| It is hard to imagine many places a dog
| |
| |
|
| is happier than at a beach. Whether
| |
| | south below Daytona, dogs are almost
|
| running around on the sand, jumping in
| |
| | universally banned from the sand.
|
| the water, digging a hole or just lying
| |
| | Jupiter, on
|
| in the sun, every dog deserves a day at
| |
| | the Treasure Coast, is one place you can
|
| the beach. But all too often dog owners
| |
| | find a break from the ubiquitous NO DOGS
|
| stopping at a sandy stretch of beach are
| |
| | ON BEACH signs. Fort Lauderdale has
|
| met with signs designed to make hearts -
| |
| | thrown dog owners a tiny bone - they have
|
| human and canine alike - droop: NO DOGS
| |
| |
|
| ON BEACH. Below is a quick traveling tour
| |
| | set up a 100-yard long Dog Beach (at
|
| of America's beaches with each state
| |
| | Sunrise and A1A) on Saturdays and Sundays
|
| ranked from the most dog-friendly (****)
| |
| |
|
| to the worst (*).DOGS ON ATLANTIC OCEAN
| |
| | only from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.DOGS ON GULF
|
| BEACHES (traveling North to South)The
| |
| | OF MEXICO BEACHES (traveling East to
|
| rocky coast of Maine (***) is mesmerizing
| |
| | West)The Gulf Coast beaches in Florida
|
| to look at but doesn't leave much
| |
| | (*) offer precious little for dog owners.
|
| room for sandy beaches. Dogs are
| |
| | Dogs were
|
| generally banned from the beaches at the
| |
| | once associated as closely with the
|
| many
| |
| | Florida Keys as conch shells but today
|
| small state parks along the Maine coast,
| |
| | you have
|
| but dog owners will find more friendly
| |
| | to look hard for a beach to take your
|
| sands on the town beaches. Around
| |
| | dog. Anne's Beach in Lower Matecumbe and
|
| Portland, the state's biggest city, and
| |
| | Sombrero Beach in Marathon are two safe
|
| the tourist
| |
| | places. In Key West the "Dog Beach" is at
|
| towns of the Southern Coast dogs are
| |
| |
|
| often allowed on the beach anytime Labor
| |
| | Waddell and Vernon avenues but there is
|
| Day
| |
| | really just enough sand to accomodate one
|
| to Memorial Day and in the mornings and
| |
| |
|
| evenings during the summer. The
| |
| | good beach blanket and the little amount
|
| spectacular Acadia National Park is one
| |
| | of swimming available is treacherous over
|
| of America's most dog-friendly national
| |
| |
|
| parks but does not allow dogs on its
| |
| | coral outcroppings. On the Suncoast,
|
| beaches.It is lucky for dog lovers that
| |
| | seek out Bonita Beach Dog Park north of
|
| New Hampshire (*) has only 18 miles of
| |
| | Naples, the excellent Fort DeSoto Dog
|
| coastline. State
| |
| | Beach and Park in St. Petersburg and the
|
| beaches and parks don't allow dogs on
| |
| | Dog
|
| the sand at all. If you must stop in New
| |
| | Beach on Honeymoon Island in the Dunedin
|
| Hampshire, try the Grand Island Common
| |
| | area. Head for Franklin County, though,
|
| in New Castle or Foss Beach in Rye during
| |
| | where dogs are allowed on all the public
|
|
| |
| | beaches - and the only county in Florida
|
| the off-season from October to late
| |
| | to
|
| May.Around Boston, the beaches of the
| |
| | allow dogs to run free. On the Florida
|
| North Shore are off-limits to dogs during
| |
| | Panhandle the Gulf Islands National
|
| the
| |
| | Seashore
|
| summer but other towns in Massachusetts
| |
| | is the only national seashore that bans
|
| (****) are more generous - dogs are
| |
| | dogs completely. It is the same story in
|
| usually allowed year-round with
| |
| | town
|
| restrictive hours in the summer. Cape
| |
| | after town on the Gulf of Mexico across
|
| Cod,
| |
| | Florida. Near Panama City, dogs can reach
|
| however, is the best destination for
