Where Can I Take My Dog? To The Beach?

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

Wilson LeeHouse

Where Can I Take My Dog? To The Beach?