Enny Sulivan
Dog Friendly Vacation Spots In Michigan – Located on the tip of Michigan’s thumb, Port Austin is one of the lesser-known gems in the entire state, and it’s dog-friendly! Nearby Port Crescent State Park has 3 miles of sandy beach, where you can spend the day swimming in the clear blue waters or hike 18 miles of wooded trails and admire the stunning sand dunes. Amazing water views.
Dogs are allowed on a portion of the available shoreline near the mouth of the Pinnyburg River, accessible via a steel bridge that connects to hiking trails near the campground. Pets must be on a leash and it is important to remember to clean up after your pet!
Dog Friendly Vacation Spots In Michigan
Pak’s Backyard is one of our favorite dog-friendly backyards, also located in Port Austin! They offer a wide selection of Michigan craft beers, delicious bar food, and a great atmosphere. They often have live music so you can bring your bag and enjoy dinner and drinks on the water after a long day at the beach!
Dog Friendly Traverse City, Michigan: The Insider’s Guide
Just a few hours along the shores of Lake Huron is one of our favorite stops, Tawas Point! This dog beach is the only fenced-in beach in Michigan where dogs can run free in designated areas. The campground is also dog-friendly, so you can have a fun summer weekend with your pooch!
Boathouse Brewing Company is located in downtown Tawas, offering great food and drinks, and is located across the street from another small park that is also dog-friendly!
If you’re looking for a unique experience to enjoy with your dog in Michigan, look no further than Mackinac Island. Take the dog-friendly ferry to Carls Island (Star Line or Shippers) for a one-of-a-kind experience! Once there, explore 70 miles of trails and viewpoints, dine at one of the many local dog-friendly restaurants, and explore historic Holmes with your dog. Many city center shops also allow four-legged visitors – look out for “dogs welcome” signs!
Mackinac Island is also home to three dog-friendly hotels, including Park Place Suites, Sunset Condos, and our favorite, Mission Point Resort, which has a gorgeous, dog-friendly interior!
Dog Friendly Vacation Ideas In Northern Michigan
In front of the mural is Barrie and Parker’s backyard, and across the street overlooks the Mackinac Bridge
Manistee, home to the famous Pictured Rocks National Park in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is another northern Michigan gem, and yes, you can bring your dog! There are several areas within the park that allow dogs, including Sand Point Beaches, Munising Falls Trail, Miners Falls Trail, Miners Beach, Lake Superior Overlook Beach and Trail, and Sable Falls Trail and Beach.
Unfortunately, the Northland Scenic Trail and all backcountry campgrounds/campgrounds are not pet-friendly, but dogs are allowed at all three car campgrounds (including Little Beaver Lake, Twelve Mile Beach, and Hurricane River Campground).
Located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Marquette is one of my favorite places on earth and one you should definitely explore with your dog. Situated on the shores of Lake Superior, it offers stunning views and rolling hills, as well as many hidden gems to see.
Ultimate Dog Friendly Traverse City Weekend Getaway
When we visited, we stayed at the Staybridge Inn and Suites, which is centrally located. The rooms are large, have pet-friendly facilities, and the dogs love being petted as a break from their usual camping adventures. Staybridge Inn and Suites is a great chain of hotels worth visiting in other cities – we’ve stayed in several places on our travels and it’s always a treat!
You can hike to one of the many waterfalls in the area and, if you’re brave enough, jump into Dead River Falls, a moderate but shorter round trip at 1.7 miles. If you want to enjoy the water views from high above, check out Sugarloaf Mountain or Hogback Mountain, both of which are relatively easy to climb but well worth it once you reach the top!
After a day of hiking, visit Ore Dock Brewing’s dog-friendly patio. They have a range of in house drinks and when we went last year we had some great soft drinks! If you’re lucky, you’ll find Día de los Tacos parked outside – these tacos are so delicious we’d drive this food truck everywhere all day long!
Traverse City has been named one of the best small towns in the United States, and it certainly lives up to its name. It is very dog friendly and we recommend visiting at least once a year! The Grand Traverse City area is one of Michigan’s premier wine regions, with more than 40 different wineries throughout the peninsula. Head out for a day of wine tasting and bring your dog to some of our favorite vineyards like Mari Vineyards, Left Foot Charlie, and Bonobo.
A Guide To Pet Friendly Vacations In Every State
If you’re craving a bite to eat, head to Thefilling Station downtown for some of the best pizza we’ve ever had, or head to The Little Fleet food truck park, where dogs are welcome. They have amazing craft cocktails on the main floor!
If you want to go hiking or visit some of the famous blue water beaches, Good Harbor Trail and Beach is pet-friendly and you won’t be disappointed! This is a 2.7-mile loop that leads to a quiet, sandy beach. Dogs on a leash are welcome in the area and on the beach, but only if the dog cleans up afterward.
If you want to explore all of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, be sure to check out Beulah and the surrounding areas! Due to the endangered lakeshore piping plover, dogs are not allowed on some trails during the summer, but most trails in the park are open from December 1 to March 31.
Some of the quieter beaches allow leashed pets year-round, including Alberta Beach (generally less crowded because it’s managed by nature herself) and Peterson Road Beach (known for its Empire Bluffs, Sleeping Bear Point, Sleeping Bear famous for its beautiful scenery).
Traveling With Pets
Many campgrounds near the park also allow leashed pets, but if you’re visiting Sleeping Bear National Park, be sure to check before you go!
Another of our favorite spots in the area is Ironfish Distillery. The hotel is beautiful and has a few things to do and try including their maple syrup, liquor flights and my favorite, their wood fire pizza!
When you go be sure to ask the locals what their favorite places are! From Michigan’s Thumb to the West Coast of the United States and everything in between, there’s plenty to explore – and yes, you should bring the dog!
In the area? Check out our Hiking Dog Guide to Michigan and our Dog Guide to Cleveland!
Reasons Your Dog Will Love Pure Ludington
Rachel Gezowski and The Wild Goldens Rachel is a freelance graphic designer and content creator living in beautiful northern Michigan with her three golden dogs, Barley, Cassie, and Moe! They use their free time to pack up and hit the trails on the weekends to enjoy all that Michigan has to offer. When they’re not hiking or visiting the beach (Rachel doesn’t work either, ha!), the dogs love to pick up things and swim in the backyard. Since adopting Cassie, who was rescued from the Chinese meat trade, in 2019, Rachel has become a strong advocate for rescue operations. You can follow all their adventures and beyond on Instagram @wildgoldens.
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Pet Friendly Activities In The New Buffalo, Mi Area
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