| |
| |
|
| beach-loving dogs in New England. Cape
| |
| | the water on Carrabelle Beach and Bruce
|
| Cod
| |
| | Beach. At Saint Andrews State Beach, a
|
| National Seashore, America's first
| |
| | past
|
| national seashore, allows dogs on the
| |
| | winner of "The Best Beach In America,"
|
| beach
| |
| | dogs can hike the sandy nature trails and
|
| anytime outside the swimming areas (and
| |
| | run
|
| not on the trails). The curviture of the
| |
| | on the beach of the Grand Lagoon. It
|
| Cape limits sightlines down the beach
| |
| | isn't actually the Gulf of Mexico or the
|
| and gives the park the impression of
| |
| | Best
|
| being
| |
| | Beach In America, but you can them from
|
| comprised of a series of dune-backed
| |
| | here.For dog owners, Alabama (*) may as
|
| private coves. The two tourist islands
| |
| | well not even have the few beaches it
|
| off
| |
| | does on
|
| southern Cape Cod, Nantucket and
| |
| | the Gulf of Mexico.In Mississippi (**)
|
| Martha's Vineyard, are both extremely
| |
| | dog owners need to stay on the western
|
| dog-
| |
| | coast in Hancock County;
|
| friendly - on Nantucket, dogs can even
| |
| | dogs aren't allowed around the populated
|
| take the shuttle to the beach.The beaches
| |
| | Biloxi beaches.People don't seek out
|
| of Rhode Island (**) are kept dog-free
| |
| | Louisiana (*) for its sandy beaches; most
|
| during the summer but if you
| |
| | of the coastline is
|
| take the ferry to Block Island, dogs can
| |
| | made up of bayous. Grand Isle State Park
|
| enjoy the black sand beaches throughout
| |
| | is the only state park with access to the
|
| the
| |
| |
|
| year. In Newport, you can take your dog
| |
| | Gulf of Mexico and dogs are allowed in
|
| on the fabled Cliff Walk (poop bags are
| |
| | non-swimming areas here.In Texas (***),
|
| provided at the trailhead) through the
| |
| | Padre Island is America's longest barrier
|
| backyards of America's rich and famous.
| |
| | island and there is plenty of
|
| The
| |
| | room for dogs on its 113 miles of sand.
|
| hike begins at Bailey's Beach, which
| |
| | At Padre Island National Seashore dogs
|
| welcomes dogs from Labor Day to Memorial
| |
| | are
|
| Day.The sandy beaches of Connecticut (*)
| |
| | allowed anywhere except on the deck at
|
| are not known for being dog-friendly. But
| |
| | Malaquite Beach and in front of the
|
|
| |
| | Visitor
|
| many aren't that friendly to people
| |
| | Center at the Swimming Beach. Galveston
|
| either, with restricted access being
| |
| | Island serves up another 32 miles of
|
| common. If
| |
| | mostly dog-friendly beach.DOGS ON
|
| your dog is hankering to try the benign
| |
| | PACIFIC OCEAN BEACHES (traveling North to
|
| waves of the Long Island Sound, stop in
| |
| | South)Dogs on leash are allowed in all
|
| Groton. Dogs are not allowed to
| |
| | Washington (***) state parks, often on
|
| experience America's most famous beach at
| |
| | the beach,
|
|
| |
| | but not in many swimming areas around
|
| Coney Island in Brooklyn.The further
| |
| | Puget Sound. No dogs are allowed on
|
| east you go out on Long Island the more
| |
| | beaches in the city of Seattle. The
|
| dog-friendly New York (**)
| |
| | uncrowded Pacific Coast beaches are some
|
| becomes but whether on the north shore
| |
| | of the
|
| or south shore you can find a place to
| |
| | dog-friendliest in America - even
|
| get
| |
| | Olympic National Park, which bans dogs
|
| your dog to the sea. Dog owners must
| |
| | from
|
| pass on the prime destinations at Jones
| |
| | almost all of its 632,324 acres, opens
|
| Beach and Fire Island National Seashore
| |
| | some of its remote coastal beaches to
|
| until reaching the Hamptons, where the
| |
| | dogs.
