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Beach chairs and umbrellas? control Mineral sunscreen? control Your super cute puppy? Double check! While Florida has no shortage of gorgeous beaches, not all of them allow your furry friend to have some fun in the sun with you. *Sigh* Don’t worry: We’ve found nine beaches across the country that welcome people and puppies. Here are the best dog-friendly beaches in Florida.
Best Dog Vacations In Florida
Get this: Almost every beach in Jupiter is open to puppies, thanks to a policy adopted in 1989 by the Jupiter City Council that allows dogs on local beaches. However, there are certain rules. Dogs must be well-behaved and wear proper tags and IDs, and owners are required to take good care of them. Hey, there’s nothing we can’t do.
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Fort De Soto Park consists of five interconnected islands located south of St. Dogs (including water!)
Davis Islands Dog Beach, located right near the Peter O. Knight Airport, is one of Tampa’s last remaining dog-friendly beaches. Expect a fenced dog park where Fido can play off-leash, as well as a designated area on the sand.
Open from dawn to dusk, dogs are free to roam at Bonita Dog Beach in Bonita Springs. There’s even a dog shower station perfect for washing sand off Fido before he goes home.
Head to Key West and find a secluded sand area reserved for dogs and their owners only. In the shade of palm trees, free-roaming children can play in the water and sand if supervised.
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Dogs and humans can enjoy the sun at Bark Beach at Spanish River Park in Boca Raton. Even better, puppies can be off-leash at all times.
Just outside of Tampa, Honeymoon Island State Park has over four miles of beaches and three miles of trails. There is also a designated pet-friendly beach and walking trail at the south end of the park. Keep in mind that the dog must be on a lead at all times.
Spend the day with your furry friend at Smyrna Dunes Park in New Smyrna Beach, where pets are allowed on the shoreline beach – although they must be on a leash at all times.
One block north of Sunny Isles, set up shop with your pup at Haulover Beach Park with chairs, coolers and stylish umbrellas. Dogs can roam in the sun, sand and water as long as their owners watch over them.
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Clarissa Butch Zilberman is a writer and editor based in Miami. Focusing on food, lifestyle and travel, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, Bon Appétit and Departures, among other print and digital titles. You can’t say Florida without Fido. When it’s time to decide if you want to take your four-legged friend with you on your next trip to the Sunshine State, don’t think twice.
Dogs can enjoy many decidedly Florida activities the same as their human counterparts, such as walks on the beach, pampering in luxury hotels, and yes, even paddle boarding.
Of course, it’s not safe to assume that dogs are automatically welcomed as people everywhere. But with a little research into the statewide landscape, you will learn that there are plenty of dog-friendly destinations and things to do in almost any Florida destination. This is the best way to spend time with your dog in Florida.
Be prepared – this adventure can happen even if your dog isn’t the sweetest dog. That honor always goes to Mister Beaches Corgi, who along with his owner, Natasha Baker Williams, lead a relaxing paddleboard tour along Fort Lauderdale’s famous canal. SUP PUP offers several different tours, including sunrise and sunset tours that are kid-friendly (two to six year olds can ride with their parents) and yoga-filled experiences included. And yes, you can bring your dog too.
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There are more water adventures in other parts of the country. In Key West, you can have a similar escape with Lazy Dog Adventures (sorry…). In Marion County, Get Up & Go Kayaking and Rainbow River Kayak Adventures have different packages for you and your pup. In Orlando, Epic Paddle Adventures offers packages to paddle with your pup overlooking the city skyline.
For small pups, the beach and spectacular The Ben in Downtown West Palm Beach will not only feed your dog, but also provide a photo opportunity of a lifetime. Dog-friendly items at The Ben include souvenir dog bowls and water bags, and – get ready for lots of cuteness – white dog clothes to dress up. Once you order room service, there is also a side of dog bites for your dog.
Dog love seems to come naturally to The Ben. The property, which will open in 2020, is named after the local Ben Trovato Estate, which was formerly owned by Bird author Spillman Dewey, who wrote a best-selling book about his dog Bruno. Throughout the estate, see how many Bruno’s paintings and sculptures can be counted – there are many.
It’s the dog park and beer garden that animal lovers dream of. On one acre in Neptune Beach – about 15 miles east of Downtown Jacksonville – is the Brewhound Dog Park + Bar. There are several fenced areas for outdoor trick-or-treating, while patrons can enjoy some local craft beer on tap, coffee specials from Bold Bean Coffee Roasters, and lawn games. Daily, monthly and annual passes are available. To keep the peace, there are “tough guys” who enforce the park’s rules.
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With a name like Cups & Pups Coffee, it’s safe to guess that many dog-friendly mornings in Orlando start here. Just a few minutes north of downtown Orlando in the College Park neighborhood, this pop-up blue-door brick-and-mortar shop serves up Honey Nut Cheerio Lattes, Lavender Cold Brews, and an adorable dog logo emblazoned on all of its cups. If you and your pup can’t find a place to rest inside, the store also hosts regular pop-up events throughout the community.
At the end of the day and on the southern tip of Florida, Baker’s Resort in Key Largo is almost pet friendly. The four-star hotel north of the Overseas Highway has pet kiosks dotted along the beach, a pet-friendly menu and even a director of pet relations, Maya “K-9”. Open daily “Yuppy Hour” from 4-5pm where your pup can relax and socialize just like you.
Lots of canine friends await you at Fort De Soto Beach in Central Florida © MeghanBrowning/Getty Images/Room RF
Florida has approximately 1,350 miles of coastline and many pet-friendly beaches. Be sure to note the hours, leash requirements and vaccinations required at each dog beach, because they are often regularly patrolled. In North Florida, white sand spots with lots of open space include Atlantic Beach and Jacksonville Beach in Jacksonville, Crescent Beach in St. Augustine and Dog Beach right in front of Park Pier in Panama City.
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In Central Florida, popular spots include Smyrna Dunes Park in New Smyrna Beach, Davis Islands Dog Beach in Tampa, and Fort De Soto Dog Beach. Top South Florida attractions include Fort Lauderdale Canine Beach, Jupiter Beach, and Hollover Beach Dog Park in Miami Beach.
After all the fun in the sun, you and your pup will also need a place to rest. In the Florida Panhandle and just minutes east of Destin, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort offers miles of trails, a pet-friendly Marina Bar & Grill, a dog park, and pet Marin the Macaw.
The Barrymore Hotel in Tampa has its own on-leash pet area, affectionately known as the “Doggie Business Center”. For urban adventures, there are three dog parks within a half mile of the hotel. East of Tampa, Orlando, select Walt Disney World resorts have pet-friendly floors and/or hotel areas, including Port Orleans Riverside Resort, Yacht Club Resort and Art of Animation Resort. Disney’s “Pluto’s Welcome Kit” includes several branded items such as bowls and mats that will be the envy of all the dogs in the house.
In South Florida, Betsy Miami Beach welcomes dogs of all sizes, and its two Executive Canine Officers, golden retrievers Betsy and Rosa, often greet visitors upon entry. There is a dog photography exhibition by Carlos Andrew Cruz and you can even get a massage with your dog.
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Which island has the best beaches in the Caribbean? From the Bahamas to Aruba, we’ve got a list of the region’s 12 best. Have you ever relaxed at home with your four-legged friend or visited a sunny resort in Orlando with your dog and they turned and gave you a look that only you can give?
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