Traveling with your canine companions
Are you a dog lover? Do you spend your spare time throwing a frisbee around with canine friends? Do you refer to your pets as your “fur babies”? Is your bed basically a glorified dog throne where you’re barely allowed a few inches of space to sleep each night?
If you’ve got one or more bona fido canine companions, you’re squeaking into the majority—around 44% of U.S. households include at least one dog. That’s 62 million dog-loving households, or enough dogs to replace every human being in Germany.
With this growing fealty to dog ownership comes the desire to travel with one’s doggy pals. That’s easy to do in the Petoskey area. Many parks, breweries, restaurant patios, and stores offer spaces for your pets to relax while you enjoy everything a northern Michigan summer has to offer.
Dogs and their humans stroll all throughout the picturesque Bayfront Park.
Outdoor dogs
Many local parks and natural areas in the Petoskey area offer dog-friendly spaces for Rover to roam. Most of them require leashes, and they ask that visitors pick up their pet waste to prevent it from entering our freshwater supplies. Only a few areas prohibit dogs for the protection of nesting shorebirds.
As the area’s off-leash dog park, Boyne City’s Ridge Run Dog Park has separate spaces for large and small dogs and fun summer activities, such as agility training. It’s a great place to meet other animal lovers in the area as you vacation, or to just let your dog run wild and free as the wind while you relax.
When we say that many parks in our area are dog-friendly, we mean it. You have your choice of almost every Little Traverse Conservancy (LTC) preserve and reserve in our area. They require that dogs remain leashed in the preserves to protect wildlife, respect other visitors, and that owners clean up pet waste with the handy bags provided at trail heads. For those wanting extensive walks, the McCune Preserve, the Offield Family Working Forest Reserve and Viewlands, the Hill Nature Preserve, and the Taylor Horton Creek/Schulz Reserve have miles of meandering trails. The only preserves closed to pets for the sake of rare, sensitive wildlife habitat are Thorne Swift, Sally Stebbins, Waldron Fen, and Woollam Family Nature Preserves. Vermillion Point is closed to canines from May 1 through August 15.
LTC is experimenting with an off-leash policy at Van Lokeren Family Lakeside Preserve at Larks Lake. Their site hosts the full list of details. Dogs aren’t allowed at the park between April 16 and July 8 to protect nesting birds.
In Petoskey proper, dogwalking opportunities abound. At Petoskey State Park, leashed dogs are allowed everywhere but on the beach (endangered piping plovers nest there). Visitors and their pets are welcome at Bear River Valley Recreation Area – Petoskey’s iconic riverwalk, Bayfront, Veteran’s, Curtis, Washington, and Lockwood Parks.
Young State Park in Boyne City allows leashed dogs in their campgrounds, along trails, and at a lake access point near the boat launches. Tannery Beach, also a great place to put in your small craft, is a pet-friendly area near Tannery Park. Sunset, Old City, Riverside, and Rotary Parks are all open to dogs. Avalanche Preserve, a spectacular park for mountain biking, hiking, disc golfing, and stunning Lake Charlevoix views, is incredibly popular for dog owners. Or if you’re sick of the terrestrial lifestyle, take your doggo paddling in the Boyne River.
Nearby Boyne Mountain Resort allows dogs in nearly all of their outdoor spaces, and pet-friendly lodgings are available.
Zoll Street Beach in Harbor Springs is often referred to as the Dog Beach as well-behaved dogs are allowed off-leash to enjoy the beach.
Dog-friendly areas in Harbor Springs abound. Zoll Street Beach is a popular area for pups, where pets can frolic free in the waves. During certain hours, leashed dogs are allowed at the Zorn City Beach. Josephine Ford and Kosequat Parks also welcome dogs. On the Little Traverse Wheelway, which currently runs between Harbor Springs and Charlevoix, you’ll see loads of visitors and residents alike strolling with their canine companions (or carrying them in cute little bike baskets). And, like Boyne Resort, The Highlands at Harbor Springs offers pet-friendly rooms and allows leashed dogs in many of their outdoor spaces.
North of Harbor Springs, the epic outdoor wonderland that is Wilderness State Park includes dog-friendly camping and a pet-friendly beach. Pet owners love the park’s 20+ miles of expansive trails.
When you’re in Petoskey, look for the paw print sticker for stores that welcome your canine pals.
Indoor dogs
What about downtown streets and stores? Sure, you can take Fido to the beach, but what about shopping? Plenty of northern Michigan businesses welcome dogs that are dry, friendly, leashed, and well-behaved.
The most obvious place to stop with your pooch in downtown Petoskey is Ruff Life, the four-time Red Hot Best Place to Buy Pet Supplies in the Petoskey area. You are cordially invited to bring your doggo to their store for treats, toys, and other supplies. Join them for a Ruff Life Ramble, their bimonthly hike at area preserves.
Ruff Life has also posted a list of Petoskey stores that allow dogs, either indoors or on their patios, on their Facebook page. Stores like Cutler’s, Dave’s Boot Shop, Random, Meyer Ace Hardware, Bearcub Outfitters, and McLean and Eakin are all safe for your canine companions. If you’re ever in doubt, look for the Petoskey-stone pawprint sticker that’s posted in the window of each store that allows leashed dogs inside.
Restaurants with patios and other outdoor seating also welcome dogs, such as Palette Bistro, Sam’s Grace’s Café, Julienne Tomatoes, the Noggin Room, Chandler’s, and The Back Lot.
In Harbor Springs, Pet Pantry Supplies is waiting to welcome you and your pup, whether you need supplies or freshly-baked dog treats. Your dog is also invited into the shopping district at places like Rocking Horse Toy Company, Between the Covers, The Outfitter of Harbor Springs, and Harbor Wear, among others. It’s a dog-friendly community that certainly won’t turn away a well-behaved pup.
Restaurants with patios offer a place for your dog to rest while you dine or snack, including Pierson’s Grille and Spirits, Paper Station Bistro, Johan’s Pastry Shop, Turkey’s, and Tom’s Mom’s Cookies.
Pond Hill Farm, an incredibly popular destination for wine, beer, cider, wood-fired pizzas, hiking, and year-round fun, is a great place north of Harbor Springs to take your leashed dogs for outdoor fun. Keep an eye out for their ‘Yappy Hour’ event they have been having that features dog pools to enjoy with other doggy friends and access to their grounds and hiking trails. This is paired along their Open Mic Night for a good time for the humans as well.
In Boyne City, right on the shores of stunning Lake Charlevoix, there are several places where your pups can join the adventure. Lake Street Pub, Boyne City Tap Room, Stigg’s Brewery and Kitchen, Café Santé, and Gilda’s Lake Street Bakery all feature outdoor, dog-friendly seating during the warmer months. Many of the area’s local shops, including North Country Cycle, Freshwater Art Gallery, Peninsula (if you can carry your dog), and Spuds allow dogs inside.
In short, we’re paws-itive you and your four-legged friends will find a warm reception in the Petoskey area. From outdoor exploration to relaxed evenings on the beach and delicious places to dine, you won’t have a ruff time finding ways to include canine pals.
About the Author: Jen DeMoss is a newcomer to the Petoskey area and loves northern Michigan. You can catch her paddling a canoe, hiking a trail, or swimming in Lake Michigan as often as the weather cooperates. She’d love to help you make the most of your time in this paradise she now calls home.