Is your 4-legged friend more like a member of the family than a pet? If so, you probably want to bring them wherever you go, or maybe you just want to have the option to let you pup come and explore the town with you.
Folks along the Emerald Coast love their fur-babies and want to know where they can bring them along. We at the Endsley Team have compiled a list just for you!

 

The Beach
Since we are known for our white sandy beaches, let’s start with bringing your dogs to the beach.
There are several counties found along the coast and the main ones we will be covering are Okaloosa County (The west side of Miramar Beach and Destin), Walton County (The east side of Miramar Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, and the majority of the 30A area), and Bay County (the far east side of 30A and Panama City Beach). This information is important since different counties have different rules.

Okaloosa County: Unfortunately, you cannot bring your dogs on the beach in Okaloosa County.

Walton County: You can take your dogs on the beach in Walton County but there are some requirements and restrictions. First, you need a permit which are only available to those who own property in or are permanent residents to Walton County – they are valid from August 1^st – July 31^st each year. You can get that permit through the Walton County Website Here. Second, the pups are only allowed on the beach between 3:30PM and 8:30AM.

Bay County: Similar to Okaloosa County, dogs are not allowed on the beaches in Bay County BUT there is a Dog Beach located in Panama City Beach. And you do not have to be a resident of the area to bring your dogs on this beach, there are just some general rules that are similar to rules found at your average dog park. You can find the Panama City Beach Dog Park on the west side of the Russell-Fields City Pier Here and you can learn more about the Dog Beach Here.

 

 

State Parks
Your 4-legged adventuring pal is welcomed to any Florida State Park! Now, some of the state parks do have beaches so depending on which county you’re in, the state park will have those same rules or restrictions. Here is a link to view some of our favorite places for adventures with our pups.


Deer Lake State Park 
Eden Gardens State Park 
Point Washington State Park 
Timpoochee Trail 
Grayton Beach State Park 
Longleaf Greenway Trail 

Other Locations
So for the most part, if your pooch is well behaved and remains leashed, they are welcome to many outside areas in Okaloosa, Walton and Bay County. Here is a list of some of our favorite spots that welcome your fur-babies with open paws!

 

Boshamps Seafood and Oyster House – this local seafood restaurant is located on the Destin Harbor and fun fact, the name “Boshamps” was derived from the owner’s name combined with the name of their 3 pups! 

Shunk Gulley – Local Seafood and Oyster Restaurant with live entertainment and gulf views.

World of Beer in Destin at The Destin Commons, an open air shopping center with dining and shopping. 

Idyll Hounds Brewing Company in Inlet Beach, craft beers, movie nights, live music and more. 

Destin Brewery and if you happen to be there on a Wednesday and brought your pup, you get $1 off pints! 

Growler Garage – Outdoor Beer Garden with live entertainment

30A Farmers Market in Rosemary Beach, Open year round and can be found in different locations such as Grand Boulevard, Watersound and Niceville. 

The Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin – Shops, Dining, Entertainment, and Resort

Grand Boulevard – Shops, Dining, Farmer's Market on the weekends, and More

 

As you can see, we love our pups along the Emerald Coast. We hope you and your furry friend(s) are able to check out some of the places we mentioned. Do you have other places you think we should add to the list? Send us some suggestions HERE!