The time to get out and explore new cities and places with your pet is now! There are countless pet friendly destinations that will not only accommodate you and your furry best friend; they will cater to your pet's needs, making travel easy and enjoyable. We have selected our top eight cities to explore with your pet based on their hospitality of pets and their parents. These cities are not only unique destinations with a variety of pet friendly dining and lodging options, they have many types of pet friendly attractions for all different types of pets and people. Whether you are looking for a fun destination for your next weekend road trip or searching for a place to relocate with your four-legged family member, these cities won't disappoint!
1. Key West, FL
From the famous Duval Street to the sunsets at Mallory Square, Key West is the perfect city to unwind with your four-legged family member on your next vacation. The city hosts countless pet friendly dining options and bars, such as Island Dog Bar, which welcomes you to sip on their signature Key Lime Pie Martini as you listen to live music with your pet, and El Meson de Pepe, one of Key West's authentic Cuban restaurants. There are many pet-friendly resorts and hotels you can stay at with your pup, including Key West Sailing Adventures, a two bedroom sailboat you can board. You can bring your pet to Key West Dog Beach, which allows pets to be off leash or they can join you on the open seas as you snorkel, kayak, fish, or look for dolphins. There are multiple gardens and museums that are great pet friendly activites for you and your pup to dive into Key West’s unique history and culture, such as the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum, Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden, and Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden. If the weather does not cooperate for your outdoor pursuits, you and your pup can visit Key West's pet friendly aquarium or the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, which is home to nearly 50 polydactyl cats. A must see before you leave Key West is to watch Catman’s famous comedy routine with his team of trained cats, along with the performers and exhibits in the famous Mallory Square before sunset.
2. Chicago, IL
Don’t leave your pup at home the next time you visit the Windy City! Chicago has many hidden pet friendly attractions including Montrose Dog Beach, where your pup can run free, the Riverwalk, which is where Chicago’s largest piece of art depicts the city’s history, and multiple canine cruises and pet friendly sightseeing tours. You can also choose to canoe and kayak with your pup. Make sure to swing by Chicago Comics during your trip, a pet friendly comic book store. You can even choose to explore the city via carriage. There are many pet friendly dining options in the city, where you can sample Chicago's diverse cuisine, including Browntrout, a casual fine-dining restaurant that uses local and sustainable products, and Smoke Daddy, home to the city's most flavorful BBQ. After busy days spent site seeing with your pet, make sure to stop by one of Chicago’s pet friendly pubs or wine bars, like Jake's Pub, a historic bar that welcomes dogs, before heading to one of the many pet friendly hotels. Many of Chicago's pet friendly hotels cater to the needs of your pet, such as Aloft Chicago City Center, which offers a special bed, bowl and goodie bag of treats and toys for your pup, and Roscoe Village Guesthouse, a stylish bed & breakfast.
3. San Francisco, CA
From the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, Alcatraz, and the fisherman’s wharf, San Francisco is a unique destination with attractions for everyone. You will find attractions specific to you and your pup as you explore the city by the bay, including Barbary Coast Trail, Baker Beach, San Francisco Bay cruises, the Golden Gate Bridge, haunted walking tours, JAX Vineyard, Kite Hill Open Space, and multiple historic sites, such as the Presidio of San Francisco. San Francisco is also home to a diverse selection of pet friendly restaurants and bars. Enjoy delicious fresh seafood at Fisherman's Wharf Pier 39 and unique, local brews at Rogue Ales Public House. Stay at one of the city’s many pet-friendly hotels in the heart of San Francisco to have the complete San Fran experience. The Argonaut Hotel, located in San Francisco's Historic District, caters to your pup's every need and includes a cozy dog bed, a special bowl, yummy treats, and a list of pet friendly businesses near the hotel. Hotel Adagio Marriott Autograph Collection another historic hotel that offers special pet friendly amenities, such as dog beds, bowls, and treats.
4. Washington, D.C.
A tour of the nation’s capital would not be complete without your pup! The city has many great pet-friendly lodging options, including the Helix Hotel and The Carlyle Dupont Circle, which have pet beds, special bowls and treats, and a list of nearby pet friendly businesses. There are many pet friendly ways to see the sites of Washington, D.C., from Discover DC Pedicab Tours to various walking and ghost tours, such as DC by Foot and Washington DC Ghost Tours. If you and your pooch would like to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, there are pet friendly boating and fishing opportunities on the Potomac River. Key Bridge Boathouse the perfect spot in DC to canoe and kayak with your furry best friend, and the store even provides doggie life jackets. Popular pet friendly attractions of the city include the U.S. National Arboretum and the National Mall. Washington, D.C. has many pet friendly restaurants and bars, such as Banana Cafe & Piano Bar, which offers a unique fusion of Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Tex Mex cuisine, and Cork Wine Bar, an affordable and welcoming bar that offers wines from around the world paired with simple, local foods.
