Want to relax and get away from home, but don’t want to leave your beloved pooch with your neighbor or perhaps even in a kennel? Here’s the dish on ten beaches that will allow you and your pooch to enjoy the sound of the waves and the warmth of the sand. But you can’t just take your pet to any beach due to certain regulations; for instance, beaches generally require that dogs are kept on leashes and, of course, that poop is disposed after your pet has done his or her business. Fortunately, Animal Fair has provided information on the ten best beaches for you and your furry little rascal to check out this summer!
Carmel City Beach (Carmel, California)
Located on Ocean Avenue, this bayside beach is perfect for voice-trained pets, who are permitted to run in the sand under the supervision of their owners. Untrained dogs are also allowed on this gorgeous stretch of land, provided that they are kept on a leash that measures 6 feet of length or less. Renowned for its beautiful white sand, Carmel Beach is within walking distance of the Cypress Inn, of which Doris Day, legendary actress and animal rights activist, is a partial owner. This hotel welcomes animals with open arms and as a result, has attracted many regulars including actress, Kim Novak, who likes to visit the Cypress Inn with her pet. This glamorous animal hotel offers an array of animal pampering treatments, loving pet sitters, and other luxurious amenities. In addition, relaxing days are topped off with what many boast to be one of the most beautiful sunsets in the country.
Ocean Beach (San Diego, California)
Ocean Beach is attractive to dog lovers because of its adjacent Dog Beach, a 38-acre spread on which pups can roam without a leash at any time of day. You can check out this unique dog-only locale in the film, Rocky the Surfing Dog, which features the beach in its touching narrative that you and your pup are bound to enjoy together. Dogs are also permitted on Ocean Beach, but only between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily. Ocean beach is also near the dog-friendly Loews Coronado Bay Resort, which offers a program called “Loews Loves Pets.” This special institution offers a variety of doggie treats and dog-walking routes.
Surfside Beach (Nantucket, Massachusetts)
Nantucket, famous for its miles of beaches and paths, is the quaint setting of one of the most breathtaking beaches your pooch will ever experience. On a visit to this exclusive and lovely island, you and your dog could be rubbing elbows and paws with renowned individuals such as Senator John Kerry and his wife, Theresa Heinz, who have shared a house there for years. Located at the end of Surfside Road, this beach has a 2.2-mile paved path perfect for biking and dog walking, and is also a great spot for picnics, kite flying, and surfcasting. Moreover, there is a nearby hotel called The Cottages that will accommodate your furry friend on vacation, offering a service called the Woof Basin which provides your pets with baskets full of toys and treats, his/her dog beds, food and water bowls, and dog walking services. In addition, at Surfside Beach, pets are allowed to swim while lifeguards are on duty. During the off-seasons when lifeguards are not on duty, dogs must be on leashes in order to play at this pristine beach.
Downs Park Dog Beach (Pasadena, Maryland)
Pasadena is a small town located in Anne Arundel County and lures visitors with its museums, historical sites, wineries, and parks. Downs Park, which consists of 5 miles of pavement and is thus popular amongst walkers and bicyclists, is situated at Chesapeake Bay. While the park provides a fantastic getaway for people, it is perhaps even better suited for our four-legged companions. It has a specific beach for dogs, at which people are not permitted to swim. This beach is closed every Tuesday, but is otherwise open from 9am until dusk, after which dogs must be put on leashes.
Crescent Beach State Park (Cape Elizabeth, Maine)
This beach located in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, is particularly stunning due to the fact that it is state-protected. In addition, it is located near the Inn-By-The-Sea, whose vacationers can enjoy golfing, scuba-diving, day and sunset cruises, and hot-air balloon rides. Inn-By-The-Sea also provides luxury activities for travelers’ pets. However, pets are for the most part prohibited from the beaches thanks to stringent state regulations that forbid them from walking on the dunes, and also from entering the beach at all between May 1st and Columbus Day. Otherwise, pets must be put on leashes and must never be left unattended.
Dog Beach Zone (Belmont Shore, California)
The only off-leash dog beach in the Los Angeles County, Dog Beach Zone is located between Roycroft and Argonne Avenues. There, your pet can frolic freely in a natural, unfenced environment provided that he or she is under your voice control and supervision at all times. However, visitors are limited to one pet and subject to a list of restrictions after scheduled open hours. For instance, spiked collars, and dogs under the age of four months are not permitted. Also, aggressive dogs are not permitted at any time. For further detail, please visit www.hautedogs.org/laws.html
Goose Rocks Beach & Gooch’s Beach (Kennebunkport, Maine)
At Kennebunkport, there are two beach locations that are great for dogs, but they vary in terms of hours and regulations. For early-bird dog owners visiting Kennebunkport who love taking walks at dawn, Goose Rocks Beach is probably the more suitable of the two. Your dog will love this gorgeous beach characterized by its fine, sugary sand and lined with rustling oak trees that whisper peacefully in the breeze, where your pet can play before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m. on weekdays between June and September. Goose’s Beach is another pet-friendly alternative located on Beach Avenue, and attracts admirers of the mansion-like homes that line its shore. There, you can join President Bush and his dog, Barney, who often visit Goose’s Beach while vacationing with their family. Leashed dogs are permitted from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m. During the rest of the year, dogs are allowed on the beach during park hours.
Ferry Beach (Scarborough, Maine)
A residential community located in the Portland area of Maine, Scarborough is known for its large salt water marsh that takes up approximately one tenth of its land mass, and for its gorgeous coastline that includes Ferry Beach, Pine Point Beach, Scarborough Beach, and Prouts Neck Beach. Of those, Ferry Beach, which is located near the mouth of the Scarborough River, is unequivocally the most outstanding because of its flat surface and its sheltered and thus relatively placid waters. In addition, dogs are welcome at Ferry Beach! Although they can only visit before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. during the summer (between June 15th and September 15th), they are free to enjoy a dip in the water or a run in the sand between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. and dusk during the off-season.
Norton Point Beach (Edgartown, Massachusetts)
Edgartown, located in Martha’s Vineyard, is known as one of the world’s great yachting centers and a fisherman’s haven due to its plethora of bluefish and bass. Also dubbed “Celebrity Isle,” hosting famous guests such as former president Bill Clinton and his pooch, Buddy, in addition to the late Princess Diana, Edgartown is the home of some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. Norton Point Beach stretches just over 2.5 miles, and is situated between the Atlantic Ocean and Katama Bay. Pets are permitted before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. during the summer, so Norton Point Beach is a great place for you and your pooch to enjoy early morning and evening walks; but keep them on leash! Moreover, from mid-September through mid-April, dogs are welcome at all times. Just make sure to keep your pooch away from the dunes, because he or she may disrupt nesting birds that add to the mood and general environment of this gorgeous summer spot.
Jupiter Beach Florida (Jupiter, Florida)
Dog friendly beaches are few and far between if your looking to haul your pooch down to Florida with you. Luckily, we found one beautiful beach in the tiny town of Jupiter, Florida (only 20 miles from West Palm Beach) that welcomes both you and your pet! Jupiter Beach offers a quiet, picturesque beach where you’ll be surprised by the magnitude of the waves. Jupiter Beach has a code of conduct, which requires that you clean up after your pet’s potty breaks, make sure it doesn’t shake near people and only let it run free in desolate areas. Otherwise, you and your dog are entitled to your day at the beach. If you are hoping to stay in Jupiter with your pooch you are both welcomed at the Wellesley Inn at 34 Fisherman’s Wharf.
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