Unleash the Fun: a Pet-Friendly Kingston Itinerary

By Emily Coppella

Planning a trip around your pooch can be a little tricky, but there’s nothing like sharing a new adventure with your pet. Kingston makes it easy for you and your dog to hang out, get active, and discover some spots you might have overlooked before. We’ve created a pet-friendly itinerary so that you can explore the city with your furry friend by your side.

Check in to where you’re staying

Credit: Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront

Kingston offers a variety of hotels, motels, and historic inns, many of which are pet-friendly.

Downtown

Mid-town

East End

West End

North End

Enjoy some brunch

While grabbing coffee and a pastry from any of Kingston’s local cafes and heading to Confederation Basin for a picnic by the water is always a delicious option, you can also enjoy the most important meal of the day at a dog-friendly patio. Pan Chancho is a local European-style favourite that has a full breakfast menu as well as baked goods and sandwiches. If you’re interested in channeling the culture of Melbourne, Australia, head to Northside Espresso. You’ll savour unique dishes like coconut rhubarb raw oats and chicken bahn mi while your pup lounges beside you on the sunny patio.

Wander Kingston’s Public Market

Credit: Garrett Elliott  

Every day of the week you’ll see lots of dogs walking alongside their humans while downtown, but if you’re around on a Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday, make sure to bring your pup to Kingston’s Public Market – the oldest vendor-run open air market in Ontario. The market is held from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at Springer Market Square and is both outdoors and dog-friendly. If you’re lucky, you might find some delicious treats and eco-friendly dog products at the Bark’n up the Green Tree vendor hut. The Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market might hit the spot too. It’s open on Sundays year-round, rain or shine with hours and locations rotating throughout the year. Simply seeing some fresh faces at a market might be enough to set your dog’s tail wagging.

You can also bring your furry sidekick to a variety of dog-friendly shops throughout the downtown area.

Go for a walk

Credit: Tim Forbes

Simply saying the word “walk” might be enough to get your dog excited, but Kingston’s gorgeous green spaces, waterfront trail, and city streets will brighten your mood too.

If you’re looking for off-leash dog parks, there are several fully fenced areas all over the city where your pup can play. Check out MacLean Trail Park (East), Rotary Park (West), Meadowbrook Park (West/North), or Memorial Centre (Centre/South).

Grass Creek Park, a 95-acre rural park in East Kingston, is a local favourite off-leash park. Humans and dogs can enjoy the sandy beach, cool water, and rolling meadows that are perfect for a game of fetch. Did you know that this park hosts the annual Sheep Dog Trials every August? The event welcomes dogs and handlers from all over North America and the UK.

Lake Ontario Park is a great place for a walk and includes rock beaches for your pup to swim, trails along the water, and great scenery any time of the year.

Lunch at a dog-friendly patio

Chez Piggy, a popular restaurant and bar, is known for its dog-friendly patio. The building was originally a limestone stable and zoned to contain animals, so its history has conveniently allowed for your dog to dine with you. There are also several other dog-friendly dining locations downtown including Black Dog Tavern, Union Kitchen + Cocktails, The Caesar Co., The Mansion, and more. Bone appetit!

You can also find pet-friendly, outdoor seating like shaded benches and Muskoka chairs at Springer Market Square.  Did you know that Love Kingston programming continues throughout this summer? Downtown spaces have been reimagined to support local businesses and artsy installations make for great photo-ops. Your dog might just get Instafamous!

Grab an afternoon treat

Cool off with a refreshing drink from a cafe or check out a local bakery for a sweet pick-me-up. Your dog won’t have to make puppy eyes to score a snack either – downtown Kingston has some pet-friendly stores that offer dog treats. Birds n’ Paws is a quaint pet store located at 79 Brock Street that has a wide selection of treats and toys.

Don’t be surprised if your dog is well-hydrated while walking downtown – Princess Street is known for being scattered with water bowls put out for your pet!

If you would rather order a treat online, check out Lakeside Dog Biscuits. They create small batch treats using local ingredients. It’s also Kingston’s oldest pet bakery with selections like Peanut Butter Oat and Bison Cranberry biscuits. If you’re staying in the west end, Urban Paws is a popular pet boutique located in the same building as Cataraqui Pet Hospital at 1183 Midland Avenue.

Get spooky

Credit: Greg Stevenson

If you’re looking for a nighttime adventure and one of the best ways to explore the city, grab tickets to The Original Haunted Walk of Kingston. The Haunted Walk welcomes dogs on this tour, so your buddy can tag along…and possibly bark at some paranormal encounters.

Credit: Dwayne Brown

Gone are the days when your precious pet has to stay home while you explore. We’re confident that any dog will want to get their paws on this pet-friendly itinerary.

Looking for more to do? Check out more Kington waterfront sights.

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