Which Miami neighborhoods work best with a dog?
Coconut Grove is the most comfortable part of Miami with a dog: it is leafy, shaded, low-rise and has two popular dog parks plus a bayfront path. Brickell and downtown are high-rise districts where the Baywalk and Bayfront Park provide the main green space, and hotels there are used to small dogs living in neighbouring condo towers. South Beach has the most hotels and the most outdoor dining, with Lincoln Road's pedestrian mall and the beach walk for exercise. Wynwood is fun for an afternoon among the murals but has little shade and almost no grass.
Where can I take my dog in Miami?
Dogs are not allowed on most Miami-area beaches, so the exceptions are worth knowing. Hobie Beach on the Rickenbacker Causeway is the long-standing dog-friendly shoreline, with shallow, calm bay water. Haulover Beach Park has a designated dog beach section with limited hours and an entry fee, plus a fenced Bark Park. In Miami Beach, South Pointe Park has an off-leash area with posted morning and evening hours. Kennedy Park and Blanche Park in Coconut Grove are fenced and shaded, and the Miami Beach boardwalk and Baywalk are good for long leashed walks.
What should I know about heat, storms and leashes?
Miami-Dade County requires dogs to be leashed in public, and beach rules are enforced with fines. Heat and humidity are the real constraint: from May to October, limit walks to early morning and after sunset, test the pavement with your hand, and remember that sand gets hotter than concrete. Afternoon thunderstorms are close to daily in summer and can be violent. Keep dogs out of canals and freshwater lakes, where alligators live, and rinse off salt water after a swim. During hurricane season, from June to November, check your rate's cancellation policy before you book.
How do pet fees work at Miami hotels?
Miami is a resort-fee city, and pet charges stack on top. South Beach and Brickell hotels commonly publish a flat pet fee per stay and frequently set a weight limit, since many are converted Art Deco buildings or condo-hotels with small rooms and elevators. Hotels near the airport, in Doral and along the Dolphin Expressway are cheaper and more flexible on size. Rates peak from December through April, around Art Basel and during spring break; summer is far cheaper. Because resort fees are often payable at the property, look at the total shown on each card rather than the nightly figure.