5 Things to Do with Dogs in Charleston
I’ve lived in Charleston for about six years now and up until the last two, I’ve lived in small apartment complexes. An apartment is great for a lot of reasons, but not ideal for an active dog. Now that I’m in a house, I can just open the door to our backyard and let my spaniel run to her heart’s content, but it wasn’t that easy in an apartment. Most, if not all, apartment complexes have accommodations for pets, like a small yard area or paths where you can take your dog for a walk, but when you’re living in an apartment, a condo, or a townhome, sometimes you have to make a special trip in order to let your dog really get the exercise it needs. Here are a few places that I’ve found in my time here so far that are super fun for dogs -- and their two-legged friends!
1) The Barrel - There are a lot of dog-friendly bars and restaurants in the Charleston area, but The Barrel really takes that to the next level. Most of the time “dog-friendly” means you can sit with your (leashed) dog on the patio, but at The Barrel...well, it’s basically a bar with a dog park out back. They have a huge fenced-in area where, as long as your dog behaves, you can let them off the leash to run and play with other dogs while you sample some of Charleston’s local brews. While you’re there, you can enjoy live music and an eclectic mix of local eats from a rotating fleet of food trucks. Click here to see the food truck and event schedule and The Barrel’s rules for bringing your dog. They’re also only a few minutes away from Folly Beach, so why not start there and make a day of it?
Is it safe to say this dog had a little TOO much fun?
2) The Beach - Speaking of Folly, Charleston’s beaches are a great place to take your dog for a long walk or let them splash around in the surf. Be aware that different beaches have different rules, like if and when your dog can be off-leash, and when they can be on the beach at all. Wherever you end up going, please make sure to monitor your dog to make sure things like sea turtle nests aren’t disturbed. And of course, please make sure to pick up after your dog. No one wants to step in one of your dog’s “gifts,” believe me. Some beach accesses do provide bags, but it’s always a good idea to carry your own. Follow the links below to see what each town says about having dogs on the beach.
His shirt says Hawaii, but I promise this was taken at Edisto Beach.
3) James Island County Park - Almost all of Charleston’s County Parks have some sort of dog park, but my favorite by far is the one on James Island. The dog park itself is a huge fenced-in area right next to the large pond in the center of the park. When you go, I highly suggest bringing a towel...maybe even two. There are three main accesses into the pond where your dog can wade or swim or, like my dog does, run and splash everyone who happens to be nearby. It costs two dollars per person to get into the park, but it’s worth it to see how excited these dogs get with all that room to run. Plus it will give you a chance to socialize with other dog lovers while you watch your fur babies play. If you have a smaller or more timid dog, there is also a fenced-in area within the dog park where they can play safely. And don’t worry, there is a washing-up station available so you don’t have to ride home with a mud monster. Again, the park does have a set of rules they expect visitors to adhere to in order to keep this place safe and fun for everyone. Click here to check those out.
4) Deep Water Vineyard - Charleston’s only vineyard is extremely dog friendly! Though your dog must be on a leash while you’re there, there is a lot of space for you to walk around with them while you explore the rows and rows of muscadine grapes. Not only are the dogs allowed to stroll the grounds with you, they can also enter the tasting room while you sample the wine. Deep Water Vineyard (and Firefly Distillery, which is also on the property) offers daily wine tastings and a self-guided tour of the 7 miles of vines. Other animals like chickens, goats, pigs, and rabbits can be seen around the property. You may even get to say hello to Ida Claire, the miniature Brahma cow who calls the vineyard home. Every weekend, Deep Water hosts the Weekend Wine-Down, where you’ll find live music and a variety of food trucks. They also have several events throughout the year like the Cork Shuckin’ Festival, the Grape Stomp Festival, and Vino PAWlooza, their annual celebration of our four-legged friends. Check out their website to see which events are happening now!
5) A Charleston RiverDogs Game - With a name like the RiverDogs, it’s no surprise that Charleston’s minor league baseball team loves animals. Every Monday-night home game throughout the season is Dog Day, where you can bring your furry friend to meet up with the one and only Charlie T. RiverDog. This past season, there were eight home games that fell on a Monday, meaning eight different chances to bring your dog to a baseball game at the Joe. If that isn’t enough of an incentive to root for the home team, they also offer $1 beers and hot dogs on Dog Day.
photo courtesy of Charleston RiverDogs
Some Honorable Mentions:
Alhambra Hall: This event venue in Mount Pleasant’s Old Village community has a large grassy area in the back where you’ll often find dogs running around. This park on the water is not fenced in, but it does promise a spectacular sunset.
Pitt Street Pier: Also in Old Village, the former bridge connecting Mount Pleasant and Sullivan’s Island has been transformed into a narrow park and fishing pier. This is another cool place to walk your dog -- and I mean that literally. It’s usually pretty windy.
Hazel Parker Playground: This park right off East Bay Street has a sandy dog run that provides a perfect place for your dog to play while you take a break from walking around downtown.
The West Ashley Greenway: What used to be a section of Charleston’s railroad is now an 8-mile-long walking trail that runs parallel to Highway 17 in West Ashley. Parking is available at both the South Windermere Shopping Center at one end of the trail and on McLeod Mill Road going to Johns Island at the other.
These are just a few of the places I’ve explored with my dog, but there are plenty of others out there too! Like I mentioned before, a lot of restaurants around town offer outdoor seating where you and your dog can hang out, and Charleston has many specialty stores that cater to dogs as well. So get out there and explore what Charleston has to offer for pets! If you find any places we didn’t mention that you’d like to tell us about, let us know! You can find us on Facebook @VisitCharlestonSC and on Instagram @visit_charleston_sc.
