Are you worried about leaving your pet at home for days or weeks while you are on vacation in Washington, D.C.? Even if you put him in a kennel, he will still be apart from you for an extended period. You should instead consider bringing your pup with you on your trip. This way, you can enjoy the sights and sounds of America’s capital together.
Before you pack Fido in his carrier for the vacation, be sure to book a room in a hotel that allows animals. For instance, Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center permits small pets as long as you give at least three days’ notice.
Once you arrive in Washington, D.C., you do not have to leave your dog in your hotel room all day. The city offers numerous pet-friendly attractions.
1. Tours
If you do not feel like walking to each of these attractions, you should check out the Tricycle Tours. You and your pup can relax in a cab while viewing all of the major tourist sites. The tour guide goes at your pace and will stop at various attractions so you can take photos or get a closer look. While some of the memorials visited on the tour do not allow pets, the tour service will watch your pup for you when you are inside.
For a spookier adventure, you can bring your leashed dog on a guided ghost tour. You can learn all about the scary history of the city.
The city offers various pet-friendly pedicab tours, as well. If you are a history buff, you may enjoy a tour centered around Abraham Lincoln’s presidency and assassination.
2. Restaurants
Washington, D.C. has multiple restaurants that welcome pets, including Banana Cafe on Eighth Street and Elephant & Castle on Pennsylvania Avenue. One of the city’s most highly-rated restaurants is Rasika West End, an Indian joint that counts Angelina Jolie as one of its customers. At this establishment, your dog can lounge on the patio while you enjoy some delicious lamb chops.
Some places take things one step further and cater to both dogs and humans. Barkhaus, for instance, offers both outdoor and indoor dog parks. Meanwhile, Baked & Wired serves delicious pastries and dog treats. The city even offers a pup-friendly bar that is appropriately called Wet Dog Tavern.
3. Boathouses
If your pup loves the water, bring him to the Key Bridge Boathouse. Just get a doggie life jacket at the nearby shop and set him in a kayak or canoe. Fletcher’s Boathouse allows pets, as well, as long as they remain on leash.
4. Parks
Parks are great places to view amazing sites. Since they are outside, they are typically pet-friendly, as well. Theodore Roosevelt Island is a good place to start. It includes two miles of trails, and you can see the Potomac River during your hike. The island is easily accessible by footbridge.
Washington, D.C. has plenty of cherry blossoms, and you can see some of them at the Tidal Basin. The blossoms are also visible outside the National Mall, which includes two miles of monuments. While you cannot bring your dog inside the monuments, you can take him up some of the staircases.
Meridian Hill is another popular park that provides plenty of space for your dog to roam. If you go there on a Sunday, you and your dog can enjoy a drum circle. Meanwhile, Kenilworth Park lets you and your dog tour aquatic gardens along the Anacostia River.
If you are heading to Washington, D.C., for a vacation, you do not have to leave your four-legged friends at home. There are plenty of attractions that will keep both you and your dog entertained.
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