The following post is from a sponsored trip with Visit Williamsburg
We travel with our pup as much as we can. We love it. We joke that’s preparing us for traveling with a kid someday. Frequent stops, naps, park time, potty breaks… good golly, there’s some truth to that!
Our Bernedoodle Sally has been to more states than most of our friends. 25? To be exact! And if we’ve learned anything about dog-friendly travel, many destinations claim to be “puppy-approved”, but that’s really not always the case. Many have very limited options when it comes to dog-friendly hotels, eating out, activities, etc… but that’s not the case in Greater Williamsburg, Virginia! We’ll even go out on a limb and say that Williamsburg is JUST as much fun for pups as it is for humans (if Sally could talk she’d agree)!
If you’re heading to Williamsburg with your pup in tow, here’s where you should go (we rhyme!):
You may not be able to venture inside the buildings and museums, but you are free to stroll with your dog all around Colonial Williamsburg (on leash, of course)! If you’re lucky, you might even spot Liberty, their own doggy mascot!
While we didn’t make it to Busch Gardens on this trip, we found out that they have doggie daycare - so we could have! We’ll be sure to take advantage of this next time we’re in town with Sally!
While your pup might not actually understand the significance, we still think it’s pretty cool that they’re allowed to visit the first permanent English settlement in America! Pets aren’t allowed in the buildings, but leashed animals are allowed anywhere on the grounds!
*While you’re in the area, we highly recommend going kayaking at the James City County Marina! (Just be sure you bring a doggy life jacket!)
DOG-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS:
AROMAS WORLD SPECIALTY COFFEE: This quickly became our go-to breakfast spot - not just because we loved the food (and the coffee!), but because they welcome dogs on their front patio!
MOBJACK BAY COFFEE ROASTERS: While dogs aren’t allowed inside the building, grab a cup of coffee to go and explore Historic Yorktown with your pup! Leashed dogs are welcome at the Yorktown Battlefield, too!
CASA PEARL: We fell in love with Casa Pearl’s creative Latin-inspired southern seafood focused menu, but we fell even harder when we found out their summer patio is dog-friendly. If you’re heading to Williamsburg this summer, this is the spot to be!
THE TRELLIS BAR & GRILL: Located in Colonial Williamsburg, The Trellis Bar & Grill serves sophisticated (and local) American bar fare - and they have ten pet-friendly outdoor tables! We always appreciate it when restaurants go out of their way to accommodate their four-legged guests… and they definitely do here!
DOG-FRIENDLY BREWERIES:
ALEWERKS BREWING COMPANY: Not only does Alewerks Brewing Company brew tasty craft beers and homemade pretzels, but they have a pet-friendly picnic area, too!
VIRGINIA BEER CO: We’re sure glad that they allow well-behaved (and leashed) dogs in Virginia Beer Co’s on-site beer garden, because it’s one of our favorite spots to sit when the weather is warm!
BRASS CANNON BREWING: We love the small-batch beers and the laid-back, community atmosphere at Brass Cannon Brewing (often referred to as “The Cannon”) and their outdoor area is as pet-friendly as it gets!
BILLSBURG BREWERY: Located at the James City County Marina, you can’t beat the views (and the friendly service) at Billsburg Brewery! They welcome dogs on their outdoor patio, and if you’re luck you might even catch some live music! (Take a look at the schedule here.)
DOG-FRIENDLY HOTELS:
We stayed at the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel and Suites, and loved the convenient location and the lush grounds for Sally to play in and explore. Plus, they only charge an added pet fee of $25/day! Other pet-friendly options nearby are the Williamsburg Inn and the La Quinta Inn & Suites (which doesn’t charge an added pet fee - always a plus in our books!)
Sally LOVES hotel beds. The Woodlands was no exception :)