Best big city activities for your dog

Everyone has their favorite neighborhood route for walking their dog.

Chances are that it combines some city sidewalks with the occasional detour through a park, field or past some lakes and ponds. Everyone has their favorite routes, but sometimes they can get a little stale.

Maybe your dog doesn’t know any different and loves every moment, no matter what, but there are all sorts of great spots in your city to change it up and give your pup a serious treat he or she will love.

Whether you live in New York or California, here are a few of the best big city dog activities to break up your old walking routine.

Gerritsen Avenue Beach

Who says dogs can’t enjoy the beach in New York. This pet-friendly strip of land at the edge of Brooklyn is the perfect place to take your pup on a warm summer’s day in New York, while everyone else crowds into Central Park with no way to cool off. This is a relatively well-kept secret for dogs in the Big Apple and there are plenty of pet-friendly hotels in Brooklyn if you’re traveling from out of town.

Willow Creek Park

There’s a slice of heaven in the mountains for dogs in northern Arizona, and it’s considered one of the best dog parks in America. Willow Creek Park is a large, lush space for canines to come and socialize. And thanks to a $500,000 renovation in 2013, the park is even more luxurious and full of fun activities for dogs to enjoy. The park is in Prescott, Arizona, which is just a two-hour drive north from Phoenix and a perfect destination to escape the desert with your little companion.

Cabrillo Tide Pools Trail

Dogs love to join their owners on hikes, but they often need to cool off even when the temperature isn’t very hot. The Cabrillo Tide Pools Trail in San Diego is an easy half-mile trek with breathtaking views and plenty of fun areas for your dog to splash around on the way. Even though you will feel like the trail is remote, it’s close to San Diego rentals, hotels, and homes, which are in great spots for all the human activities on the beach as well.

Montrose Dog Beach

There’s no need for your dog to feel landlocked in the Midwest because the beaches of Lake Michigan are here to the rescue. Chicago’s Montrose Dog Beach is a piece of lakeside land designated for your dog to run, swim and socialize with other animals in the park. This is a well-known area and can get a bit crowded at times, so just be sure to keep an eye on your pup if he or she wanders into the lake.

Peter’s Park

The bigger the city, the harder it is to find quality off-leash time for your dog. But that’s not the case in Boston where Peter’s Park offers tons of open space for pets in the heart of the city. The 13,000 square feet of clean space and 3,000 square feet for small dogs offers something for everyone without having to leave downtown Boston.