We love our dogs, many times to distraction. We also don’t much like caging them up at a kennel while we vacation. While the airlines may let them on board, there are lots of places that don’t exactly roll out the red fire hydrant for Man’s Best Friend.
Miami does – at least if you know where to look. The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau contends this slice of south Florida is among the most dog-friendly places on the planet. The evidence starts on Lincoln Road, a pedestrian shopping area arrayed along Miami Beach that locals label “Dog Central.”
Name a breed and chances are decent you’ll see them parading along Lincoln, owners in tow. A couple of the best spots to kick back with your canine include the Café at Books and Books and Van Dyke Café.
Dogs crave table scraps, scritches and pampering. But they also love to run. To that end this is an area where dog parks abound. Miami Beach’s newest is a 3.25-acre, mile-and-half stretch sand ‘n sun at Hanover Beach. The admission is $2. Definitions are important here. “Dog Park” means you can unleash your companion; a “Dog-Friendly Park” means keep them on leash. “Dog Run Park” lets leashed dogs on the running path.
Cafés are nice, and exercise important. But it’s the attitudes of hotels that matter most. Epic Hotel in downtown Miami boasts knockout views of Biscayne Bay. Both the Epic and the new Surfcomber on Miami Beach accommodate your dog at no extra cost. At the Miami River Inn as many as two dogs can stay in your room for $25. Then there’s the Mandarin Oriental Miami, where canines get in walked for free once a day. The TLC at the Mandarin includes a doggie turn-down service. Ruff, ruff.
(Featured image: Mr. Usaji)
