Vote for Seattle!

Over at GoPetFriendly.com, their blog, Take Paws, is hosting their own March Madness tournament for the Best City for Pet Travelers. Seattle, which I call home (well, not quite, but we’re in the Seattle area) has made it to the quarter finals. And we’re up against regional powerhouse Victoria, BC, so we need your vote to win.

Now, I’ll be honest, I love visiting Victoria, but I’d never take my dog there. First, you have to take a ferry to get to Victoria, and all the rules say your dog has to remain in your car or at least on the car deck for the whole trip over. (Yes, people break this rule all the time, but it is the official rule.) That’s not fun for your dog, even if he doesn’t get sea sick.

Then, the things to do in Victoria include visiting the museum- an awesome place, but dogs aren’t allowed, Cragidarroch Castle- also no dogs allowed, or the Undersea Gardens- certainly no dogs allowed. While I’ve taken some pictures of dogs while I was visiting Victoria, I never saw any in the places you really want to go.

sitting outside a coffee shop in Victoria, BC

How is Seattle different? Well, even if you can forget the 11 dog parks located in the city limits, or discount S.O.D.A, and their two GIANT parks just outside Seattle- Marymoor and Grandview (both are around 40 acres), Seattle Center is one of the most dog friendly places you will ever go- right there in the heart of downtown tourist Seattle.

Dogs also ride free on city buses, for ease of transportation while you’re here.

Dogs are welcome at the lovely Kubota Japanese Gardens, too (the park is technically located in Renton, WA).

If my words don’t convince you, perhaps some pictures will.

The Dog Beach at Magnussen Park, Seattle

Genesee Dog Park, Seattle

This is just the "small/shy dog" area at Westcrest Dog Park, Seattle

The grandview of Mount Rainier from Grandview Dog Park, just outside Seattle

We got married at the Kubota Japanese Gardens, so I love that we can take the dogs on walks here, Renton (suburb of Seattle)