Which Seattle neighborhoods work best with a dog?
South Lake Union is the most dog-saturated part of the city on weekdays, since thousands of office workers there bring dogs to work; hotels, cafes and even building lobbies are used to them, and Denny Park has an off-leash area. Belltown is between downtown and the Seattle Center, with Regrade Park's small dog run and the Olympic Sculpture Park waterfront path. Downtown proper is convenient for Pike Place but hilly. Capitol Hill has independent hotels and Cal Anderson Park, and Ballard and Fremont suit longer stays, with breweries and the Burke-Gilman Trail.
Where can I take my dog in Seattle?
Magnuson Park on Lake Washington has the city's largest off-leash area, about nine fenced acres with the only legal water access for dogs inside Seattle. Westcrest Park in West Seattle is another large one. Discovery Park's 500 acres of bluff and forest trail are open to leashed dogs, as are Green Lake's three-mile loop and the Washington Park Arboretum. If you have a car, Marymoor Park in Redmond is famous for its 40-acre off-leash area along the Sammamish River. A Washington State Ferry ride to Bainbridge Island makes a simple half-day trip with a dog.
What should I know about beaches, rain and transit?
Seattle's leash law applies everywhere outside the fourteen or so designated off-leash areas, and dogs are not allowed on any public saltwater or lake beaches in city parks, even on a leash, which includes Alki and Golden Gardens. Fines are real. King County Metro buses accept dogs at the driver's discretion, with larger dogs paying a fare, and Link light rail allows them too, which makes Seattle easier than most cities without a car. On state ferries, leashed pets may ride on the outdoor decks. Expect drizzle from October to April and pack a towel.
How do pet fees work at Seattle hotels?
Because so many locals live and work with dogs, Seattle hotels compete on pet policy more than most. Downtown and South Lake Union have a good number of properties that accept two dogs or large dogs, though a flat per-stay fee is typical at the bigger hotels. Extended-stay brands in South Lake Union, Northgate and near Sea-Tac Airport tend toward nightly fees with a cap. Summer is the expensive season, especially when cruise ships are turning around from May to September; winter rates are much lower, and that is when a flat pet fee stands out on the bill.