Fun places to see and things to do with your dog in Georgia!
Considering a trip to one of Georgia’s exciting cities? Be sure to check out these highlights from several of our favorite stops in the Peach State. There are many exciting things to do with your dog in Georgia!
Helen, GA
A small, picturesque town in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Helen is full of fun adventures for your family and is very pet-friendly so be sure to bring your Doodle along!
- Unicoi State Park and Ruby Falls – A staff favorite! This is a gorgeous park with several waterfalls and a large lake for paddle boarding, canoeing, pedal boating, and a beach area designated for swimming. Dogs are always welcome and there are quite a few dog-friendly camping accommodations throughout the park.
- Cool River Tubing – They offer short and long tubing trips down the Chattahoochee River. The best part is that you can bring your Doodle! Your dog can either ride in your lap or you can rent a tandem tube for them to float along beside you. Check out their website for details and pricing: https://www.coolrivertubing.com/
- Alpine Mini Golf – After a fun day of touring Helen, end with a family night at Alpine Mini Golf!! Dogs are welcome! They have water bowls along the way and even places to hook your pet’s leash when it’s your turn to putt. Dogs must always be on a leash.
Atlanta, GA
This is such a fabulous, exciting city. No matter where you go in the city, you’ll see people walking their dogs. Even though this city is most certainly pet-friendly, please keep in mind that we’ve found many places no longer allow your dog indoors due to the increasing number of residents and visitors to the city. With that being said, there are still great places to take your dog and have memorable adventures. Here are a few of our favorites.
- Centennial Olympic Park – A beautiful park in the heart of the city with playgrounds, picnic areas, historical information and water stations for family and Doodles alike to cool off!
- Atlantic Station Dog Park – We love this park! There are great play areas, clean up stations, water stations, SHADE, benches for you to sit and balls and toys are provided for you to play with your Doodle! Our only note when visiting this park is the very limited amount of parking, so go early or plan to find parking.
- Piedmont Dog Park – This is a large off-leash dog park right in the city. There is also a separate space for smaller dogs which is very nice! We believe we should note that this park does not offer many shaded options, so be mindful of the heat and sun when visiting in the summer.
Augusta, GA
Augusta, GA with your Doodle pup
The third largest city in Georgia, Augusta boasts of world class golf courses and sits right across the border from the Savannah River! Don’t worry if you are not into golf as there are so many other things to do in the beautiful city!
- The Augusta Canal and Riverwalk – A fun place to explore outdoors! Kayaks, bikes, and even tour boats are available to rent, or you can hike to see original 18th century textile mills and homes! Be sure to pay attention to the water as you will likely even see some alligators floating by! If you plan to take the family on a tour boat ride, they do recommend making reservations ahead of time. Be sure to mention that you are bringing your Doodle along too! See https://augustacanal.com/boat-tours.php
- Phinizy Swamp Boardwalk and Nature Park – A pretty nature park with a well-kept boardwalk that takes you through the park. Doodles are welcome but must be on a leash at all times. This park has great shade and is an exciting place to see nature in action including beaver dams and a river otter pond where they are known for entertaining the guests!
- Patriot Riverboat Tour – In our opinion, this is the way to see a great view and hear the history of Augusta, GA. The interior cabin of the boats is air conditioned, have great views and can accommodate large groups. Well-behaved dogs are welcome and must be on a leash. See https://www.patriottourboat.net/
Columbus, GA
If you haven’t been to Columbus in a while, you should visit. This city has come a long way through the years and welcomes families and their pets!
- Chattahoochee River Walk – An almost 15 mile walk, this path takes you through the city of Columbus along the Chattahoochee River. There is much history to see and read along the walk as well as pet-friendly places to stop and rest or grab a quick bite to eat.
- Fetch Park – A fun, off-leash dog park where you can let your dog have supervised play while you enjoy a bite to eat and drink. There is a small fee to let your dog play and you must have proof of up-to-date vaccines. Check out their website for more details on what vaccinations are required to play. See https://fetchpark.com/locations/columbus/
- Cooper Creek Park – This is a very well-maintained park and a staff favorite! There are so many shaded trails, ponds, playgrounds, tennis courts and picnic areas. A great place to spend the afternoon with the entire family and your pets.
Savannah, GA
Of the cities highlighted in this blog, Savannah stands out as the most pet and Doodle friendly. Because of the wide variety of amazing dog-friendly activities available, it was actually difficult for us to narrow down to just a few!
- River Street on the River Front – You could spend a couple days touring all the shops, buildings, and restaurants on River Street. Our favorite is the River Cruise! They offer several tour options – some even including food – and you can bring your Doodle along! They do recommend making reservations ahead of time and they do need to know if you are planning on bringing your pet. See https://savannahriverboat.com/
- Oliver Bentley’s Historic Dog Walk Tour – It doesn’t get more dog-friendly than a tour designed just for you and your Doodle! This walking tour takes roughly 2 hours depending on the pace of the dogs. You will see all the significant historical places in Savannah. At the end of the tour, each dog is given a free bag of treats to take home. See https://www.oliverbentleys.com/Articles.asp?ID=273
- Savannah Cruzers – If it’s a little warm or you are not up for walking the city, consider taking a guided Savannah Cruzers Tour in a car or golf cart. These tours offer a wealth of historical information and take you to a few places off the beaten path! They love dogs and your Doodles are always welcome. Reservations are encouraged. See https://savannahcruzers.com/
A Few Last Thoughts as You Look at Things to do with your Dog in Georgia
Always plan ahead when traveling with your dog. While many cities have come a long way in offering water and treats, make sure you always have plenty on hand.
Remember, your pets like food, water and bathroom breaks just like you do too!
During the hot summer months of the sunny south, remember to consider paw protection for your dog if you’ll be spending time on sizzling pavement.
Check out our recommended Shopping List for some of our staff’s favorite travel items.
