Traveling is fun, but traveling with your pet by your side makes it even better! Whether you’re just driving through, or coming to Texas as a vacation destination, cities all around the state have many options when it comes to pet-friendly activities, restaurants, and more.
El Paso
This city is all about fun in the sun. There are plenty of dog-friendly parks to play in, but the fun doesn’t stop there. Eateries with dog-friendly patios include Ripe Eatery, serving brunch, lunch, and dinner, with healthy food and craft beers for humans and cool water bowls and treats for pets. Enjoy mouth-watering pub eats and brews at The Hoppy Monk, which provides covered outdoor seating and caters to dogs. Zin Valle Vineyards in Canutillo welcomes leashed pups to roam the property. Humans can sip the “Man’s Best Friend” Merlot at outdoor tables while rover relaxes in the grass.
Houston
As the fourth-largest city in the United States, there are many places you and your furry friend can enjoy together. With more than 300 parks and 125 miles of trails, Houston offers endless opportunities to get outside. Eleanor Tinsley Park is home to one of the most breathtaking views of downtown Houston. This park is set along Buffalo Bayou, where you can enjoy more than four miles of dog-friendly paved trails for hiking and biking, along with city views and great public artworks. Houston Arboretum & Nature Center and Memorial Park are top spots to wander, play fetch, or grab a blanket and just relax on the lawn. Chow down at Eight Row Flint with your pet and enjoy a casual meal or weekend brunch. Pucci is a café, wine bar, and pet boutique, serving up mochaccinos and biscotti for you and designer dog treats like Peanut Butter Bites. Or check out Barnaby’s named for a shaggy sheepdog, which offers humans good grub and features a dog-approved menu, including doggie ice cream!
Austin
Known for an abundance of outdoor activities and its laid-back attitude, Austin makes for a perfect day with your dog by your side. Start off at one of the many dog-friendly coffee shops. Mozart’s Coffee Roasters has views of Lake Austin, with a beautiful tree-shaded deck for you and your pup to enjoy while sipping your morning coffee. From there, head over to Zilker Park for one of the best views of the city of Austin skyline. There are 358 acres for your dog to run around, play frisbee, explore, and meet other dogs. Feel like a long walk instead? Nearby Lady Bird Lake offers the 10-mile Ann and Roy Butler hike-and-bike trail that loops around this reservoir, offering close-up views of the downtown skyline as well as the famed bronze statue commemorating singer/songwriter Stevie Ray Vaughan. Refresh with some drinks and a snack at any of the three, Austin favorite Easy Tiger locations. Dogs welcome!
Dallas
Sure, four-legged friends can get away with you to this Texas city! Start your day with a caffeine boost at a Dallas staple La La Land Cafe, in the Oak Lawn neighborhood. Head to Katy Trail for a 3.5-mile walk with your pup through some pretty downtown neighborhoods. Or head to the Dallas Farmer’s Market and order breakfast tacos or tamales at El Mero Mero, a family-owned stall here. Head to the artsy Deep Ellum district and stroll among the vibrant street murals together. Afterwards, head to the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and grab a pet pick of the city’s skyline from the pedestrian bridge that spans the Trinity River. Later, pop into the patio at Katy Trail Icehouse for great burgers and a range of beers on tap, a perfect post-walk treat for you and your furry friend. While you and some friends enjoy a cocktail at Mutt’s Cantina, grab a pupsicle for your dog at this off-leash dog park and bar and grill.
San Antonio
With some 16 miles of beautiful trails along the famed River Walk, you’ll have tons of places to walk with your dog here. From historic sites to restaurants and bars, the River Walk has plenty to give you both pause. Many of the shops and outdoor restaurants here welcome leashed dogs, and some, like Rita’s on the River even have pet menus. At the San Antonio Missions, dogs are allowed on the grounds of the historic Spanish missions, which date back to the early 1700s. When you are both ready for a bite, you have options. Landry’s Seafood House on the Riverwalk and Cured at Pearl are just a couple of places that provide for both humans and their four-legged friends. End your day with a spooky ghost tour of this historic town! The Sisters Grimm Ghost Tours walking tour and River City Ghosts offer equal-opportunity frights for man and best friends.
Waco
Waco has some great spots to stop and enjoy with your pup. Whether you are hungry for breakfast, lunch, or a treat, Magnolia Market at the Silos offers plenty to fuel your fun, including a bakery, food trucks, and a restaurant, all with tantalizing food and drink. There are outdoor picnic tables and plenty of room for both of you to walk around by the silos. Your furry friend is also welcome elsewhere in Waco. Check out Spice Village, Waco Downtown Farmers Market, or stroll around the picturesque Waco Suspension Bridge & Riverwalk Area. After working up an appetite, head over to Milo’s, for scratch-made southern cooking.
