waterways. The waters are calm, and you might even spot a few dolphins along the way.

The dog-friendly Apple Barn & Cider Mill is a charming family-owned attraction in Sevierville, TN. Dogs are allowed in the farm store and winery, but not the Christmas store. Visitors can wander the orchards, enjoy apple fritters, candies, and hard ciders, and sample offerings at the on-site cidery and winery. The site also features a general store stocked with locally made jams, syrups, confections, and gifts, as well as a scenic riverside walk along the Little Pigeon River.

Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis, MO is dog friendly. Bring your dog for a walk on the trails around this park and enjoy views of the Gateway Arch. Be sure to check out their visitor center and ask how your pup can join the BARK ranger program. Dogs are welcome, as long as they are well-behaved and cleaned up after.

Nonpartisan Pedicab offers private, pet-friendly tours of Washington, DC in the back of a pedicab. You and your pooch can see the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the White House, the Smithsonian Museums, the US Capitol, and so much more. They stop at each monument and memorial to let you walk around and take pictures. The tours are always at your own pace and your own schedule. Dogs are always welcome on the tour at no extra cost. Furthermore, if you wish to go into any monument, they will be happy to take care of your dog while you walk around. This company was previously voted in the top 10 dog friendly tours in the US in a USAToday contest.

Well-behaved leashed dogs are allowed to join their owners in the pet-friendly outdoor areas and at the picnic tables at Avila Valley Barn in San Luis Obispo, CA. This popular spot is a great place to stop and buy fresh produce, including delicious fruit and vegetables that are grown locally. You and your pooch can pick up a pie or bakery treat to enjoy on the picnic tables, or grab an ice cream on the way to Avila Beach. There are hayrides, farm pets and you can even pick your own fruit. If Fido makes a mess, you'll find a pet waste station on the grounds, too.

The world's only Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant, WV, is dog friendly! Home of the original Mothman sightings, leashed pups of any size are welcome inside to view the most extensive collection of props from the Mothman Prophecies with you.

Fenwick Island State Park in Delaware has a nice, uncrowded, pet-friendly beach during winter. However, dogs are prohibited from May 1st to September 30th. However, pups are permitted in other areas of the park, provided they are kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet. The area offers three miles of ocean beaches and access to the Little Assawoman Bay. Boundary markers for areas open or closed to pets will typically be designated by signs posted at the seaward toe of the dune.

Take Fido for a splash at the pet-friendly Rosie's Dog Beach in Long Beach, CA! While not a fully fenced or officially designated dog beach, dogs are welcome to enjoy the sand and surf during the daily Dog Zone hours from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Be sure to keep your pup leashed on the way in, but once inside the designated area, they’re free to roam and play off-leash. For full guidelines and rules, check out their website.

The Coronado Dog Beach is a dog-friendly, leash-free area on the western part of the shore in Coronado, CA. Parking is available along Ocean Boulevard, but it can be a rather long walk to the beach, so be sure to keep your pup leashed until you reach the sand, as there is a strict zero-tolerance policy for unleashed dogs. Owners are asked to monitor their dogs at all times, clean up any messes, and ensure that Fido has all current licenses before visiting. Make sure to bring a camera and snap some photos of Fido with the stunning scenery! The Point Loma headland and iconic Hotel del Coronado are visible from the shore.

Perhaps the most popular canine hotspot in San Diego, CA is The Original Dog Beach located at the northern end of Ocean Beach. Here, dogs can roam off-leash at any time of the day. Owners should take care to pick up after their pets. After a day at the beach, you may want to head over to the Dog Beach Dog Wash to give Fido a bath.

Leashed dogs are welcome year-round at dog-friendly Fort Fisher State Park in Kure Beach, NC. This very wide beach is ideal for Fido to run and swim with other dogs. Explore the one-mile trail that traverses the salt marsh and ends at an observation deck with views of Zeke's Island and the Cape Fear River. Pet waste cleanup laws are strict, and bags are provided for this purpose.

Lazy Dog Adventures offers a few different pet-friendly excursions in Key West, FL. The first is a regular rental, which includes a kayak with your pooch across the channel and down the canal. There are plenty of birds and coconuts floating by along the way to keep your dog entertained. Option two is the doggie paddle. Several people take their dogs in the kayaks to a sandbar together. It's like a private island dog park, so your dog will be tuckered out for the rest of the day by the time you make it back to the marina. Lazy Dog is located on Stock Island, the first island north of Key West, at mile marker 4.

Acadia National Park has been a popular destination for dog owners for generations. Whatever you love to do in the great outdoors, you'll find an opportunity at this stunning, dog-friendly park in Bar Harbor, ME. Whether you are into camping, hiking, or kayaking, Acadia is the place for you and Fido! You can even get involved in geocache, check out the wildlife, fish, skijor, and more. With over 158 miles of hiking trails, 45 miles of carriage roads, and three campgrounds open to pets, you may never have enough time to explore every corner of this park, but even a glimpse will last in your mind for a lifetime.