Michigan Vacations With Dogs – Planning a Michigan vacation with your best friend? Look no further than Muskegon County! We welcome wagging tails and playful paws with open arms, offering a variety of pet-friendly experiences for an unforgettable vacation.
Beach Bliss: Enjoy Kruse Park Dog Beach, a paradise for dogs to play. This scenic spot has a sandy beach and barrier-free access.
Michigan Vacations With Dogs
Downtown Dog Park Delights: Socialize your dog and burn off some energy at PetSafe Bark Park. This fenced-in park has separate areas for small and large breeds, ensuring safe playtime for all.
Pet Friendly Michigan: Your Complete Dog Friendly Travel Guide!
Take a walk with you: Embark on an adventure with your furry friend at Doon Harbor Park. Explore miles of scenic trails through wooded hills around a beautiful inland lake. Explore Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park’s lighted trails with your leashed dog on a “Light Walk.”
Best Dog Daycare: Planning an adventure trip to Michigan while traveling with your dog? Dog Star Ranch (a 2 minute drive!) offers day care and day passes to the dog park. A 48-acre fenced-in playground with ponds and nature trails will keep your furry friend entertained as you conquer the rides!
Unique Pet Places: Explore SniffSpot, an Airbnb-like service for dogs that offers private play areas for pets. Check out Happy Tails and Trails for a comfortable and relaxing stay.
Enjoy a delicious meal with your furry friend at one of Muskegon County’s dog-friendly backyards. Some kennels have water spigots to keep your dog hydrated, such as the brewpub at Pigeon Hill and North Grove breweries.
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In March 2022, Livability magazine named Muskegon the “Best City in Michigan to Visit with Your Dog.” We pride ourselves on providing a welcoming, fun environment for you and your furry friend!
Plan your Muskegon pet adventure today! Visit our website for a complete list of pet friendly hotels and restaurants. Located at the tip of Michigan’s thumb, Port Austin is one of the lesser-known gems in the entire state, and it’s dog-friendly too! With more than 3 miles of sandy beaches located in nearby Port Crescent State Park, you can spend the day wading in crystal clear waters or hiking more than 18 miles of forested trails that open up to hills with spectacular water views.
Dogs are allowed on the accessible portion of the shoreline near the mouth of the Pinnebog River, which is accessible via a steel bridge that connects to hiking trails near the campground. Pets must be kept on a leash and it’s important to remember to clean up after your pet too!
One of our favorite dog yards, Puck’s Yard is also located in Port Austin! They have a great selection of Michigan craft beers, great bar food, and a great atmosphere. They often have live music, so after a long day at the beach, you can enjoy backpacking dinner and drinks on the water!
Wagging Tails Welcome! Explore Muskegon’s Pet Friendly Fun
One of our favorite stops for a few hours on the shores of Lake Huron is Tawas Point! This dog beach is one of the few in Michigan that is actually fenced in, where dogs can run free in a designated area. The camp is also dog-friendly, so you can bring your dog for a weekend of summer fun!
The Boathouse Beer Company and Buzzry are another great stop for a pet-friendly lunch. Located in the center of Tawas, they serve great food and drinks and are across the street from another little park, dog friendly too!
If you’re looking for a unique experience with your dog in Michigan, Mackinac Island is IT. Take one of the Star Line or Shepler ferries to get to the island without a car – a unique experience in itself! There you can explore more than 70 miles of trails and scenic overlooks, dine at one of the many dog-friendly local restaurants, and even explore historic Fort Holmes with your dog. Many shops in the center also welcome four-legged visitors: look out for the “Dogs Welcome” sign!
There are three dog-friendly hotels on Mackinac Island, including Park Place Suites, Sunset Condos, and our favorite Mission Point Resort, which has a dog-friendly patio too!
The 10 Best Dog Kennels In Michigan!