|
| tails
| |
| | Dogs are allowed on almost all beaches
|
| of surf-loving dogs will start wagging.
| |
| | on the Washington coast as long as they
|
| Many towns in the Hamptons offer dog-
| |
| | remain out of the active swimming
|
| friendly sand and at Montauk, on the
| |
| | areas.All of the beaches in Oregon (****)
|
| very tip of Long Island, several beaches
| |
| | are public. You can step on every grain
|
| allow
| |
| | of
|
| dogs year-round, including Gin Beach on
| |
| | Oregon sand for 400 miles and, in the
|
| the Block Island Sound. The wide, white-
| |
| | rare exception of a ban due to nesting
|
| sand beaches of the Jersey shore are
| |
| | birds,
|
| some of America's most popular and there
| |
| | your dog can be with you all the way.
|
| isn't
| |
| | One beach dog owners won't want to miss
|
| much space for a dog to squeeze into in
| |
| | is
|
| the summertime.Most of the beaches in New
| |
| | the Oregon Dunes National Recreation
|
| Jersey (***), including the Sandy Hook
| |
| | Area with its 40 miles of sandy shore.
|
| Unit of the
| |
| | These
|
| Gateway National Recreation Area, open
| |
| | are the biggest dunes in the United
|
| to dogs in the off-season. Summertime
| |
| | States - as tall as 500 feet and reaching
|
| visitors should take their dogs to
| |
| | two and
|
| Island Beach State Park, one of the last
| |
| | one-half miles inland at their widest
|
| undeveloped stretches at the Jersey
| |
| | point.Northern California (****) would
|
| Shore. Pets are allowed on the
| |
| | get plenty of votes from beach-loving
|
| non-recreational
| |
| | dogs for
|
| beaches in this ten-mile oasis. Dogs
| |
| | having the best beaches in America. Only
|
| will never get to trot down the historic
| |
| | a beach here and there restricts dogs
|
| wooden
| |
| | from
|
| planks of the Atlantic City boardwalk,
| |
| | its sand on the North Coast. Even in the
|
| however - no dogs are permitted on the
| |
| | highly populated areas, concessions are
|
| beach or boardwalk of the Grande Dame of
| |
| | made for dog owners. In Marin County a
|
| America's seaside resorts. Dogs are also
| |
| | "Dog Beach" has been set aside on the
|
| not allowed anywhere in the Victorian
| |
| | north end of Stinson Beach and many
|
| village of Cape May but dog lovers can
| |
| | towns allow dogs on the beach under voice
|
| travel
| |
| |
|
| south of town to Sunset Beach, a sand
| |
| | control. San Francisco ranks among the
|
| strip at the southernmost point of the
| |
| | dog-friendliest of beach cities. Take
|
| Jersey
| |
| | your
|
| shore that is actually on the Delaware
| |
| | dog to the Golden Gate National
|
| Bay. In the water offshore of "Dog Beach"
| |
| | Recreation Area and have your pick of
|
| are
| |
| | several
|
| the remains of the Atlantis, a unique
| |
| | designated dog-friendly beach areas. At
|
| concrete ship built to transport soldiers
| |
| | Baker Beach, dogs are allowed to romp
|
| in
| |
| | off-
|
| World War I.Off-season, the sandy
| |
| | leash. Further down the coast, dog
|
| beaches in Delaware (****) are a paradise
| |
| | owners will want to visit the Monterey
|
| for dogs. Two state
| |
| | Peninsula.
