There are so many pet friendly restaurants and attractions in St. Augustine–it is paws-ible to create an absolutely re-bark-able trip for you and your fur baby!!
At the Bayfront Marin House, we LOVE our four-legged guests! All of the first floor rooms at the Bayfront Marin House Bed and Breakfast are pet friendly…just let us know that you’re bringing your best fur-iend , and we’ll make sure that your room is ready for both of you. There is a daily fee for pets of $35.
While it’s great to have a pet-friendly place to sleep, we know you want to do things with your pet during your stay as well. St. Augustine has lots of pet-friendly options, and we think we’ve put together the ulti-mutt list! (Note: while these were all pet friendly at the time of writing, we always recommend you check before you go).
Best Pet Parks:
Ron Parker Park 607 Old Beach Road, St. Augustine.
A great place for your pup to frolic in the shade (especially important as hard surfaces can get HOT here in Florida), and lots of water for your doggo to cool off in. Just 3.7 miles from the inn–about a 10 minute drive.
Treaty Park, 1595 Wildwood Drive, St. Augustine.
It’s a park that caters to its canine guests! There are fire hydrants, drinking fountains, and lots of open space–the park is almost one acre. Take a ball or frisbee, and enjoy some dog time.
Things to Do with Pets in St. Augustine
St. Augustine Historic Downtown, St. George Street Area
To truly appreciate our town’s history and beauty, we always recommend that our guests enjoy the town on foot. Dogs are welcome to walk with you along the streets–and many stores and restaurants have water dishes outside for your pet to get a drink. Here are some other attractions and tours that will have you and your pet raising the woof!
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, 1 South Castillo Drive
As you walk through our town, you will likely notice the hulking fort near the city gates. Your dog will likely notice the acres and acres of open green grass–perfect for frolicking! The fort lawn is pet friendly, although if you plan to stay for some time, make sure you pack water…there is not a lot of shade.
Ghostly Encounters Walking Tour, 3 Aviles Street
This guided walking ghost tour will take you through dark and narrow streets of Historic St. Augustine. Tours begins at 8 pm and last for 1 ½ hr. Well behaved leashed dogs are allowed except for the very beginning of the tour which goes inside the Spanish Military Hospital Museum.
St. Augustine Lighthouse, 81 Lighthouse Avenue
This lighthouse, over 200 feet in height, allows visitors to climb the stairs to the top. The stairs are steep and have very limited railings, and for this reason they don’t allow small children or dogs to make the climb. However, there are lovely grounds with gardens and trails, and a gift shop (be sure to try their fudge!), and your pet is welcome to enjoy those areas with you.
St. Augustine Scenic Cruise, City Marina
Take a (doggie) paddle on the Matanzas Bay: the Victory III departs daily from the Marina in downtown St. Augustine. The cruise lasts a little over an hour.
Fountain of Youth, 11 Magnolia Avenue
It opens for visitation daily from 9 am to 5 pm, except on Christmas. Consider yourself forewarned: one of the many beautiful aspects of the Fountain of Youth is the spectacular peacocks that walk the grounds. If you have problems controlling your pup, you might want to go to one of the other open spaces listed above.
Oldest House Museum, 14 St. Francis St
You know where this is–it’s right next to the parking lot for the Bayfront Marin House! The Gonzalez-Alvarez House is a house museum, with two museums, colonial kitchen, and museum store. Headquarters for the St. Augustine Historical Society, the Oldest House also offers tours throughout the day, as well as a beautiful ornamental garden to walk through.
Best Shopping for Your Pet
Faux Paws, 97 St. George Street
This pet friendly store has goodies for both you and your fur baby–pajamas, hats, and t-shirts printed with your favorite breed, and toys, outfits, and truly delicious pet cookies for your baby. They also carry any necessities you may have forgotten (note: the Bayfront Marin House has pet dishes and will be happy to share them if you forgot that).
Pet Friendly Beaches in St. Augustine
Almost all of St. Augustine’s beaches welcome leashed dogs and owners who clean up after their pet. The only one that ISN’T is Anastasia Island State Park–the campground and trails are pet friendly, but the beach itself is not. There are about 30 miles of pet-friendly beaches, and here are two of our favorite spots:
St. Augustine Beach, entrance at A Street/A1a or Pier
St. Augustine Beach has a wide, long beach. Four wheel drive vehicles are allowed on the beach during parts of the year (see the beach signage for open dates).
Vilano Beach, entrance at Beachcomber Way (next to our Beachcomber Cottages vacation rentals) or
Pier Next to Hampton Inn
Vilano Beach is a lovely shell-strewn beach, with plenty of dogs usually enjoying a stroll on the sand with their humans. You can drive onto the beach at the pier (behind the Hampton Inn) or park at the Bayfront Marin House’s Beach Cottages (Beachcomber Cottages on Vilano) and enter the beach there.
No matter where you hit the beach, make sure to take some treats for your doggo (helpful if you need to get an errant kite or someone else’s frisbee out of his mouth), fresh water, and a towel of his own (just ask us to borrow a pet towel!) And don’t forget to check the weather–if the sand is too hot for your feet, it’s too hot for paws as well!
St. Augustine obviously has lots of pet friendly things to do. The only thing that’s missing is you and your four legged friend!! Call us at (904)824-4301 or Book Online to reserve your pet friendly room today!