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Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Dog-Friendly Bloomington

Categories: General

If traveling just isn't the same without your tail-wagging friends, you'll be thrilled to know that Bloomington is an extremely pet-friendly destination. A huge variety of hotels, restaurants, and local businesses welcome doggos to join their human pals in their tour around our town. All you need to do is pack your pup's favorite food, a leash, and portable food & water bowls — we'll take care of the rest!

 

Doggie Destinations

A dog at Switchyard Park's dog park
Photo by @Desirae.At.Play on Instagram

Ferguson Dog Park
Located just one mile from Lower Cascades Park is Ferguson Dog Park. The 18.7-acre park features two separate fenced-in areas, one for large dogs and one for small dogs, as well as a drinking fountain with a drinking bowl for pups and a dog wash station.

Switchyard Park
One of the many amenities at Switchyard Park include its nearly seven-acre dog park. Like Ferguson Dog Park, Switchyard offers fenced-in roaming areas for both large and small pups, as well as a drinking fountain for dogs.

T&T Pet Food & Supply
Treat your pup to a new toy and some barking good treats from T&T Pet Food & Supply.
 

Hotels for Hounds

A dog sitting on a bed at the Graduate Hotel
Photo by Brooke Killey

Candlewood Suites 
Pet-friendly amenities at Candlewood Suites include milk bones for every pup at check-in, dog-walking paths, an outdoor patio, and lots of green space surrounding the hotel.

Century Suites 
Like Candlewood Suites, Century Suites welcomes all doggie guests with treats at check-in. Pups will love the large, grassy courtyard as well.

Graduate Bloomington
The Graduate is committed to making all pups feel like royalty — enjoy a complimentary Bark Box, along with a water bowl and blanket just for your pooch.

Hyatt Place
Like most pet-friendly hotels in Bloomington, the Hyatt Place offers dog treats at the front desk, as well as complimentary clean-up bags. Its close proximity to the B-Line Trail is an added bonus, offering easy access for a walk with minimal vehicular traffic.

Home2 Suites 
Travelers with dogs in tow will find treats and water bowls available for their companions at the Home2 Suites check-in desk. 

Lake Lemon Guest Houses 
The Strawberry Fields and Lemon Lift guest houses at Lake Lemon offer fenced & gated decks and large yards so dogs can sit outside and enjoy the lake views, too. 
 

Puppy Patios

A dog on the patio at Chocolate Moose
Photo by @archietheaussiemix on Instagram

In addition to simply allowing dogs on their patios, the following restaurants, cafes, breweries, and distilleries also offer treats and/or water bowls for any furry guests:

These eateries don't offer special amenities for pups, but you're still more than welcome to bring them with you to their patios:

Woofs are Welcome

A dog at the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center
Photo by @hoosierkingnyc on Instagram

In addition to many of Bloomington's restaurants, there are a variety of shops, markets, and attractions that also welcome furry friends:

Always keep your pup on a leash and respect any designated dog areas.
 

Tail Trails & Water Wags

A dog on the boardwalk at Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve
Photo by @campingwithcobalt on Instagram

Bloomington offers a variety of incredible nature destinations, and there isn't a single one that dogs aren't allowed at! While all parks, forests, and nature preserves do require you to keep your pup on a leash during your visit, they're more than welcome to join you for a hike. We do recommend you take plenty of water and a portable bowl with you, and do your research to find out the type of terrain and length of any hike you might want to take your dog on.

You can also bring your canine companion to any of our three lakes for a fun day on the water. Many of our boat rental companies allow dogs on their watercrafts, some with limitations on which boats four-legged friends are allowed on, but nonetheless giving you the option to treat your doggo to a boat day. There are tons of outdoor adventures to embark in Bloomington on with your pup — pun totally intended.
 


Looking for more things to do with your pup in B-Town? Check out these blogs:
Alyssa Davis

Alyssa Davis

Alyssa is a former Digital Content Coordinator at Visit Bloomington. 

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