Dog Friendly Holiday Spots

With Thanksgiving just barely over, the holiday season is officially in full swing throughout Chicago. From holiday markets to outdoor ice skating rinks, the city is bustling with seasonal activities and brightly-lit displays. While all of us here at Sparky Steps are very excited, we would also love to bring our canine companions along for the ride. But unfortunately, many places have restrictions on whether furry friends are allowed to join in on the fun. To make this holiday season simpler for everyone involved, we’ve compiled a list of a few places our pups can tag along.

• ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo: The Lincoln Park Zoo transforms into a magical wonderland, illuminated by over 2 million lights at this time of year. It’s a fun place to visit the animals, watch live ice sculptures, and meet Santa. Though not every furry friend can join, service animals are allowed to roam around the Zoo -- and all dogs can explore the rest Lincoln Park!

• Navy Pier Winter Wonderfest: This family-friendly hit is also home to a winter wonderland at during the holiday season! From decorations to carnival games and bounce houses, it’s a great place to bring the kids or a date. Or your dog! That’s right -- dogs are allowed in the outdoor areas of Navy Pier, and service animals are allowed inside as well.

• Christkindlmarket: This one may come as a surprise, but our four-legged friends are allowed in the outdoor areas of the market! Bring them along to enjoy all the sights and sounds, like live performances and German treats. And don’t forget to snap your pup’s photo with the local Santas!

• Michigan Avenue/Riverwalk: Remember, our canine companions can always join in on outdoor explorations! Whether we’re walking down Michigan Avenue or the Riverwalk -- or driving around to sightsee houses lit up with decorations -- most dogs love a change in scenery and the chance to experience new smells.

Sparky Steps hopes this list helps you and your furry friends have a wonderful (and fun!) holiday season. With Chicago full of exciting new things to try and do at this time of year, our pups want in on the excitement too. We can see those wagging tails already!

 

Written by Saarah Monawvil