Mingle at Happy Hour

Every Friday from May through September, DC’s Doggie Style Bakery and the Washington Humane Society host Yappy Hours at Adams Mill Bar and Grill in Adams Morgan, complete with treats and water bowls on the patio.

Helix Lounge in Logan Circle teams up with the Washington Humane Society for a Frisky Business Summer Happy Hour every Wednesday through September. It has a Bark Bites menu for owners and drinks such as a Pawtini.

In Alexandria, the pet-friendly Hotel Monaco hosts a happy hour Tuesdays and Thursdays through October. Four-legged friends are also welcome across the street at Pat Troy’s Ireland’s Own, where there’s a menu just for dogs—it’s $3.95 for chopped chicken or a burger, served with a bone.

Take Max to a Ball Game

On August 24, the Potomac Nationals are hosting Dog Day at their stadium in Woodbridge. Doggie tickets to the minor-league game are $1, and proceeds benefit a local animal charity. Related events include a dog parade before the first pitch and a hairiest-dog contest.

Cool Off on a Cruise

On Thursdays through September, the Potomac Riverboat Company invites dogs and their owners on a 40-minute evening cruise around Alexandria—a $14 ticket includes one person and one dog. In Annapolis, all of Watermark’s cruises, from a sightseeing trip to an outing to St. Michaels, welcome dogs aboard for free. 

Go for a Hike or a Swim

In Virginia, dog owners give the 800-acre Great Falls Park a thumbs-up—Sparky has to be on a leash, but he’s welcome on all the trails. Scipio Garling of Dogs by Day & Nite, a daycare and boarding facility in DC, recommends Rock Creek Park for long walks—along with the US National Arboretum, which offers plenty of shade for panting pups. In Maryland, waterfalls and trails make Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park in Silver Spring a popular spot for hikes.

Dogs are welcome at the small beach on the north side of Theodore Roosevelt Island, but they must be on a leash, and swimming is discouraged; the island is accessible from the northbound lanes of the George Washington Parkway. They can also paddle along Four Mile Run stream, which runs next to the Shirlington dog park in Arlington.

For ideas on doggie day trips, visit washingtonian.com/petsdaytrips.

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This article appears in the July 2008 issue of Washingtonian. To see more articles in this issue, click here.