5. Austin, TX
Austin is not only considered the live music capital of the world, it is considered one of the most pet friendly cities in the United States, with many pet friendly activities. You and your pup can explore Austin’s pet friendly museums, such as Laguna Gloria, HOPE Outdoor Art Gallery, Zilker Botanical Garden, and pet friendly parks, such as Bull Creek District Dog Park. The city also has many pet friendly trails, such as Onion Creek District Park, which are a perfect get-away from the hubbub of the city. If you and your four-legged friend want to relax together, Austin offers doga classes and no experience required! Pet-friendly lodging are abundant in Austin, such as Aloft Austin at The Domain, which offers a special doggie bed, bowl, treats, and other goodies for your pup, or The Deep Eddy House, a pet friendly bed & breakfast. These lodging options make it easy for pets and their parents to relax after a day of exploring the city. A trip to Austin would not be complete without trying some of the city's many unique pet friendly dining options. 360 Uno Espresso and Vino offers pizza, pasta, coffee, wine, and more to pets and their parents, while El Mercado offers a taste of the areas famous Tex Mex cuisine.
6. Savannah, GA
There is nothing better than exploring the cobblestone streets of Savannah with your furry best friend. Savannah not only is host to countless pet-friendly historical attractions, it is a pet-friendly city that allows leashed pets in all city parks and squares. Your pet is welcome to accompany you to museums, such as the Georgia State Railroad Museum and countless tours of the city, including ghost tours, movie tours, and carriage tours. You can also visit many of Savannah’s famous sites with your pup, such as Old Fort Jackson, Bonaventure Cemetery, Battlefield Memorial Park, Wormsloe State Historic, and Fort Pulaski National Monument. You and your pup can revel in Georgia's natural beauty with a trip to Skidway Island State Park, which has several trails, salt marshes, shorelines, and forests. Savannah’s countless pet-friendly dining options including J. Christopher's, which offers your brunch favorites in Savannah's Historic District, and Moon River Brewing Company, which has a beer garden and an eclectic cuisine. You can stay in the heart of Savannah at Joans on Jones B&B, a restored Victorian townhouse that provides special doggie treats for their four-legged guests. If you would like to stay in more modern and urban pet-friendly lodging, Andaz Savannah is a fashionable, urban escape near the historic district that offers a doggie bed, two bowls, and gourmet treats for your pup.
7. Philadelphia, PA
“The City of Brotherly Love” is also a city of pet love! Philadelphia contains many important sites in United States history and welcomes you to visit many of them with your pet. There are many types of pet friendly walking tours, including a constitutional walking tour and a ghost tour. You are also welcome to bring your pooch to many historic sites, such as the Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site, Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site, and Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Historic Site. There are also much more pet-friendly activities in Philadelphia than historic attractions. You can experience Philadelphia’s distinctive flavor with visits to parks, Schuylkill River Dog Run, and Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens. There are also plenty of restaurants with outdoor seating areas, taverns, and wine gardens, where you can enjoy Philadelphia’s cuisine and brews with your pup. Sample Philly's famous cheese steaks at Gino's Steaks, or stop by Varga Bar to enjoy All-American craft beers and comfort food. You and your pet can get some R&R after a busy day in the city with one of their many pet-friendly lodging options. Palomar Philadelphia offers doggie beds, bowls, and treats to accommodate your pet's needs, while South Bridge Bed and Breakfast is minutes from the Liberty Bell Center and other attractions.
8. Asheville, NC
Asheville is a hidden gem for pets and their parents. For art lovers, the city has a couple of pet friendly art galleries. For adventure seekers, you and your pup can tour the city with float trips down the French Broad River. Of course a trip to Asheville is not complete without a visit to the famous Biltmore Estate. Although pets are not allowed inside the mansion, the estate’s extensive and equally beautiful gardens and grounds are open to explore. Other pet friendly activites not to miss include the Asheville Pinball Museum, walking tours, ghost hunting excursions, Asheville Urban Trail, and pet friendly breweries. If you and your pup are weary from your adventures, Asheville Bike Taxi is a fun alternative to walking. The city offers a plethora of pet friendly restaurants and bars to satisfy your cravings. You can enjoy upscale comfort food at Asheville's Sunny Point Café or American cuisine and a brew at Westville Pub with your pooch. Asheville's pet-friendly lodging options are diverse and they include Barkwells Vacation Retreat, which has cabins with individual fenced in yards for your pet to roam and provides doggie beds and bowls. 1900 Inn on Montford is a pet friendly bed & breakfast that includes a doggie trundle bed, personalized treats, and a fenced in garden.
Author: Caroline Waller
Caroline is a full time student studying English and journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill. An avid pet lover, she is excited to be able to work with TripsWithPets.com as a marketing intern. In her spare time Caroline enjoys curling up with a good book and her beloved cats, Buttercup and Butternut, and spending time with her family.