Spring is here! It’s getting warm again, and that means more time outside. Of course, as you flock to outdoor events and activities with your family, you’ll want to bring your pet—because, naturally, your pet is fun, and that’s a fun thing to do. Luckily, as many of us have four-legged friends, there are plenty of options in the Delaware Valley to cater to your companion.
Below are five pet-friendly locales and events in the Philadelphia area, Delaware and New Jersey.
The Landing Kitchen
617 Righters Ferry Road, Bala Cynwyd, PA | Open Tuesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Dine riverside at the Ironworks at Pencoyd Landing, a Main Line waterfront destination in Bala Cynwyd. You are encouraged to bring your pet, settle in for a meal and take in the views. The Landing Kitchen’s spacious patio makes it the perfect outing for your pet, as you and your family enjoy corn hole, burgers, sandwiches and all-day breakfast. thelandingkitchen.com
Northwest Philly Sunday Pack Walk
McMichael Park in East Falls, 3899 Henry Ave., Philadelphia, PA | Sunday, May 7, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Join the NW Philly Pack Walk Facebook group and take a free romp through East Falls with your pup every Sunday. Get the kids up early to meet and mingle with other neighborhood families at 9:30 a.m. as everyone takes a stroll through picturesque city neighborhoods, where you can look at urban rowhomes and country mansions with Fido. The walks are open and taken at a steady pace. There are occasional stops for playtime in “enclosed spaces.” Dogs are not required to participate, but as the corresponding Meetup group page notes, “They do tend to add to the fun.” Meetup.com/Northwest-Philadelphia-Pack-Walk
The Warminster Arts & Bark Fest
Warminster Community Park, 350 E. Bristol Road, Warminster, PA | Sunday, May 21, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Get to know Roxy Therapy Dogs, an all-volunteer nonprofit providing trained and certified therapy dogs to children in central Bucks County. The dogs can help children with self-esteem, anxiety, fear, stress, physical injury, illness and grief—and can even make them more confident readers! At the organization’s Arts and Bark fest, you and your family can meet Roxy teams and other animal rescue groups in the area. There will also be plenty of fun in the form of food, entertainment, arts and crafts and other activities. roxytherapydogs.org
Visit a South Jersey Dog Park
Southern New Jersey is a hotspot for dog parks. A simple Google search for “dog parks South Jersey” will give you pages of options, from suburban towns like Cherry Hill and Moorestown to shore towns like Ocean City and Egg Harbor Township.
Cooper River Park in Camden County is a 4-mile circle that takes you through four different towns. Swedes Run Dog Park on Westfield Road in Moorestown is known for its open space where dogs have room to run. The Ocean City Dog Park at 45th Street and Haven Avenue is 42,000 square feet and includes separate spaces for large and small dogs. (It also costs $10 for a weekly pass.) And the Freedom Dog Park on Union Street in Medford is true to its name, allowing dogs to run free (within a specified area).Find the one closest to you, or hop in the car with your family for a longer trek. It’s worth the day trip.
Pets in the Park 2023
Glasgow Park, 2275 Pulaski Highway, Newark, DE | Saturday, May 5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, May 6, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Concord Pet Foods & Supplies is hosting its annual Pets in the Park event in May. The free family-friendly festival includes pet-specific vendors, fun activities for the whole family (and their pups, too), a photo booth, face painting for kids, dock diving for dogs and more. Enjoy the spring weather and a day of activities with your favorite furry friends! concordpetfoods.com