Barley in front of the Mackinac Bridge mural and across the street from Park’s Yard
Home to the famous Painted Rocks National Park in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Manistee is another Northern Michigan gem, and yes, you can bring your dogs! The park has many dog-friendly locations, including Sand Point Beaches, Munising Falls Trail, Miners Falls, Miners Beach, Lake Superior and Beach, and Sable Falls and Beach.
Unfortunately, all three campgrounds, Little Beaver Lake, Twelvemile Beach and Hurricane River Campgrounds allow dogs, although the North Country Scenic Byway and all outlying campgrounds/campgrounds are closed to pets.
Also located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Marquette is one of my favorite places on earth and a place you should put on your bucket list to explore with your dog. Nestled on the shores of Lake Superior with rolling hills and stunning views, there are many hidden gems.
Pet Friendly Vacation Rentals In Traverse City, Michigan And Lodgings Accepting Dogs, Cats And Other Pets
When we visit, we stay at the Staybridge Inn and Suites right in the heart of the city. The rooms are large and equipped with pet-friendly amenities, and the dogs are welcome to cuddle and cuddle instead of our usual camping adventures. Staybridge Inn and Suites is a great chain of hotels that I follow in other cities as well – we’ve stayed at many hotels during our travels and it’s always fun!
Hike to one of the area’s many waterfalls, and if you’re brave enough, you can take a dip in Dead River Falls, a moderate but short 1.7-mile round trip. If you’re looking for a view of the water from the top, check out Sugar Mountain or Hogback Mountain, both of which are a moderate climb, but well worth it once you get to the top!
After a day of hiking, check out Ore Duck Brewing’s dog friendly patio. They have a great selection of house beers and when we visited last year they even had some seltzers on tap which were amazing! If you’re lucky, you’ll see Dia De Los Tacos outside – the tacos are so good, we’ll be following this food truck for days wherever it goes!
Traverse City has been named one of the best small towns in the United States, and it certainly lives up to expectations. It’s also very dog friendly and we make it a point to visit at least once a year! The Greater Traverse City area is one of Michigan’s best wine regions, with more than 40 different wineries on the peninsula. Visit our Wine Tasting Day and bring your dog to our favorites like Mari Vineyards, Left Foot Charley and Bonobo where all dog visitors are welcome!
Top Dog Friendly Vacation Travel Destinations
If you’re looking for something to eat, check out The Little Fleet downtown for some of the best pizza we’ve ever had, or The Little Fleet, one of the many dog-friendly food trucks. They also have great craft cocktails in their main building!
Whether you prefer to hike or visit the famous blue water beaches, Good Harbor Bay Trail & Beach is pet friendly and will not disappoint! This is an easy 2.7 mile loop trail that leads to a quiet sandy beach. Curly dogs are accepted on the circuit and on the beach only if they are cleaned afterwards.
If you want to explore Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Park, check out Beulah and the surrounding area! Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on some trails during the summer due to endangered pipelines in the lake, but additional trails in the park are accessible from December 1st to March 31st.
Pets are allowed year-round at some of the quieter beaches, including Alberta Beach, which is less crowded because Mother Nature is in charge, and Empire Bluff, Sleeping Bear Point, and Peterson Road Beach, known for their epic views. More. South Manitou Island even on clear days.
Do A Dog Friendly Trip To The Bend
Many campgrounds near the park also allow off-leash pets, but if you’re visiting Sleeping Bear NPS, be sure to confirm before you go!
Another favorite of ours in the area is Ironfish Distillery. The property is beautiful and there are several things to do and see, including maple syrup, spirit flights, and my favorite, their wood-fired pizza!
Ask the locals about their favorite spots when you visit! From Michigan’s thumb up to the West Coast and in between, there’s plenty to explore, and yes, you should bring the dogs!
In the area? Check out our Dog Guide to Walking in Michigan and our Dog Guide to Cleveland!
Dog Friendly Beaches At Michigan State Parks
Rachel Jejowski and Wild Golds Rachel is a freelance graphic designer and content creator living in beautiful Northern Michigan with Joe, Cassie, and Mo! This is how they spend
