Dog Friendly Vacations Michigan – Located at the tip of Michigan’s thumb, Port Austin is one of the state’s lesser known treasures and it’s dog friendly too! Nearby Crescent State Park has more than 3 miles of sandy beaches, where you can spend the day swimming in the blue waters or hiking more than 18 miles of wooded trails.
Dogs are allowed on the beach near the mouth of the Pinneborg river, which is accessible from the metal bridge that connects the hiking trail closest to the camp. Pets must be leashed, and it’s also important to remember to clean up after your pet!
Dog Friendly Vacations Michigan
Pak’s Backyard is one of the most dog friendly backyards, also in Port Austin! They offer a great selection of Michigan craft beers, delicious bar food, and a wonderful atmosphere. They often host live music, so you can enjoy dinner and drinks on the water from your deck after a day at the beach!
Freshwater Vacation Rentals
Just a few hours along the shores of Lake Huron is another favorite of ours, Tawas Point! The dog beach is one of the only ones in Michigan that is actually fenced, allowing dogs to run freely in a designated area. The campsite is also dog-friendly, so you can spend the weekend with your dog!
Boathouse Beer Co. & Boozery is another great place to eat with your pet. Located in downtown Tawas, they offer great food and drink, and are right across the street from several other parks that are also dog friendly!
If you’re looking for a unique experience to enjoy with your dog in Michigan, head to Mackinac Island. Hop on a dog-friendly ferry – Star Line or Shepler’s – and travel to a car-free island – a unique experience! Once there, you can explore more than 70 miles of trails and viewpoints, dine at one of the area’s friendly restaurants, and even explore historic Fort Holmes with your dog. Many downtown shops also allow four-legged visitors – look out for the “Dogs Welcome” sign!
Mackinac Island also has three dog-friendly hotels, including Park Place Suites, Sunset Condos and our favorite, Mission Point Resort, which also has an amazing pet-friendly pool!
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Barley on the glass-fronted Mackinac Bridge across the street from Parker’s Backyard.
Maniste, home to the famous Rocks National Park in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is another mirror of northern Michigan, and yes, you can bring your dog! There are several areas of the park that allow dogs, including Sand Point Beach, Munising Falls Trail, Miners Falls Trail, Miners Beach, Lake Superior Viewpoint and Beach, and Sable Falls Trail and Beach.
Unfortunately, the Northland Trail and all campgrounds/campgrounds are not pet-friendly, but dogs are allowed at all three campgrounds in the area, including Little Beaver Lake, Twelve Mile Beach, and Hurricane River Campground.
Marquette, also in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is one of my favorite places on Earth and definitely a place you should explore with your dog. Located on the shores of Lake Superior, with rolling hills and stunning views, there are many hidden gems to see.
Michigan State Beaches
When we visited, we stayed at the Staybridge Inn and Suites downtown. The cabin is great, has great pet friendly amenities, and the dogs love the change of scenery from our usual camping adventures. Staybridge Inn and Suites is a great chain of hotels worth visiting in other cities too – we’ve stayed at several on our travels and they’re always nice!
Hike to one of the many waterfalls in the area, and if you’re brave, you can even jump to Dead River Falls, a moderate but short 1.7 mile hike. If you want to enjoy the view of the water from above, check out Sugarloaf Mountain or Hogback Mountain, both are easy to climb, but once you’re at the top, everything about It is worth it!
After a day of hiking, you head to the dog-friendly bar at Ore Dock Brewing. They have a variety of beers on tap and when we visited last year, they even had some sodas! If you’re lucky, you’ll see Dia De Los Tacos parked outside – these tacos are so delicious, we’ll be chasing this food truck wherever it is!
Traverse City has been named one of the top small cities in America, and it certainly lives up to its name. It’s also dog friendly and we come here at least once a year! The Grand Traverse City area is one of Michigan’s wine regions, with more than 40 different wineries spread across the island. Bring your dog for a day of wine tasting at some of our favorite wineries like Mari Vineyards, Left Foot Charley and Bonobo, all of which welcome canine guests!
Lake Michigan Beach Mini Sessions
If you need food, head to the Filling Station downtown for some of the best pizza we’ve ever eaten, or The Little Fleet, a dog-friendly food truck park. They also serve craft cocktails on the main floor!
Whether you want to go hiking or visit some of the famous blue water beaches, Good Harbor Bay Trail and Beach is pet friendly and you won’t be disappointed! This is a 2.7 mile loop trail that leads to a quiet sandy beach. Dogs on leashes are welcome on the promenade and on the beach, as long as they clean up afterwards.
If you want to explore the Bear Dunes National Park area, be sure to visit Beulah and the surrounding area! Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on some trails during the summer due to dangerous pipes by the lake, but there are many trails available in the park from December 1st to March 31st.
Some of the quieter beaches allow pets year-round, including Elberta Beach (often less busy as nature takes care of itself) and Peterson Road Beach (known as Empire Bluff, Sleeping Point, Famous for its spectacular view of Sleeping Point) and even Manitou Island South on a sunny day.
Torch Lake Pet-friendly Vacation Rentals
Many of the campgrounds near the park also allow pets, but if you’re visiting Big Bear NPS, be sure to check before you go!
One of our other favorite spots in the area is the Ironfish Distillery. The hotel is beautiful and has tons of things to do including their own maple syrup, spirit flights, and my favorite, their wood fired pizza!
Be sure to ask the locals about their favorite spots when you go! From Michigan’s Stump, to the UP, to the West Coast and in between, there’s plenty to explore – and yes, you should bring the dog!
Area? Check out the Michigan Dog Walking Guide and the Cleveland Dog Guide!
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Rachael Jezowski and The Wild Goldens Rachel is a freelance graphic designer and content creator living in beautiful northern Michigan with her three goldens, Barli, Cassie, and Moe! They spend as much free time as possible packing up, getting away for the weekend, and enjoying all that Michigan has to offer. When they’re not hiking or visiting the beach (Rachel isn’t working either, ha!), the dogs love to play in the yard and swim. Rachel also became a strong advocate for rescue operations after adopting Cassie, who was rescued from the Chinese meat trade in 2019. experiences and other experiences.
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51 Dog-friendly Us Spots To Visit This Summer · The Wildest
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