America…a nation united by dogs. According to the Humane Society, 47% of households have at least one. Of course, some American cities outshine the rest when it comes to welcoming dogs. With ample outdoor space and cultural activities catering to canines, these are the most dog-friendly cities in America.
Austin, TX
Temperate weather means outdoor dining all year long at Austin’s many dog-friendly restaurants. There’s also Bow-Wow Bones, a mobile food truck for dogs, where your foodie Fido can browse the menu and choose his favorite treat. After lunch, wait 30 minutes then go for a swim at Red Bud Isle, a popular dogs-only swimming spot.
Boulder, CO
Boulder is surrounded by miles of hiking trails where you and your dog can explore the Rocky Mountain foothills together. Boulder also boasts a long list of dog-friendly patios where you can enjoy a local brew while your dog guzzles down a bowl of fresh mountain water.
Charleston, SC
Dog Fancy recently named Charleston “the Southeast’s best city for dogs,” and it’s easy to see why. Charleston’s southern charm, history, and beautiful beaches are all accessible to dogs. You can even relax with your pooch at Yappy Hour at the park.
Chicago, IL
Say “Chicago dog” and some people may picture a very specific kind of sausage, but a true Chicago dog has a world-class city at its paws. In Chicago, dogs are welcome to take a dip in Lake Michigan at Montrose Dog Beach, romp around any of the 23 dog-friendly local areas, and join their humans on an architectural history cruise.
Nashville, TN
Nashville’s famous Centennial Park houses an off-leash area and a replica of the Greek Parthenon, so you and your dog can burn off steam and take in culture all in one place. Centennial Park also hosts dog-friendly music, movie, and art events throughout the year. We’re not saying you should move to the city for one park, but, well, it’s a pretty swell park!
Omaha, NE
This artsy midwestern metropolis is a rising star in the realm of dog-friendly cities. In recent years, Omaha has added several dog parks, an annual Canine Carnival, and even an upscale women’s boutique with a “paw friendly” policy.
Portland, OR
Portland is an active dog’s dream, with the most dog parks per capita in the country according to Forbes Magazine. Meet-ups like the Pug Crawl and Pit Bull Parade ensure fun for dogs of all sizes. Portland is also famous for its food cart pods, where well-behaved dogs are welcome to hang (and maybe sneak a bite of your falafel).
San Diego, CA
Does your dog hang ten? In addition to its natural beauty and idyllic climate, San Diego is home to the annual Surf Dog Competition. If extreme sports aren’t your thing, don’t worry: San Diego also has countless dog parks, dog boutiques, and dog-friendly breweries to keep you and your best friend busy.
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco has a longstanding reputation as a dog-friendly city, with beautiful parks, fun & funky shopping, and an annual DogFest. But if San Fran’s rents are out of reach, try nearby Berkeley and Oakland; the entire Bay Area is known as one of the most dog-friendly parts of the country.
Seattle, WA
Seattle is the king of dog-friendly cities, inviting people & their pooches to live life fully with dog-welcoming workplaces, human/dog tandem fitness classes, and a dog-inclusive Sunday Ice Cream Cruise. And don’t worry: if your dog doesn’t like Seattle’s legendary rain, there’s always the indoor dog park!
Did we miss your city? Make your case for its dog friendliness in the comments!
Top image via Flickr/Tanya
Of course not one NE or Mid-atlantic city.
I moved form Houston to just outside Austin. I have been very disappointed in the Dog Parks. We are going to try out the San Antonio Dog Park scene.
What about Santa Fe New Mexico?
San Francisco is only pet-friendly for homeowners and rich people. If you are looking to rent in San Francisco(which is hard enough as it is) you will be hard pressed to find a place that allows dogs. Only if you can afford to live in a luxury high rise will you find a pet friendly building. It’s sad because when it comes to being out with your fur baby, San Francisco is incredibly dog friendly. However, nobody seems to have told the landlords that, and they continue to discriminate against people with pets of any kind. :(
For example, if you are searching for say, a studio under $1500 a month, the initial craigslist search will return several hundred listings. Put on the dog filter and that number drops to 12. And half of those are miscategorized or scammy looking. So, about 6. It’s godawful ridiculous. I want a dog so badly, but I’m going to have to leave San Francisco to make that dream happen.
Actually you CAN NOT visit “the bean” aka cloud gate in Chicago. They don’t even allow dogs in Millenium Park. We have also encountered restaurants with outdoor seating in Chicago that will not allow dogs.
Actually you can’t take your dog to visit the Bean in Chicago. Dogs are not allowed in certain city parks like Millennium Park and Maggie Daley park. There are plenty of other city dog parks though and dog beaches like Montrose and Belmont Harbor.
Thanks, Corey and Amanda! We’ve made an edit to reflect this.
C’mon…Bend, OR is easily the most dog-friendly city.