Dating can be hairy, especially when your best friend might gnaw your date’s shoe. To find some puppy-friendly dates that keep all four legs on the ground, we spoke to our friends at the Cleveland Metroparks and Downtown Cleveland Alliance. “It’s a good way to see someone in a different light and learn about their interests,” says Samantha Martin, development and community engagement specialist with the Downtown Cleveland Alliance. “Dogs are a pretty great judge of character.” Here are three spots to take Fido and friends.
Walk along the Cuyahoga
For some quality bonding time between you, your dog and your date, head toward the river, where a daily walk along the Cleveland Foundation Centennial Lake Link Trail or the Towpath Trail can double as a romantic riverside stroll with a picture-perfect backdrop.
Stop by the Downtown Dog Park
Take advantage of the dedicated dog play area located in Settler’s Landing Park. You can chat up your date in the shadow of the iconic Detroit-Superior Bridge, and your dog can play the field too, underneath the park’s mini-bridge.
Slip nibbles under the table at Merwin’s Wharf
The seasonal menu and charming waterfront location makes a relaxed atmosphere for the two-leggeds to get to know each other, but for Spot, the dog-friendly patio, nearby green space and an occasional table scrap are the real romance.
