Dog-Friendly Hot Spots in ATL  

I love staying active, but also enjoy spending as much time as possible with my pooch. So, I hadn’t been in Atlanta long before I started researching dog-friendly places, where my dog, Mac, and I could do some exploring together. While I haven’t had the pleasure of trying out all of the great locations below, I certainly plan on doing so very soon.

Here are a few dog-friendly must-see locations in the city:

Local Parks. Dogs are allowed in many of Atlanta’s local parks, including the world famous Centennial Olympic Park, but they must be kept on a leash. The City of Atlanta offers “Laws 4 Paws,” which provides an easy-to-understand rundown of the city’s dog laws, especially as they pertain to parks, trails, and public places. Dog-Friendly.com provides helpful descriptions of three local parks that allow leashed dogs:

• Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
• Grant Park
• Piedmont Park

Dog Parks. As ATL newbies, my dog and I are both in need of some new friends. I thought a great place to start would be the city’s local dog parks. Curbed.com provides a helpful overview and map of the city’s best dog parks. Here are the parks it features:

• Piedmont Park
• South Bend
• Oakhurst
• Railside
• Parkgrounds
• Adair
• Renaissance Park
• Atlantic Station
• Brook Run
• Mason Mill

Trails. In addition to being a bustling city, Atlanta offers scenic areas that allow you to appreciate the beauty of the great outdoors. And as a bonus, many of these areas, such as nearby trails, are dog-friendly. AtlantaTrails.com offers a few trails that I can’t wait to try out:

• Sweetwater Creek Trails
• Arabia Mountain Trails
• Morningside Nature Preserve
• Cochran Shoals to Sope Creek
• West Palisades Trail
• Cheatham Hill/Kolb Farm Loop
• Henry Mill Falls Trail

Restaurants. After all that running and playing, you’ll be ready for a break and some good food. But what will you do with your dog while you eat? Not to worry! Atlanta offers many great restaurants that allow Fido to join you for your meal. PetFriendlyRestaurants.com provides an alphabetized listing of some of these fantastic eateries. And AJC.com presents information about the city’s best restaurant patios that allow dogs. Here they are:

• Einstein’s
• Buckhead Saloon
• 1910 Public House
• 1920 Tavern
• O’Brian’s
• Smoke Jack
• Athens Pizza
• Bellwoods Social House

Whether you’ve got two legs or four, there are plenty of places to have a good time in the A. So, grab the leash and head out!