|
| parks, Cape Henlopen and Delaware
| |
| | Dogs are welcome to run on the Carmel
|
| Seashore, both welcome dogs between
| |
| | City Beach and can slip into the water
|
| October
| |
| | near
|
| 1 and May 1. During the summer season
| |
| | Monterey and Pacific Grove as well. At
|
| dogs can also share the beach with their
| |
| | Big Sur dogs can enjoy one of the
|
| owners on select stretches of sand in
| |
| | prettiest
|
| Delaware state parks. In Cape Henlopen,
| |
| | secluded beaches on the coast a Pfeiffer
|
| the
| |
| | Beach. Skip Santa Cruz and there are
|
| 80-foot high Great Dune is the highest
| |
| | plenty
|
| sand pile on the Atlantic shore between
| |
| | of opportunites to get your dog on the
|
| Cape Cod and Cape Hatteras. The concrete
| |
| | sand in California's Central Coast,
|
| observation towers standing as silent
| |
| | especially
|
| sentinels along Delaware beaches were
| |
| | on unnamed beaches.Heading south on the
|
| built to bolster America's coastal
| |
| | California coast the water warms up and
|
| defenses
| |
| | beach restrictions on
|
| during World War II. Summer vacationers
| |
| | dogs increase accordingly. There is
|
| can take dogs on the Dewey Beach town
| |
| | still sand time for dogs in Oxnard and
|
| beach in the mornings and evenings.
| |
| | Ventura
|
| Along the Delaware Bay just north of Cape
| |
| | but things are getting bleak as dog
|
|
| |
| | owners reach Santa Barbara. In Los
|
| Henlopen you can find several beaches
| |
| | Angeles
|
| that offer frisky wave action and wide
| |
| | County the beaches are for people. In
|
| swaths
| |
| | Southern California (**), San Diego is
|
| of sandy beach - and best of all there
| |
| | the place
|
| are no restrictions against dogs on the
| |
| | for sand-loving dogs. Several popular
|
| bay
| |
| | beaches have set aside "dog beaches" that
|
| beaches.The Assateague Island National
| |
| |
|
| Seashore is the prime destination for dog
| |
| | attract hundreds of dogs. Every day is a
|
| owners
| |
| | beach day for dogs in San Diego.DOGS ON
|
| heading for the beach in Maryland (***).
| |
| | GREAT LAKES BEACHES (traveling West to
|
| The undeveloped dunesland permits dogs
| |
| | East)Possessing the largest surface area
|
| year-round on the beach and in the
| |
| | of any freshwater lake in the world,
|
| campgrounds (but not on the short nature
| |
| | there is
|
| trails). Keep your dog alert for the
| |
| | enough water in Lake Superior (**) to
|
| wild ponies that live on the island. Its
| |
| | easily fill the other four Great Lakes to
|
| neighbor to
| |
| |
|
| the north, Assateague State Park, often
| |
| | overflowing. Lake Superior is known for
|
| celebrated as one of the best state parks
| |
| | its cold water and rugged shoreline but
|
| in
| |
| | there are some sandy beaches scattered
|
| America, is off-limits to dogs. If you
| |
| | across its 300 or so miles of southern
|
| are not roughing it on your trip to the
| |
| | shores. Other beaches are more of the
|
| Maryland
| |
| | cobble variety. Most of the shoreline is
|
| seashore, nearby Ocean City allows dogs
| |
| | sparsely populated which bodes well for
|
| on the beach and boardwalk between
| |
| | finding a dog-friendly beach. In
|
| October 1 and May 1. Traveling along the
| |
| | Michigan,
|
| Chesapeake Bay, dogs are banned from
| |
| | the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
|
| the thin beaches in Maryland state
| |
| | allows dogs on the beach from Twelvemile
|
| parks. Exceptions are the small beach in
| |
| | Beach Campground to Au Sable Lighthouse
|
| the
| |
| | and at Munising, dogs can dig in the
|
| former amusement park at North Point
| |
| | sand at Miners Beach. At Sand Point,
|
| State Park and the beach north of the
| |
| | dogs can play on the beach until the
|
| causeway at Point Lookout State
| |
| | trail
|
| Park.There is plenty to like for
| |
| | begins to climb the cliffs. In
|
| beach-loving dogs in Virginia (***).
