Where Can I Take My Dog? To The Beach?

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

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Where Can I Take My Dog? To The Beach?