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Lots of Ways to Have a "Doggone Good Time" with Your Pets at the Delaware Beaches

February 24, 2017

Several months ago, we wrote a blog entry here on theoldfathergroup.com that featured several of our local hotels/motels that allow pets to stay indoors with their owners.

It was one of our most read and shared posts ever, and the couple of times we’ve rerun it since have repeated those same results.

It has been and continues to be one of the most well read and shared items on our blog page, so we're going to take the hint and run with that theme again here today.

We know that pet owners love bringing their animals with them when they visit coastal Delaware, and we also realize that those who live here full-time are very active in the community and love to share information as well.

So today, we thought we’d take that “pet friendly” philosophy one step further and feature some of the other things you can experience with your four-legged friends here at the Delaware beaches.

We’ll give you the rundown on local pet shops, pet friendly beaches, some fun events and even places where you can eat with your “fur baby.”

So let’s take a look…

HOTELS

We won’t really go into this topic again as we’ve covered it in the past. If you want to know where you can stay in coastal Delaware when you have your pet with you, check out our blog entry on that very subject HERE.

THE BEACH

It’s a favorite destination among humans in coastal Delaware, so why not pets too right? Everyone wants to go to the beach, and nearly every state park and municipality in our area allows pets, even if there are a few restrictions during certain times of the year.

Let’s discuss the state parks first. Pets are allowed in Cape Henlopen, Delaware Seashore and Fenwick Island State parks during the offseason, but animals are restricted during the heavy tourist season from May 1 to Sept. 30.

This isn’t to say they aren’t allowed in the parks at all, or even on some of the beaches. But pets are prohibited from what the state refers to as “swimming and sunbathing beaches” during those five months of the year.

There are other restrictions as well that cover topics including nature trails, picnic areas, park buildings and more.

Visit the Delaware State Parks website for more information. 

Now, let’s talk about our towns and municipalities. As with the state parks, the May 1 to Sept. 30 time frame is dealt with much differently than the rest of the year. Generally speaking, pets are not allowed on the beach, or on the Rehoboth and Bethany boardwalks, during the “high season.”

There are certain exceptions, however, such as Lewes and Dewey Beach allowing animals on the beach in the evening and early morning hours, even during the warm-weather months.

If you want to be certain of your town’s rules, check with town hall before visiting with your pet.

RESTAURANTS

There are many, many restaurants and eateries in coastal Delaware that allow you to bring your pet with you, especially if you sit outside on the deck or patio.

We won’t even attempt to compile a list here because we’re sure to miss several if we do. But with all of the locally owned and operated small restaurants at the Delaware beaches, it’s safe to say you can find a nice collection of places to eat, even with your pet in tow.

Our suggestion is to pick a restaurant, then visit their website and/or contact them via telephone to see what their policies are. Or, if you’re already at the beach, take a walk and ask individual hosts or hostesses about their policies.

Trust us – most of our beach towns are very pet friendly in this regard and you’re not going to have a problem finding a place to eat with your pooch. Just ask around and find a nice spot for all!

Want to know what else we included in our list of “pet friendly” activities, events and happenings? Click HERE to read the rest of the story.

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