Bring Fido to Seattle, WA for an amazing dog-friendly weekend getaway. The city is bustling with activity and there’s always something new to experience with your canine companion. From exploring waterfront sculpture gardens and cruising around Lake Union on a tour boat to scary ghost tours and culinary experiences where your pup has his own menu, there are more than enough ways to fill a weekend in the dog-friendly Emerald City!
A Weekend in Dog-Friendly Seattle
Posted by Erin Ballinger
Friday
3 p.m. Ace Hotel Seattle
Check in with Fido at the Ace Hotel Seattle, the flagship location of the minimalist chain, situated in the heart of Belltown. Once a hotel for maritime workers, this minimalist property is housed in a historic building that features loft-style rooms adorned with local artwork. Dog bowls are available upon request and all rooms are equipped with human toiletries like shampoo and body wash. Ace Hotel's 28 rooms feature high ceilings, hardwood floors and flat-screen televisions. The hotel’s 14 standard rooms share five public bathrooms, so book a deluxe room if you and your pooch prefer not to share. Two dogs of any size are permitted for no additional fee.
4 p.m. Olympic Sculpture Park
Stretch your legs and explore the Belltown neighborhood with your leashed pup on a stroll to the nearby Olympic Sculpture Park. You and your cultured canine can get some exercise while walking through Seattle Art Museum’s award-winning, nine-acre sculpture park along the waterfront. Olympic Sculpture Park is also Seattle’s largest downtown green space. The park is open daily from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset and admission is free.
5:30 p.m. The Center for Wooden Boats
Give your pooch a view of Seattle from the water with a pre-dinner, sunset float on Lake Union in a rental from The Center for Wooden Boats. The livery’s fleet of dog-friendly rental boats includes classic wooden sail and row boats. Hourly rental rates are $35 for a kayak or canoe, $40 for row boats, and $50 for small sailboats (and a sailing checkout lesson is required). The Center for Wooden Boats is open year-round Wednesday through Sunday and hours vary by season. Remember to bring Fido’s PFD and keep him on a leash while on the docks.
8 p.m. Pub 70
After the busy afternoon, unwind at Pub 70. The pet-friendly restaurant allows dogs inside and out, has a dog menu, and serves creative food and cocktails for humans. Enjoy pier side views from the dog-friendly patios while you nosh on yummy fish and chips, creamy clam and leek chowder, or the Pub 70 Reuben sandwich. Fido will be licking his chops in anticipation of whatever you choose for him from the Doggy Menu. With options including chicken or fish and rice, doggy meatloaf, and carrot sticks, he won’t be disappointed!
10 p.m. Hula Hula
Let Fido howl at the moon at Hula Hula, a tiki bar that allows canine companions inside and offers karaoke every night. Enjoy an after-dinner drink and gain some liquid courage to belt out your favorite tune with classic tiki concoctions like mai tais, pina coladas, painkillers, plus giant fish bowls of libations to share (or not). Water bowls are provided for dogs inside the bar and on the ample patio.
Saturday
8 a.m. Portage Bay Cafe
Break the fast with your pup on the covered patio (with space heaters for chilly mornings!) at Portage Bay Cafe, a dog-friendly eatery bordering the University District that focuses on local, sustainable fare. Breakfast is served all day in addition to burgers and sandwiches. Making a decision on what to eat will be tough with solid choices like the goat cheese omelet, vegan banana pancakes, migas, and biscuits and gravy. Be sure to treat your pooch to some of Portage Bay Cafe’s delicious organic eggs.
9 a.m. Warren G. Magnuson Park Off-Leash Dog Area
Spend the morning at Warren G. Magnuson Park Off-Leash Dog Area, Seattle’s most popular dog park and one of the nation’s best dog parks. Located within the Emerald City limits, this 8.6-acre recreational space is adjacent to Lake Washington, the second-largest lake in the state. Fido can stroll the paved trails, burn off some energy in the park's open spaces, then dip his paws in the water from the lake’s sloped shoreline and beaches.
10 a.m. The Seattle Barkery’s Treat Trailer
The fun doesn’t stop there. Setting up a permanent camp where they are needed most, The Seattle Barkery’s Treat Trailer’s favorite parking space is within the off-leash area. Get your dog a snack from its hand-crafted menu which includes bacon pupcakes, mini cheezy donuts and doggie ice cream sundaes. Treat yourself to a drink from the trailer, too.
12 p.m. Bongos
Enjoy the casual, beachy atmosphere while you dig into authentic Cuban and Jamaican cuisine at Bongos. The covered, dog-friendly patio area tables are sitting in the sand, transporting you to a sunny beach in the Caribbean. Try the Desi Sandwich (Bongos take on the Cubano), West Indies Plate, or the Bongo Burger for a satisfying lunch. Order from the counter and they’ll bring it to your table. Soft drinks, beer and wine are available to wash it all down.
