Dog walking in Saint Louis

Downtown St Louis

If you and your pup are looking to cool off on a hot day, head down to St. Louis Riverfront Trail, just a short walk from downtown. On this 11-mile greenway trail, you can enjoy the sights and sounds of St. Louis, including sweeping views of the Mississippi River and the famous Gateway Arch. Prefer to stay in the city? The City Garden in downtown St. Louis is an excellent place to spend the day with your furry friend. The park features gorgeous art, including unique interactive sculptures. Although there’s a pond in the park, your pawesome pal isn’t allowed to go for a swim. After a day of fun in the sun, head over to Friendly’s Bar and Grill, one of three pet-friendly restaurants in downtown.

Forest Park

At over 1,300 acres, this park is so vast that it’s considered its own neighborhood! Features of Forest Park include the St. Louis Art Museum, the St. Louis Science Center and James S. McDonnell Planetarium, Flegel Falls, the John F. Kennedy Memorial Forest, plus fine dining, sports fields, bird watching, fishing and so much more. Pets are allowed in all outdoor areas of the park as long as they’re on a leash. You, your kids, and your canine companion can enjoy the cultural landmarks and athletic fields as well as the various natural terrains of the park, including the Nature Reserve’s prairie savanna, and wetlands. The park regularly hosts Fido-friendly events, so be sure to check their website to see what’s on when planning your visit.

Tower Grove South

If you’ve done enough sight-seeing in the city of St. Louis, head down to Tower Grove Park, where you can spend the day enjoying a picnic or barbecue, playing tennis, watching birds and other wildlife, and browsing at the Farmers’ Market. Just make sure to keep your pup on his leash. You can also marvel at the park’s cultural features, including historic buildings and statues of influential St. Louisans. Before you leave, make sure to stop by the gorgeous Café Madeleine for a bite to eat. The Missouri Botanical Garden is also next door to the park, although the garden only allows leashed service animals inside.

Delmar Loop

The St. Louis Walk of Fame, located in the Delmar Loop district of St. Louis, isn’t so different from its Hollywood equivalent. The key difference is that those featured on the Walk of Fame were either born or lived in St. Louis. The Walk of Fame includes stars for influential public figures such as William S. Burroughs, Tennessee Williams, Maya Angelou, Miles Davis, and many more. The Walk of Fame is located on Delmar Boulevard, rated one of the top ten streets in America. It’s a great place to shop, eat, and enjoy live entertainment and events. Some of the shops and restaurants in the Delmar Loop allow well-behaved, leashed pets inside--just ask permission first.

Carondelet/Holly Hills

Carondolet Park is located between the Carondelet and Holly Hills neighborhoods of St. Louis. Prepare for a long day of play at Carondelet. The park features a vast recreation center, two lakes, a pool, horseshoe pits, soccer fields, tennis courts, and a walking and biking path. Leashed dogs are allowed in most outdoor areas of the park. The park also has some interesting history behind it. During the construction of Forest Park in the 1870s, citizens living in the southern part of the city were hesitant to pay taxes on a park they felt was too far away to enjoy. City officials then promised to construct a new park, and Carondelet was born. Today, it’s the third largest park in St. Louis.