| |
| | Wisconsin, dogs are allowed on the beach
|
| Canine romps on the
| |
| | in Ashland
|
| clean, wide sands of Virginia Beach's
| |
| | and in Minnesota, dogs can swim in Lake
|
| "Strip," the commercial oceanfront from
| |
| | Superior at Duluth's Park Point
|
| 1st
| |
| | Beach.Dogs will have to admire the
|
| Street to 40th Street, can't begin until
| |
| | spectacular dunes and sandy beaches of
|
| the day after Labor Day but during the
| |
| | the eastern
|
| summer dogs are allowed on residential
| |
| | shore of Lake Michigan (**) mostly from
|
| beaches above 41st Street before 10 a.m
| |
| | the car as dogs are not allowed on
|
| and afer 6 p.m. Dogs can jump in the
| |
| | Michigan
|
| ocean anytime at Cape Henry on Fort
| |
| | state beaches and most county and town
|
| Story,
| |
| | beaches. In-season, the metropolises of
|
| where the Atlantic Ocean meets the
| |
| | Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin are even
|
| Chesapeake Bay. Fort Story is an active
| |
| | more restrictive. Chicago has recently
|
| military
| |
| | gotten
|
| base, the only installation devoted to
| |
| | its first official dog beach at Montrose
|
| coastal operations, but its uncrowded,
| |
| | Avenue. Belmont Beach is not an official
|
| pristine
| |
| | Chicago beach so dogs are allowed on
|
| beaches are open to the public and dogs.
| |
| | this small patch of sand in a fenced
|
| Just to the west is First Landing State
| |
| | area. In
|
| Park,
| |
| | nearby Evanston licensed and vaccinated
|
| where canine swimming is allowed on
| |
| | dogs are allowed on Dog Beach but a
|
| unguarded sandy beaches. Check for
| |
| | beach token is required for
|
| seasonal
| |
| | non-residents from May to October which
|
| restrictions against dogs in these
| |
| | costs $80 to
|
| places. Just off-shore are views of the
| |
| | $100. Your best bets to dip into Lake
|
| Chesapeake
| |
| | Michigan, the only Great Lake totally
|
| Bay Bridge-Tunnel, one of the seven
| |
| | within
|
| modern engineering marvels of the world.
| |
| | the United States, are the national
|
| Each
| |
| | lakeshores and the state parks of
|
| span of the 17.6-mile crossing utilizes
| |
| | Wisconsin's
|
| more than 2,500 concrete piles to support
| |
| | Door County. At the Indiana Dunes
|
|
| |
| | National Lakeshore dogs are restricted to
|
| the trestles.Except for designated
| |
| | the
|
| wildlife areas, dogs are permitted on the
| |
| | easternmost beaches at Mt. Baldy and
|
| beach year-round
| |
| | Central Avenue until October when all
|
| virtually everywhere on the Outer Banks
| |
| | beaches open to our four-legged friends.
|
| in North Carolina (****). Cape Hatteras
| |
| | In the Sleeping Bear Dunes National
|
| Natonal Seashore has only four swimming
| |
| | Lakeshore, dogs can swim in the waves of
|
| beaches (in season) on its entire 70
| |
| | Lake Michigan backed by some of
|
| miles
| |
| | America's larges dunes on all beaches
|
| of protected coastline which leaves
| |
| | except Platte Point Beach, the D.H. Day
|
| plenty of open sand for the dog to roam.
| |
| | Campground Beach and the Manitou
|
| Seafaring dogs can reach Ocracoke Island
| |
| | Islands. Dogs also cannot make the Dune
|
| and Cape Lookout National Seashore by
| |
| | Climb up hundreds of feet of sand.Lake
|
| ferry or private boat for many miles of
| |
| | Huron (*) features 3,827 miles of
|
| more undeveloped, dog-friendly beaches.
