Dog Friendly Chicago: (More) Things to Do with Your Dog in The Windy City

In January, I visited dog friendly Chicago and experienced the city in all it’s snowy, freezing glory. 

Fast forward 7 months later, and there I was experiencing the city in a whole new way! I got to experience a Chicago summer: sunnies, sunscreen and lots of patio adventures, with people-filled streets!

Read on to learn about all the coolest dog-friendly hot spots the city has to offer during the summer months.

Getting Hipster & Artsy over at Wicker Park:

Hip crowds, quirky shops, tons of dog friendly restaurants and lots and lots of street art. Wicker Park is the (what some might say) coolest neighborhood in Chicago. Grab a leash, a water bowl and your pooch and head over to spend the day leisurely strolling the ‘hood and see what cool photo backdrops you can find!

Take a Stroll Down the RiverWalk and Then Cool Off with Some Gelato:

1.25 miles of pedestrian walkway, down the river path. That’s what you call a pawsome place to stroll with your pooch! Along the RiverWalk you will encounter a variety of places to eat, drink and play. 

After my walk, I made sure the human got me some Sweet Home Gelato to cool off. Notice my face of sheer joy. I was a happy, happy boy. 

Getting Wacky & Caffeinated In the West Loop:

The West Loop, or west downtown Chicago, was once nothing but factories, wholesale markets and factories. Now, it is a bustling zone for all things food-related. Aptly named “restaurant row”, this zone houses some of the most delicious (and creative) foods, drinks and caffeinated beverages. 

Seen above: me drinking the wildly popular (and drool-worthy) Military Latte from Sawada Coffee. Part Matcha tea, part espresso, part silky-foamed milk…totally delicious and a definite must-try! 

Enjoy your latte on-the-go or in the dog-friendly patio like I did. 

A Piece of Pizza here, A piece of Pizza there, A piece of Lou Malnati’s Pizza everywhere!

Nothing says “Chicago” like a deep dish pizza. Most Chicagoans have opinions on which deep dish is truly “the best” but my Uber driver mentioned a place called Lou Malnati’s and that’s what I tried as my first deep dish experience. 

Garlicky, cheesy, saucy, CHEESY deliciousness. I don’t know if Lou Malnati’s is the best because it’s the only deep dish I’ve ever tried; however, it was scrumdillyumptious and I thoroughly enjoyed consuming all those calories. 

Note: If anyone dares me to go back to Chicago and try all the deep dish pizzas so I can make an informed decision on which one is truly the best, I will gladly accept the challenge. (anyone, anyone?)

A Sailor’s View of the City

Dogs on boats? Hell-to-the-Yes! Pooches (on a leash) welcome on this must-do tour experience brought to you by my friends at Mercury Cruises. 

You and your pooch can sit back, relax and soak in the beautiful city as you enjoy a lively narration of Chicago’s rich history and architectural marvels, with dog-friendly highlights, of course!

These Canine Cruises only run July through October, on Saturday and Sunday mornings, so hurry up and get your sailor-inspired outfits ready for some fun at sea!

I love Chicago and can’t wait to go back….

Are there any things I missed during my summer-time fun in the Windy City? What other dog-friendly spots do you think I should add to my must-visit list?

Let me know in the comments below 🙂