Dog Friendly Journey to Washington DC

Are you fed up with leaving your furry BFF behind when setting off on exhilarating escapades? Well, look no further! This article is your ticket to a paws-itively awesome adventure to the bustling city of Washington DC. Prepare for breathtaking monuments, historic landmarks, and drool-worthy food, all waiting for you and your four-legged amigo in our nation’s capital. With an estimated 43 million households owning at least one dog in the United States, it’s no wonder that more and more people are sniffing out ways to include their furry companions in their travel plans. So, grab your bags, leash up your pooch, and get ready to sniff out the best dog-friendly spots in Washington DC. Let’s dive in, tail-wagging and all! 🐾

Accommodations: If you need a place to crash with your furry pal, consider checking out The Riggs DC. It used to be an old bank, but now it’s a fancy hotel with plenty of space in our suite for the whole fam and the pupper. The hotel has a super retro vibe, a cool restaurant, bar, and an awesome rooftop for people-watching in Penn Quarter. The location is pawfect and really dog friendly, just 3 blocks from the National Mall, around the corner from Ford’s Theater, and there are oodles of restaurants in the area. Check out the pics below (Slideshow). 🏨🐶

Want to embark on an adventure with your furry friend in tow? Check out the dog-friendly hotel options on hotels.com and don’t forget to give the “Pet Friendly” filter a good click after you’ve nailed down your location, guests, and dates. This feature lets you sniff out accommodations by neighborhood or via the map, ensuring you don’t miss a bone, I mean, a beat. Plus, you’ll get the lowdown on all the pawsome amenities each hotel has to offer. It’s a dog’s world out there! Woof, woof!

1. Viceroy DC
2. Salamander DC
3. The Watergate Hotel
4. The Jefferson DC
5. Hyatt Place Washington DC
6. Hotel Washington

How to Sightsee in Washington DC with your Furry Friend

We absolutely couldn’t bear the thought of ditching our anxious furball in the room, especially in a strange city. So, we went on a wild mission to find some paws-itively dog-friendly activities, ranging from Pedicab tours to golf cart adventures and leisurely walking tours (steering clear of the inside of solemn memorials, of course). We did, however, accidentally stumble into a couple of tours that were a strict no-go for our furry companion — like a tempting food tour, Washington DC Donut Tour by Underground Donut Tour and an ascent up the Washington Monument (Skip the Line @ Washington Monument and National Mall Tour). Luckily, my husband had to do his remote work that day, so crisis averted! Our dog-approved tours included jaunts with Capitol Express Tours, the DC Sights Under Big Lights, Night Tour, and an exhilarating Wheel the People Pedicab Tour of Washington DC. Just let them know you are bringing a dog when you book. And if you’re ever in doubt about bringing your pet along, just head to Viator.com, choose a tour, and fire off a message to the tour operator. They’re usually pretty swift with their replies. On one scorching day when the temperature soared to a whopping 99 degrees F, we had to scrap our tour plans and ended up at the Escape Game Washington DC next to our hotel, where they generously allowed our dog to join in on the fun. Sadly, he didn’t manage to escape. LOL. Dog are also allowed at the US Botanic Gardens as well as the most Smithsonian Gardens except Enid A Haupt Garden and Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. We also took a break from Washington DC and ventured to Great Falls National Park in Virginia, a mere 30-minute drive from our hotel, and reveled in some spectacular views of waterfalls and foliage. (Viator Store Link)

See Slideshow below

I also took the kids to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, no pets allowed here, but the kids had a great time. You do have to reserve an entrance time, but the tickets are free, like all Smithsonian museums. Some of the museum is under renovation currently (7/2024) so prepare for construction in the area. See slideshow below

As for finding dog-friendly dining spots, Google is your best friend! I usually type in “dog-friendly restaurant in Washington DC.” And for an even more targeted search, just Google the location of your hotel, like Chinatown, Penn’s Quarter, or The Wharf. Need to hop on the Metro? No worries! Your furry friend is welcome as long as they’re snug in a carrier and stay put for the whole ride. Check out my travel page, Journeyology 101 Travel Page, for some dog-friendly carrier options that work like a charm for this.

• Jaleo
• Founding Farmers & Distillers Chinatown
• Most Beer Gardens
• Art and Soul
• Wet Dog Tavern
• Present Company Public House
• See slideshow below of some places we enjoyed

In conclusion, Washington D.C. might be famous for its monuments and politics, but it’s also a playground for doggos! From sniffing around the city’s parks and trails to indulging in some pup-erific dining at pet-friendly restaurants, there are paws-itively endless ways for you and your furry buddy to unleash the fun in the nation’s capital together. So, next time you’re planning a trip to D.C., don’t fur-get to bring your four-legged pal and fetch some unforgettable memories. Remember, “A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” So, why not treat them to a tail-wagging trip to the dog-friendly side of Washington D.C.? Just make sure to scoop the poop, give a friendly woof to other dog owners, and follow the rules. And hey, who knows, you might uncover some paw-some gems and make new fur-iends along the way. As dog enthusiasts, we’ve got a duty to bark for more dog-friendly spaces, not just in Washington D.C., but everywhere! So let’s keep wagging our tails and make the world a better place, one paw at a time. Keep wagging, dog lovers! 🐾