Heather Kalinowski is a pet lover and new mom who enjoys exploring the city with her whole family – fur-kids included. During the day she can be found helping pet owners protect their pets with Trupanion pet insurance.
One of my favorite things to do during a Seattle weekend is to plan a day with my dogs, taking them with me as I jet around the area. I’m the type of dog owner who likes to include my dogs in all aspects of my life and luckily, Seattle is very good at allowing me to do that. There are many dog-friendly places to explore and if I plan my day right, I can have a great day out, dogs included. The following is one example of a typical day out with my two furry family members.
9:00 a.m. – Starbucks
I know that people are divided about Starbucks – you either love it or hate it – but I definitely still think Starbucks is a Seattle institution and have much love for their coffee. My days mostly start with a trip to Starbucks for a grande sugar-free vanilla soy latte, and the days I have my pups with me is no exception. (As a side note, I either drive through or have my husband wait with the dogs outside rather than tying them up while I go in. I just don’t trust the tie-up method.)
10:00 a.m. – Farmer’s Market
The Ballard Farmer’s Market is the best I’ve found in the city. You can find amazing colorful produce, farm fresh eggs, homemade pasta, bouquets of flowers, crepes made to order on the spot, and so much more! And inevitably, you will find that 50% of the shoppers have their pooches with them. I love to bring my two dogs with me as I pick out my favorite items – my little dog in a carrier around my shoulder, my bigger dog sniffing along the path and greeting the other pets.
11:00 a.m. – Dog Park
There are a few excellent dog parks to choose from in the Seattle area, but my favorite it Magnuson. What I love most about this particular park is that I can get some exercise as well as my dogs. There is a path that leads down to a beach and walking along that path a few times makes me feel much more active than the sitting or standing I do at other dog parks.
12:30 p.m. – Picnic Lunch at Luther Burbank Park
I used to live on Mercer Island and while there, I fell in love with this park. It’s an easy walk down to the end of the path to a nice little beach with a great view of the water and lots of grass to lay out a picnic blanket. It’s fairly quiet and a place I can spend a few hours relaxing. There is a dog park here as well, but I like to bring my dogs to this little beach and let them troll the water’s edge for a while before lying out in the sun.
3:30 p.m. – Downtown Shopping
Seattle is not a huge city and it’s easy to walk from one end of downtown to the other. Downtown Seattle offers a great variety of shops and window shopping with my dogs in tow can be a lot of fun. Of course, I will often actually stop into stores like All the Best and Mud Bay (where I can bring the dogs inside with me) to look for a new toy or sweet treat to bring home.
5:30 p.m. – Dinner at Norm’s Eatery and Ale House
My absolute favorite way to end a day out with my dogs is to bring them inside a restaurant with me for dinner! I love that Norm’s not only allows dogs inside, but welcomes them with open arms. There are comfy couches to hang out on and televisions to sit back and watch with your pup relaxing at your feet.
After dinner I would head home to crash after a long day out and about. It’s a great way to bond with my dogs as well as tire them out for another work week. What are your favorite places to hang out with your pets in the Seattle area?
