No need to leave your pup at home when you head out for a vacation. These dog-friendly destinations around the U.S. love your four-legged BFF just as much as you do, and there are plenty of spots in each town to enjoy alongside your pet.
These finds are fun for the whole family, whether you’re looking for a spot to dine or drink with your dog at your feet or an entertainment district where your pooch can meet and greet other playful pets. They can live their best lives while you’re living yours.
Orlando
International Drive, smack-dab in the middle of Orlando’s tourism corridor, is a human’s playground, but there are plenty of options to enjoy alongside your pet.
Fill the food dish at dog-friendly Aloft Orlando International Drive and then head to Shingle Creek Regional Trail, at the Everglades headwaters, for nature trails, kayaking and birding. There’s a pet-wash station, as well as fenced-in, off-leash dog parks for both small and large breeds.
Take a walk around Lake Eola at the center of downtown Orlando and enjoy the public art displays, the Sunday farmers market and a little off-leash time at the Thornton Park off-leash park.
Stop for brunch at one of the nearby restaurants with dog-friendly patios, including The Stubborn Mule and burger paradise, Graffiti Junktion.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
The new W XYZ bar at the Aloft Chattanooga Hamilton Place has “elevated” pet-friendly fun, so enjoy handcrafted cocktails, fireside outdoor seating and games with your pooch along for the ride.
Along the Tennessee River, enjoy the promenade down Market Street, where locals bring out their breeds to stroll and sniff. Stop by Hair of the Dog Pub for a bite, where you’ll find dog bowls filled with fresh water, as well as pool tables, darts and a casual Chattanooga vibe the humans are sure to dig.
Ocean City, Maryland
The pet-friendly, waterfront Aloft Ocean City is just steps from the area’s vibrant social scene — welcoming to those with both four legs and two — and the famed boardwalk, which lines miles of beach.
Many of the sandy strands here are perfect for pups, including the dog playground on 94th Street, Homer Gudelsky Park on Old Bridge Road and Northside Park, whose pier is perfect for the end of a long walk.
Along the strip of Ocean City’s famous beachfront highway, dog-friendly restaurants abound, including the adorably named Tailchasers Restaurant & Dock Bar and Buxy’s Salty Dog Saloon, an excellent place to catch a game while your pupper feeds at your feet.
New York City
You can’t beat the view of the Manhattan skyline from Long Island City, so you’ll want to park yourself on the rooftop at Aloft Long Island City-Manhattan View, a city-lover’s pet-friendly paradise.
Just down the street, spend time taking in the city sights at Hunter’s Point South Dog Run, open until 10 p.m., so you can see the Big Apple’s lights sparkle across the East River.
You can both “sit” and “stay” at LIC Bar, which features a beautiful, dog-friendly backyard garden, or enjoy sips at Fifth Hammer Brewing Company or Rockaway Brewing Company.
Chicago
You won’t have to go far to see some of Chicago’s most popular tourist spots, including Navy Pier, the shores of Lake Michigan, and Millennium Park, if you check into Aloft Chicago Mag Mile.
Take your doggo to the popular pet-friendly beaches of Lake Michigan, including Montrose Beach and Belmont Harbor Dog Beach, both just off Lakeshore Drive.
Looking to cool off after your swim? Watering holes in Chicago are perfect places for your pup to catch a cool drink and a nap while you people-watch on the patio, including Bucktown Pub and the River Shannon, an old-timey Irish fixture on Armitage Avenue since 1946.
Minneapolis
Recently renovated and primed to welcome you and your pupper, the Aloft Minneapolis is ideal for a Twin Cities getaway. Brunch on crab Benedict or lobster scrambled eggs at nearby Smack Shack, where they’re happy to seat you and your dog together. Later, head to Indeed Brewing to continue the fun with a craft brew on the patio.
For lunch, snag a table for both of you at The Howe Daily Kitchen & Bar, where they even have an entire menu dedicated to doggos. Fido can feast on the Woof Woof Bowl or the NE Pup Burger, a 1/3-pound burger served on organic jasmine rice, veggies and sweet potatoes. Bow wow.
El Paso, Texas
Part of the revamped O.T. Bassett Tower (no relation to the hound), the Aloft El Paso Downtown is pet-friendly and near many of the area’s best parks and cultural hot spots, including the historic Mission Trail, where visitors can take in the beautiful architecture of the Ysleta, Socorro and San Elizario missions.
The free concert series at Speaking Rock Entertainment Center offers live, outdoor, pet-friendly entertainment every night of the week.
Because El Paso enjoys sunshine almost year-round, there are lots of covered and uncovered pet-friendly patios, including at D’Lox, where servers will supply dogs with fresh ice water right away.
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