Dog walking in Senoia

Lake McIntosh

Lake McIntosh is only 7 miles from Senoia, with 650 acres of clear water and minimal development. Lake McIntosh Park is operated by Fayette County and provides dog-friendly walking trails within the park’s 14.5 wooded acres. Fair warning, though: neither dogs nor people are allowed to swim in the lake, which serves as a drinking water reservoir (so be sure to keep the area free of pet waste, too). Just upstream on one of Lake McIntosh’s tributaries, the 70-acre Line Creek Nature Area has 2 miles of hiking trails. Dogs are welcome on-leash, but remember the poop bags: wag it in, pack it out.

Peachtree City Center

Just 9 miles from Senoia, Peachtree City Center is a planned suburban community that is just begging for some walkies. Many locals use golf carts to travel within the neighborhood, so Peachtree City has 90 miles of paved multiuse paths that make walking easy on the paws. These wide, interconnecting paths also mean you can bring the whole pack without crowding. Peachtree City has 22 dog-friendly restaurants with patio seating. For a taste of Georgia culture, try the Flying Biscuit Cafe, part of a small locally-owned chain that puts a hip spin on Southern comfort food and serves biscuits big enough to share. Rover can earn the calories at Peachtree City Dog Park, with a large off-leash play enclosure. You can play, too, or just enjoy the Adirondack chairs and gazebo.

Warm Springs

Warm Springs is 33 miles from Senoia, but people and dogs travel much farther to see it. Warm Springs was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s spa, treatment facility, and second home, as well as the site of his death in 1945. The Little White House Historic not only allows dogs in outdoor areas, but also hosts an annual “Fala Day” event in conjunction with the Atlanta Scottish Terrier Club to celebrate Roosevelt’s beloved fur child, Fala. The F. D. Roosevelt State Park in adjacent Pine Mountain, Georgia has plenty more space to explore, including the 23-mile Pine Mountain Trail, which winds beside a creek with beautiful waterfall views.

Midtown

About 40 miles away, Midtown Atlanta’s Piedmont Park sprawls over 189 acres you can explore on a network of walking paths laid out by the sons of Frederick Law Olmstead (the famous landscape designer who created Asheville's Biltmore Estate and New York Central Park). More importantly, Midtown is home to the 3-acre off-leash Piedmont Dog Park, with new friends and puppy popsicles available at the concession stand. The Piedmont Park pool hosts an annual multi-day Splish Splash Doggie Bash canine pool party to celebrate the closing of the pool for the season, and Park Tavern welcomes dogs at the ample outdoor seating. We're not sure you'll ever want to leave the park, but if you get curious about this historic part of Atlanta, you can bring your dogs on the Atlanta Preservation Center's historical walking tours.