Regularly voted as one of America’s top dog-friendly cities, Seattle is indeed a fun to place to be if you’re a canine. Dog owners have a multitude of fun activities to choose from, from spending a pleasant afternoons in a dog park to kayaking on an urban lake with Fido barking from the bow.
Visit an off-leash dog park
7400 Sand Point Way NE
Magnuson Park | Photo by AM S. (Yelp)
With some 485 parks in and around the city, it shouldn’t be too hard for Fido to get a good run out. Out of the total number, 14 parks feature a dog-friendly off-leash area, with another 10 park in the surrounding area. This is a welcoming change from the City’s policy on beaches and athletic fields where dogs have to be kept on a leash at all times.
Although these off-leash areas can be found all over the city, Magnuson Park is one of the most popular dog-friendly parks. The park covers 8.6 acres, there is a fence around it, and is the only off-leash area within city limits with access to water, i.e. the freshwater shoreline of Lake Washington.
Go urban hiking
5849 15th Ave N
Ravenna Park | Photo by Angie Nguyen (Facebook)
Apart from off-leash areas which are mostly flat, there are 4 wooded parks in Seattle, ideal for hiking. These parks are Washington Park Arboretum, Ravenna and Cowen parks, Discovery Park, and Carkeek Park.
Ravenna and Cowen parks are connected and span together 58 acres. The woodland area is crisscrossed with 4.5 miles of paths and trails, ideal for exploring with your trusted four-legged friend. For Fido’s safety, keep it on a leash when walking it, so it doesn’t get attracted to trash or start a skirmish with a stray hound.
Sightseeing from a Metro bus
5849 15th Ave N
Photo by @venturacountytransitfan
Apart from off-leash areas which are mostly flat, there are 4 wooded parks in Seattle, ideal for hiking. These parks are Washington Park Arboretum, Ravenna and Cowen parks, Discovery Park, and Carkeek Park.
Ravenna and Cowen parks are connected and span together 58 acres. The woodland area is crisscrossed with 4.5 miles of paths and trails, ideal for exploring with your trusted four-legged friend. For Fido’s safety, keep it on a leash when walking it, so it doesn’t get attracted to trash or start a skirmish with a stray hound.
Elliot Bay, Central Cascades, Snoqualmie Region, etc.
Photos by Christine Z., Latifa S. (Yelp)
Elliott Bay is a natural gem, so why not take advantage of it and take your dog on an outdoor adventure. There are dozens of dog-friendly hiking trails around Seattle, such as Barclay Lake, Rattlesnake Ledge in the Snoqualmie Region, Tonga Ridge in the Central Cascades, etc.
Your dog should be on a leash at all of these trails but that doesn’t mean it won’t benefit from a solid workout at thousands of feet above sea level. Just in case, you might want to schedule a home visit by the local vet to make sure pooch is up (pun intended) to such a challenge.
2623 NE University Village St.
Photo by @eastsidedog
If you were pleasantly surprised that dogs are allowed to ride public buses, then you’ll be happy to know that most of Seattle’s malls are pet-friendly. In addition, there is University Village, an open-air mall where your pooch isn’t just allowed but where it’ll have fun.
There are several pet stores with various treats and toys not found in other parts of Seattle. Speaking of pet stores, here are some that are worth checking out: Eastside Dog in Redmond, Health Mutt in Ravenna, and Paddywhack in Mill Creek.
9801 16th Ave. SW
Photos by @beerstarwhitecenter
Don’t you just hate it when your friends stand you up for a drink? Well, if you happen to be in Seattle and own a dog, you will never hit the town alone. Most Seattle bars, restaurants, and taprooms welcome dogs in their outdoor seating areas.
Moreover, there are even food establishments, such as Beer Star or Slow Boat Tavern that allow dogs inside. Of course, all canines must be on a leash and on their best behavior, i.e. responsive to their owner’s voice commands.
201 E Green Lake Dr. N
Photos by Eric A., Latifa S. (Yelp)
We’ll end the list where we started it: in a Seattle park. Green Lake spans 259 acres which you can explore with your four-legged pal from a kayak, canoe or a paddleboat. The boathouse is open April through September and the average price of renting a vessel is $25 per hour.
Open 24/7, Green Lake is one of the most popular parks in the city all year round. There is a 2.8-mile path around the lake which is suitable for strolling, running and even cycling. Once combined with a picnic and venturing onto the lake in a kayak, Green Lake is the perfect spot for a fun outing with your puppy.
For a city to be truly deemed as “dog-friendly,” it has to offer a myriad of fun activities for hounds and their hooman mates. The Emerald City ticks all the boxes, as the 7 dog-friendly things to do in Seattle listed above are merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to entreating with dogs.
FAQ
You can do everything from kayaking on Green Lake, across visiting a pub, like Beer King, all the way to hitting an outdoor tail, such as the one ascending the Tonga Ridge in the Central Cascades.
Like most other indoor places, dogs are not allowed in Market buildings. This includes the Main Arcade as well, as only service animals are allowed inside.
No, according to the City ordinance, pets are not allowed inside “food establishments,” with the notable exception of service animals. However, there are restaurants and taprooms which allow dogs inside but exclusively on a leash.
Yes, it is. Seattle constantly ranks high among US cities, with 14 off-leash dog parks and more than 350 pet-friendly hospitality establishments.