| |
| | shoreline, characterized by shallow water
|
| The northern part of the barrier islands
| |
| | and
|
| has been rapidly developing in the past
| |
| | many sandy beaches. None of this will
|
| decade but where you can still find
| |
| | matter much to your dog, however, since
|
| access to the beach, unleashed dogs are
| |
| | the
|
| sill
| |
| | Lake Huron beaches in Michigan are
|
| allowed year-round in towns like Duck
| |
| | mostly closed to him. Alpena is a rare
|
| and Corolla. Mainland North Carolina
| |
| | exception. Dogs are allowed on the
|
| beaches on Cape Fear are almost as
| |
| | resort destination of Macinac Island,
|
| dog-friendly; most swimming beaches
| |
| | however.Although its shores are the most
|
| restrict
| |
| | densely populated of any of the Great
|
| dogs only during the day in the
| |
| | Lakes, there
|
| summer.South Carolina (****) ranks among
| |
| | is plenty of opportunity for a dog to
|
| the most dog-friendly beach states on the
| |
| | explore Lake Erie (***). The smallest of
|
|
| |
| | the five
|
| Atlantic seaboard. Get away from the
| |
| | lakes, Erie waters average only about 62
|
| people and commercial beaches and there
| |
| | feet in depth and warm rapidly in the
|
| is
| |
| | summer for happy dog paddling. Ohio,
|
| plenty of unrestricted sand for dogs in
| |
| | especially around Cleveland, is the most
|
| the Palmetto state. Most of the smaller
| |
| | restrictive of the Lake Erie states. Try
|
| towns
| |
| | some of the smaller town beaches in Ohio
|
| allow dogs on the beach under voice
| |
| | and New York, most of which permit dogs
|
| control and only Myrtle Beach (from 21st
| |
| | outside of designated swimming areas.
|
| Avenue North to 13th Avenue South) bans
| |
| | Some
|
| dogs completely. One of the best places
| |
| | of the best Lake Erie beachfront is in
|
| to take dogs here is Hunting Island
| |
| | Presque Isle State Park, the most-visited
|
| State Park. More than one million
| |
| | state
|
| visitors
| |
| | park in Pennsylvania. Your dog can can
|
| (human) come here each year, 85 miles
| |
| | hike the sandytrails past the swimming
|
| south of Charleston, to enjoy three miles
| |
| | beaches and enjoy the waves on the long,
|
| of
| |
| | unsupervised sretches on the northern
|
| unspoiled beach.Georgia (**) doesn't
| |
| | end of the peninsula.Not many people
|
| sport much coastline and many of the
| |
| | have settled most of the hundreds of
|
| beaches on Georgia's
| |
| | miles of shoreline of the
|
| barrier islands and the Golden Isles are
| |
| | south side of Lake Ontario (*) in New
|
| under control of resorts and most welcome
| |
| | York. There aren't many beaches and not
|
|
| |
| | many
|
| dogs except during the middle of the day
| |
| | bans on dogs - as long as they don't try
|
| in summer. Cumberland Island National
| |
| | to swim with the humans.Copyright 2006I
|
| Seashore permits dogs but is accessible
| |
| | am the author of over 20 books, including
|
| only by private boat. Savannah's beach at
| |
| | 8 on hiking with your dog and the
|
|
| |
| | widely praised The Canine Hiker's Bible.
|
| Tybee Island is closed to dogs.Florida
| |
| | As publisher of Cruden Bay Books,
|
| (*) ranks among the most dog-unfriendly
| |
| | we produce the innovative A Bark In The
|
| of states. Entire counties and
| |
| | Park series of canine hiking books found
|
| regions ban dogs from the beach. There
| |
| | at
|
| are so many prohibitions already against
| |
| | During the warm months I lead canine
|
| dogs on Florida beaches that when they
| |
| | hikes as tour
|
| change, it is typically in favor of dog
| |
| | leader for tours, leading packs of dogs
|
| owners. For the Atlantic beaches, the
| |
| | and humans on hiking
|
| northeast part of the state around
| |
| | adventures. Tours, ranging from one-day
|
| Jacksonville
| |
| | trips to multi-day explorations,
|
| (Amelia Island) offers some of the best
| |
| | visit parks, historical sites and
|
| beaches for dogs in the state but heading
| |
| | beaches.
|
