Summer is here and the sun is shining! At least some days… When we aren’t getting drenched in rain, it’s almost mandatory to go out and soak up every bit of the perfect weather. But there is someone you know that wants to join you on your ventures. That’s right, your four-legged, furry family member. Lucky for us, we live in one of the most dog friendly cities in the country. Good ol’ Austin, Texas offers endless places for you and Fido to go out and spend some fun quality time together and we have compiled a list of our favorite places and spaces for you to tryout this weekend.
Dog House Drinkery and Dog Park
This place is AWESOME! So awesome that we host our monthly mixers here! Located in Leander, Dog House Drinkery and Dog Park has a large dog park that is enclosed, shaded and suitable for dogs of all ages, sizes, and activity levels. While your pup is running around making new friends, you can kickback under a shady tree and take advantage of the ice cold beer or a nice glass of wine they sell in the bar which is conveniently attached to the park. And safety is the business’s number one concern so you can come knowing that your dog will be safe and have a great time.
This urban dog park is located in the heart of Austin and offers beautiful scenery and trails that run along the water of Lady Bird Lake. There are 12 unfenced, leash-free areas for your four-legged friends to release their energy and soak up the Vitamin D. This park is great for well-trained dogs that don’t require a fenced boundary. Forget your snacks? You are sure to find food trailers nearby to grab a bite.
Zilker Metropolitan Park is considered “Austin’s Most Loved Park” with its 45 acres of leash-free dog areas. This is another dog park that is not fenced and dogs roam freely. Since it is unfenced, make sure your dog responds well to verbal command and stays within sight at all times. Be sure to be on the lookout, your dog just may be featured on the Zilker Park Instagram account! Take a stroll Wednesday evenings, bring a blanket and find a spot on the grass with your furry BFF to enjoy the “Blues on the Green” concert series or get your zen on and go for a relaxing walk through Zilker Botanical Garden.
Barton Creek Greenbelt Preserve
For a more active place to enjoy nature, this beautiful greenbelt is full of shady hiking trails for you and Fido-Just make sure he’s on a leash here! The trail follows along the creek and leads to a few swimming holes and a waterfall.
Austin Dog Alliance offers seven acres of leash-free trails and a dog park for you and your pooch to explore in Cedar Park. For a small donation, you can bring the whole family for a picnic between the agility field leash-free area before exploring the nature trails. The area is partially fenced and requires that your do have current vaccination records on file to play.
Located on Town Lake, this is a great place to bring your water-loving pooch. This park features 13 acres of off-leash fun for you and your pup. Parking is limited at this park, so a week-day visit would be best.
Farmer’s Markets
Farmer’s markets are a great place to bring your leashed dog and check out locally made items or local farms. Many of the Austin-area farmer’s markets have a vendor selling pet-related items including, collars, leashes, toys, and some tasty homemade snacks to treat your pet!
For those of you wanting to get more hands-on activity with your pet, many of the watersport rental shops in Austin offer rentals that allow you to bring your pet on board! Strap on the doggy life vests and try out kayaking or paddleboarding for a new and fun activity with your pet! Or jump in the boat a take a trip up the river or around the lake and enjoy the scenery!
It’s summer! Time to get out and enjoy what mother nature and the city of Austin has to offer!