Where to eat, stay and play with Fido in America’s pet-friendliest cities

Dogs aren’t our pets, they’re our companions (If you want a pet, get a hamster). They hang with us in parks, restaurants, the beach and beyond. The following cities are the most woof worthy when it comes to pet-friendly accommodations, plus they boast fabulous places to eat and roam with Fido in tow. And hey, if your four-legged friend needs a break from sightseeing (or from you), there’s always Rover, the nation’s largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers.

RELATED: These really are the best hikes with dogs

Huntington Beach | Trover photo by Zac Batchelder

Los Angeles
With average daily highs of 71.7 degrees, it’s no surprise LA nabbed the top spot. What dog alive doesn’t want to stick her head out the window while cruising PCH in a convertible? LA boasts numerous pet-friendly lodgings and, of course, beaches and mountains.
EAT Is your pooch a Valley Grrrl? Blue Dog Beer Tavern in Sherman Oaks whips up burgers for both pooches and people, while HomeState in Loz Feliz offers doggie bowls, treats and hooks for leashes plus the best tacos in town—and long lines to prove it.
PLAY Leashed pooches are allowed at the north section of Leo Carrillo State Beach in Malibu (the beach is a stunner) and check out the views at 3-acre Laurel Canyon Dog Park, nestled in the Hills.
STAY The Loews Santa Monica (those ocean views!) rolls out the red carpet for dogs (and cats) with its “Loews Loves Pets” program featuring water bowls, leashes and litter boxes. Slap some diva sunglasses on Fido and check her in at the new Kimpton Everly Hotel, famously pet friendly and in the heart of walkable Hollywood.

Washington DC
If there’s one thing that’s nonpartisan about the nation’s capital it’s a mutual love of four-legged animals. Beyond the usual attractions (yes, leashed dog are allowed on the National Mall!), DC offers lush hiking trails and gardens for pooches and their people.
EAT You’ll want to mooch off your pooch when you see the tantalizing doggy menu at Art and Soul (think Bowser Beer and Pupsicles); Wet Dog Tavern serves up pup fare and brews and boasts DC’s first pet-friendly bar garden.
PLAY You probably won’t run into Bo Obama, but off-leash play areas S Street Dog Park and Shaw Park are a relative bone’s throw—make that stone’s throw—from the Mall.
STAY The Hounds on the Hill program at the Capitol Hill Hotel
includes personalized dog bowls, treats and embroidered dog beds ($150 per stay), while the Watergate Hotel (yes, the Watergate) welcomes all domestic pets up to 50 pounds.

Montrose Beach | Trover photo by Kayla Ferdon

Chicago
True, there’s a lot of brrr in the Windy City, but also a lot of grrr thanks to the city’s numerous dog parks and enviable walkability. Run Fido along the glorious Lakefront Trail and let him run wild at one of several off-leash beaches along the way.
EAT Benchmark in Old Town boasts an outdoor patio and separate doggie menu; Wednesday’s BYOD(og) program at Filini at the Radisson Blu features “Bad to the Bone” burgers and “Frosty Paws” sweet treats; and check out the “Bone Apetit” weekend happy hour at Nellcôte featuring food and beverages for pets and their people.
PLAY Run a leashed Fido along the glorious 606, a former rail line turned elevated greenway. The cutest-named off-leash dog park is surely Wiggly Field (get it?), but if you really want to put a smile on your pooch’s face, Montrose Dog Beach is paw’s down the city’ best (and busiest) off-leash dog beach.
STAY The Chicago Athletic Association Hotel might be the city’s coolest (you can’t beat a Shake Shack in the lobby) and welcomes all pets without fees; the fancy-schmancy James Chicago offers organic dog treats upon arrival and even room service—for Fido!

New York
America’s concrete jungle throws people and their pets a bone with numerous pet-friendly hotels and attractions—and one giant Park. It may not boast the wide open spaces of other cities, but you can believe that over-the-top pet perks abound.
EAT Two words: Shake Shack. The original location is a literal shack in the middle of Madison Square Park and while the queues can be maddening, doggie treats like dog biscuits with peanut butter sauce and vanilla custard make it worth the wait!
PLAY All NYC parks are off leash until 9am. Expect a frenzy of happy hounds at Long Meadow in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. Leashed pooches are also allowed to hit numerous NYC beaches, including Coney Island Beach and Brighton Beach between October and May.
STAY Dogs aren’t allowed on the celebrated High Line Park, but they’re sure as heck welcome at the High Line Hotel which also welcome kitties and has even hosted a doggy wedding!

Houston
A city of relentless sprawl, Houston’s intimidating layout makes it all the more rewarding to stumble upon its many dog-friendly eateries and Fido-welcoming green spaces. Than there’s the Texas hospitality. Everyone is going to adore you little four-legged friend!
EAT No one is cramped for space in Houston and that includes the dog-friendly patio at Heights Bier Garten. (It doesn’t hurt that the Heights is a super adorable ‘hood.)
PLAY Size matters. That’s why the Discovery Green, a large urban park in downtown Houston offers both the Kinder Large Dog Run and the Joe Foster Small Dog Run. A mere 45-minutes from the city, leashed dogs are welcome on all public beaches on Galveston Island!
STAY When your dog is, well, dog tired, stay at the dog-friendly Hotel ICON Autograph Collection and witness the revitalization of downtown. BONUS: Market Square Dog run is just one block away.