2 p.m. Seattle Water Tours Ice Cream Cruise
Bring Fido and climb aboard the Seattle Water Tours Ice Cream Cruise at Lake Union Park for a pretty sweet time. You’ll embark on a 45-minute trip around Lake Union for a narrated tour on Motor Vessel Fremont Avenue. Ice cream, Frosty Paws dog ice cream, non-dairy frozen goodies, snacks and beverages are available for purchase onboard. The Ice Cream Cruise operates seasonally on Sundays from March through October, and on Saturdays and Sundays from mid-June through late August. Tickets cost $18 for those 13 and up, $13 for children 3-12, and $5 for children 2 and under.
3:30 Bark! Espresso
Since you’re in a city synonymous with coffee, stop by Bark! Espresso for Fido to refuel. Four-legged customers needing an afternoon pick-me-up can kick back in the indoor Hound Hangout dog lounge while sipping a Pooch Latte, a flavorful peanut butter drink brewed just for canines. The menu for humans features Caffe Vita espresso, fresh-baked cookies, muffins and bagels. Dogs are also permitted on the spacious outdoor patio, weather permitting. After you’ve gotten your coffee fix, head back to the hotel to relax before dinner and the evening’s activities.
6 p.m. Norm’s Kitchen & Bar
You can’t make a trip to Seattle without visiting Norm’s Kitchen & Bar. This uber-dog-friendly establishment welcomes pets and their owners inside and out. The decor even features canines! Norm’s has a puppy menu with items like chicken or beef bow wow bowls, pupcakes and other delicacies like pig ears and chicken feet. You’re sure to find something to love off of the human menu that features chicken wings, steaks, burgers, and sandwiches. There’s a full bar, too.
8 p.m. Seattle Terrors
After dinner, make your way to Pike Place Market for a pet-friendly ghost tour with Seattle Terrors. Are you ready to get spooked by some of Seattle’s oldest and most unruly ghosts? Then you’ll want to take this tour with your pooch and uncover the city’s sordid and scintillating past. The standard tour includes a fair amount of walking and you’ll cover about a mile in 60 minutes with eight stops. Tours cost $30 for adults, $21 for children under the age of 13, and well-behaved dogs are free.
9:30 p.m. Old Stove Brewing
If you’re up to it, swing by Old Stove Brewing at the Pike Place Market to sample local craft brews. Fido is welcome to join you on the patio where you'll have an amazing view of the city lights along the bay. Try one of the many craft beers on tap or a specialty cocktail, and end the day on a sweet note by pairing it with the brewpub’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Skillet topped with vanilla ice cream, beer caramel, and cacao nibs.
Sunday
8:30 a.m. Kaladi Brothers Coffee
Sip a cup of good coffee at Kaladi Brothers Coffee, an Alaskan company with Seattle roots that loves dogs. Pick up a caffeinated beverage and a pastry at this pet-friendly coffee shop and drink it inside or on the sidewalk patio with your pup. Be sure to save room for an early brunch!
9 a.m. Washington Park Arboretum
Spend Sunday morning enjoying the beauty of Washington Park Arboretum, a dog-friendly urban oasis located on the shores of Lake Washington. Jointly managed by the University of Washington Botanic Gardens and the City of Seattle, its 230 acres contain a plethora of plants, some found nowhere else in the Northwest. Take Fido for a walk through the pet-friendly arboretum to get in touch with nature and burn off some energy. Admission to Washington Park Arboretum is free.
11 a.m. Kiss Cafe
For brunch, check out Kiss Cafe, a “pupular” restaurant with dog owners because they’re allowed inside and out. The restaurant’s menu ‘keeps it simple’ and serves breakfast all day in addition to hot-pressed sandwiches, salads, soups, and desserts. Try the Battered Elvis, a French toast creation stuffed with peanut butter and bananas and topped with cinnamon and honey. Pair it with a mimosa or one of the restaurant’s many craft beers and you’re all set.
12:30 p.m. Dogwood Play Park and Depart With a Dog-Tired Fido
Before you depart the Emerald City, wear out your four-legged friend at Dogwood Play Park, an indoor/outdoor off-leash dog park and bar. Fido can run, play and socialize in a safe environment while you unwind with a relaxing drink. Pups can romp around both the indoor and outdoor areas which are equipped with play structures such as tunnels and giant oversized tires. Visitors are welcome to join in the fun if they pay for a "drop-in" single visit, or locals can purchase a monthly or annual membership. Dogwood Play Park’s the “pawfect” place to end your trip in dog-friendly Seattle so your furry travel companion will be dog-tired for your car ride or flight back home.
Where is your favorite place to visit with Fido in Seattle? Leave a comment or tweet us @BringFido!
Banner photo by BringFido/Michelle.