Pet-Friendly Vacations
Dog parks and dog-friendly beaches? Check. Pet-friendly hotels and full-service pet spas? Sure thing, we’ve got those too. You can even bring Fido or Fluffy to quite a few restaurants around the area – some with special menus just for dogs. There’s no doubt, St. Pete/Clearwater caters to the quadruped set.
Bring Fido and Fluffy on Vacation!
Check out our great videos on traveling with your pet, and discover why there's no better vacation spot for your furry BFF than right here in St. Pete/Clearwater.
Where are the best dog hangouts?
Of course, you want to show your pup a good time while he's on vacation! And we have just the doggone fun spots you'll want to check out. Discover our "Best Dog Hangout" winners, part of our annual Best of St. Pete-Clearwater awards.
See awards in more categoriesPlay at Dog Beaches
Fort De Soto Park, voted among America’s favorite beaches by Dr. Beach and Tripadvisor, has a stretch of gorgeous beach just for dogs, and two large fenced-in areas (for small and larger pups, of course). Each offers hoses so you can wash the sand out of their paws after all the fun. Honeymoon Island State Park also has a sizeable dog beach. Sand Key Park has a special dog park as well as a playground for your (human) kiddos, plus grills and picnic tables that make this a great spot for the whole family. And here’s a well-kept local secret: Enterprise Dog Park in Clearwater. It’s a massive fenced-in park with acres of tree-shaded trails your dog can explore off-leash. There are also water stations and bags for picking up after your pup.
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Visit Dog-Friendly St. Pete
You’ll want to spend at least one day exploring walkable St. Petersburg with your best friend. It's the perfect place to travel with your dog. In fact, the CommercialCafe website even named it to their list of 20 Best U.S. Cities for Pet Owners. All along Beach Drive, you’ll find water bowls, treats and restaurants with outdoor seating. Some shops will even let you bring your pup inside to browse with you. You’ll love walking along Central Ave. between downtown and the Grand Central District. Mutts & Martinis offers drinks for you and a dip for your dog. With over 25 sports streaming TVs and a dog only swimming pool you can both take some time to chill. Stop in at Three Dog Bakery for some special goodies – they’ll even personalize treats with your dog’s name. Across the street, do a little shopping for yourself at Brutique, a stylish boutique-bar concept where the friendly staff keeps a big jar of Milk Bone biscuits behind the bar (bonus: you might even meet Brutique’s mascot, Ziggy the beagle).
Dine Out with Your Dog
Most restaurants with outdoor seating welcome well-behaved dogs. Dunedin Brewery, the oldest craft brewery in Florida, also welcomes pets on their outdoor patio. And Cassis American Brasserie in St. Pete has a special menu for dogs that includes “Mutt Loaf” and a hot dog (for your hot dog).
Right near Tropicana Field on Central Ave., legendary local sports bar Ferg’s has a fenced-in area for dogs to play and a dog menu. And further west on Central, Dog Bar has a full bar and over 4,500 square feet of fenced-in space where dogs can play off-leash. Even if you aren’t traveling with your pet, this is a super-fun place to hang out and meet new friends (canine and otherwise).
In Northeast St. Pete, there's even an ice cream shop, Small Batch Creamery, where your dog can come sit inside in air-conditioned comfort while you sample the delish flavors of the day (and they get a whipped cream pup cup).
See All Pet Friendly DiningStay at a Pet-Friendly Hotel
Many of us just can’t leave home without them… so it’s excellent news that St. Pete/Clearwater offers many pet-friendly hotel properties and vacation rentals. Some notable pet-friendly accommodations: The Don CeSar and the TradeWinds, two full-service beachfront resorts in award-winning St. Pete Beach, which have gourmet room service for cats and dogs. Also in St. Pete Beach, The Sirata has pet-friendly rooms. Other solid options include Camelot Resort in North Clearwater Beach and Island Paradise Cottages in Madeira Beach.