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