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Phoenix
In Sun City, the dog days of summer are virtually year round, but that’s okay because Phoenix offers plenty of respite for the weary pooch. The city is probably best known for its upscale resorts and abundant hiking where dogs are not only welcome, but encouraged.
EAT If there’s a dog-friendlier restaurant in Phoenix than OHSO Brewery and Distillery, we’d like to find it. All three locations boast patios with water fountains, play areas and leash clips.
PLAY Sadly, dogs have been banned from Camelback Mountain, but life is still bountiful for the hound who hikes. Cave Creek Regional Park, South Mountain and Phoenix Mountain Preserve among others all offer easy to strenuous hikes—leashed that is.
STAY Pets stay for free at retro charmer the Hotel Valley Ho (which boasts two swimming pools for humans). Pets also lodge free of charge at the hip FOUND:RE which also happens to be a short walk from Hance Park Dog Park.

Trover photo by Standby Sojourners

Atlanta
Sure summers can swelter, but the weather is other gorgeous most other times in the Deep South’s most cosmopolitan city. Atlanta offers plenty of swagger for people and their pooches, think strolling the Atlanta BeltLine or chilling at a local brewpub.
EAT A dog run and coffee shop combo, ParkGrounds is a local favorite. Atlanta also boasts pooch-welcoming outdoor patios like the ones at Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall and Hampton & Hudson.
PLAY The PeachTree state’s own version of the HighLine or Chicago’s 606, the Atlanta BeltLine is a renovated greenway that circles the city and welcomes dogs. Piedmont Dog Park and Freedom Barkway Dog Park are paws down the city’s best.
STAY The gorgeous Le Méridien Atlanta Perimeter welcomes dogs with paws wide open, including treats, water bowls and pet beds, for an additional $25/daily plus a $100 non-refundable cleaning fee.

Denver
Sunny, upbeat and a stone’s throw from the Rockies, it’s no surprise that Denver often ranks as one of the most pet-friendly cities in the country. BONUS: The city is only 40 minutes from Boulder, a dog-friendly paradise with a boho-chic vibe.
EAT Denver’s a brew town. Joints like Black Shirt Brewing Company and Denver Beer Co. have dog-welcoming beer gardens. The Watering Bowl is a Fido-focused restaurant and dog run!
PLAY In the shadows of kitschy Lakeside Amusement Park, off-leash Berkeley Lake Dog Park offers runs for both large and small pups. Meow! The Mile-High City has jumped on the cat cafe trend with kitty hangout Denver Cat Company. It’s simply purr-fect!
STAY The sleek Kimpton Hotel Born melds pet friendliness (no fees or weight restrictions) with a prime location inside Denver’s renovated Union Station. Railyard Dog Park is just a few blocks away. Super dog-friendly hotel The Curtis boasts its own K-9 Club and hyper-themed guest rooms like “Star Trek” and “Big Hair.”

Trover photo by Wildworld100

San Diego
LA could learn a thing or two from its southern sibling. San Diego’s numerous off-leash dog beaches put Los Angeles to shame; there’s even an upscale shopping mall with a dog park near the food court!
EAT We’re obsessed with Crack Shack, a chicken focused eatery in Little Italy. The entire restaurant is basically a sprawling outdoor patio and it’s all dog friendly. A stone’s throw from touristy Seaport Village, Sallys’ Fish House and Bar at the pet-friendly Manchester Hyatt offers a dog menu and Fido-friendly patio seating.
PLAY Dogs are literally spoiled for choice. Nate’s Point Off-Leash Dog Park and Fiesta Island Off-Leash Dog Park in Balboa Park and Mission Bay respectively, deliver unleashed doggy nirvana.
STAY The legendary Hotel Del Coronado is famously dog (and cat) friendly. Think treats upon arrival, a Sunday Yappy Hour, a Coronado Island pet guide and pet room service menu. Su-ruff Camp even teaches your dog how to hang ten (only in California, folks!).

Dallas
Smaller than Houston but more “big city” than funky Austin, cosmopolitan Dallas strikes just the right chord. Between a bustling downtown and funky neighborhoods like Deep Ellum, Montrose and Bishop Arts, there’s plenty to see and do for pets and their people.
EAT Two-in-one eatery and dog run Mutts Canine Cantina offers everything from mutt memberships to yoga for pooches and their people. Named for a pup, we adore the wood-fired pizzas at Cane Rosso. Not only is this ‘za hot spot dog welcoming, it even has its own dog rescue org—Cane Rosso Rescue!
PLAY Dallas is big, y’all! Run Fido hard at off-leash parks like Griggs Park and Wagging Tail Dog Park. Afterward, indulge your inner cowboy with a stroll through the pet-friendly Historic Fort Worth Stockyards.
STAY The gorgeous Joule hotel in downtown Dallas welcomes pets; be sure and snap a pic of Rover romping in front of the 30-foot “Eyeball” sculpture in the hotel’s pretty garden.

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