Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area

While Orlando Wetlands Park and Savage Christmas Creek Preserve are a little closer to downtown Christmas, dogs aren’t permitted in these areas due to wildlife. There’s no need for you and your pooch to get too "melan-collie" though -- Tosahatchee WMA welcomes wagging tails with open arms, as long as they stay on-leash! This vast park has sixty miles of trails for you and your buddy to explore, including a ten-mile stretch of the Florida Trail. The scenery isn’t bad, either. Routes are lined by tall palms and virgin cypress and run by gently burbling creeks, all surrounded by a carpet of native wildflowers. Be sure to bring bags and water!

Charles H Bronson State Forest

You’d have to be barking mad not to bring your buddy to Charles H Bronson State Forest! Located just fourteen minutes away from Christmas in Oviedo, the forest is pretty popular with campers. It’s easy to see why -- you two could spend days or weeks exploring this wooded wonderland! Fitter furry friends looking for a challenge might want to check out the White Loop Trail, a twelve-mile circuit that features a couple of inclines. Careful, though -- you may need to wade through some water, so bring a towel. You’ll also find some options for the less athletic among us -- the blue trail is under a mile long, and relatively flat.

Bryan Heller Estates

North Titusville really is a mutts-visit! The seafront neighborhood of Bryan Heller Estates is home to Brevard County Marina Dog Park, a pawfect place to let your fur-baby run free. There’s plenty of room to run in both the large and small dog areas, and bags and water are provided. Tired owners will certainly appreciate the benches, as well as the views of the ocean. If you two are looking for a truly out-of-this-world-experience, consider checking out the Canaveral National Seashore! Best known as a spot to watch rocket launches, the park doesn’t allow dogs on the beach, but you can still walk the trails by the lagoon.

Flora Vista

A trip to Fay Lake Wilderness Dog Park is sure to get your doggo’s tail wagging! Located right outside the Flora Vista neighborhood of Cocoa, this little-known park is paws down the best in the area. The off-leash area is huge, boasting acres of well-shaded space for your pooch to tire themselves out in, and even a couple of trails for them to investigate. There’s a separate small dog area, too, and waste bags and water are provided. However, there is a downside -- the park is close to an outdoor shooting range, so you might want to give it a miss if your pup gets spooked by loud noises.

Avalon Park