Doodle Hot Spots

[Belinda Stevens]

The goal here is to post great places to take your doodle.
I will be posting some information here soon but in the mean time where are your favorite places to take your dood?

[3se49i1okg4hs]

Being relatively new to Richmond, I've found it to be a great place to have a dog. Some of Sydney's favorite places to go:

1. Stony Point Mall- most of the stores let you bring dogs in, and have water for the pups. There are always a million dogs there on the weekends, so its so much fun to get a cup of coffee and "dog watch"....and I always get her a little treat from the dog bakery before we leave. This is also a phenomenal spot to socialize a new puppy- lots of new people, kids, and other dogs, smells, sights, etc.....

2. Barker Field dog park- its usually pretty busy with some pup friends for Sydney to hang out with. Lots of water and shade, and some swings, chairs, and tables for the humans to hang out on.

3. The river: Belle Isle, Huguenot Flatwater, and Pony Pastures (my favorite because its clean, and its shallow enough for me to wade around with her and sit on the rocks while she plays, and safe enough that she can be off leash)- Sydney loves to swim and play in the river, and these are usually the three places I take her.

4. Buddy's in the Fan, Hometeam Grill on Main, Poe's Pub, and Millie's all let dogs sit with you on the patio. They are extremely dog friendly if you are ever looking for a place to grab a bite with your dood:) Most places in Carytown are pretty cool with dogs being on the patio, too.

I'm always looking for new places to take her. Can't wait to hear what others have to say!

[Tilly and Gertie]

Do you know if they will let your dogs sit with you outside at any of the Stony Point restaurants?

[Belinda Stevens]

I know Champp's allows you to have them right outside the gate next to you. And once we went to Chipolte for Stella, Maddie and Morgan's birthday and they let us come in and out onto their patio including Sydney. So there were 4 doods and 5 adults... we took over their little enclosed area....quite fun!

[Belinda Stevens]

There is a new dog bark open. Its called Bark Park and it is located down the hill just behind Chimbarezo Park in Church Hill at the corner of E. Grace and Government Rd. If you go out to E. Broad St. just past 32nd St. you can’t miss it. Like I said, this is brand new (just opened 8-16-08). It has 2 large fenced in areas. One for big dogs and one for little and double gates on the entrances to keep your dog from bolting as new people enter. There are large watering buckets that for the time being are asked to help be filled by you until the city can get water lines down there. So take a gallon or two when you go. There is also a shelter and a few picnic tables. The down side to this park is that there is very little shade aside from the shelter. Other than that it is a great park with lots of grass.

[Belinda Stevens]

The next hot spot I have is “Texas Beach”. This spot is for the Adventurers!
I have lived in Richmond for 11 years and I just found out about this place last weekend. “Texas Beach” is the nickname for James River Park- North Bank and if you have ever read Marly and Me this would be a great substitute for the dog beach John Grogan talks about in his book. When I first arrived I have to admit that I thought the area was a bit sketchy. There is a parking lot and at the east end of the lot a trail starts. Once we started down the trail I realized that this was a bike trail and the trail was rather steep so you must wear good shoes and the hike back to the water is quite a ways so be prepared. You follow the trail down the hill. There are many fingers to the trail but as long as you keep heading towards the river you will run into the bridge that takes you over the train tracks. From there you continue on a trail and before you know it you come upon the dog beach. I was surprise to see so many dogs there. All running and romping around free. Now I do not know if this is legal but apparently this is what goes on down there and has for some time now. So, if you feeling up for a little urban/river adventure with your dood try this place out. It turned out to be a lot of fun and I will definitely go back.
From Broad St. I took Meadow St until it turned into S. Meadow and then it came to a dead end. Took a left from there on to Kansas and several blocks from there at the corner of Kansas and Texas Ave. you will see James River Park- North Bank. This is located in the city in between Hollywood Cemetery and Maymont Park.
Have fun!

[3se49i1okg4hs]

This one sounds great. I cant believe I hadnt heard of it,yet. Thanks for posting. I will try it out this weekend!

[03pilqobzlvp7]

Mike, Duff and I live just 2 blocks from the Texas Beach parking area. Mike and I have been going there since we moved here, but Duff is still a little young to take down there. We are so looking forward to visiting Texas Beach with him in the future! It's a great place to bring dogs and one of the reasons we felt it was the right time for us to get our Aussiedoodle.

[Belinda Stevens]

OK for the next Hot Spot I have Barker Field. Many of you have probably already heard of this one or even been there. I just went for the first time. This dog park touts itself, as Richmond Virginia’s First Dog Park. Correct me if I’m wrong but I think it technically is it’s only dog park after losing the one on Monument years ago. The new one in Church Hill is the next closest and then the one in Ashland which I will check out soon. Anyway, there are a lot of dogs at Barker Field so if that is over whelming for your dood then this might not be the place however if your dood does love lots of dogs then by all mean go there. Barker field is a bit smaller than the new Bark Park and doesn’t have any grass. It is however more shaded so it is cooler during the hot summer months than Bark Park.
Barker Field is located in the Dogwood Dells of Byrd Park.
Here is a link to the site and you might want to read up on the rules before going.
http://friendsofbarkerfield.org/
Have fun!

[Joy Williams]

How about Rockwood Park on Courthouse Road on Southside? We have been there, but did not have the girls with us. Our niece took her dog there and said it was lots of fun. It looks decent, also has lots of ball fields, tennis, basketball, a nature / walking trail, etc. as well as picnic shelters.Hopefully we can take them there this weekend. Will let you know how much fun we had!!

[Belinda Stevens]

Yeah that is a good one. I have been there with my dogs when I lived on the Southside. It is a great park! Take pictures to post up here when do go.

[Belinda Stevens]

I love this place too. I didn't know until after the fact that dogs are not suposse to go in the fountain...oops...there was a sign after all.

[Belinda Stevens]

Carytown is another great place to take your dog. There are a few shops that allow dogs in but I like to go just to get Stella around people. As most of you all know Carytown is a hoppin place so it makes for great socializing… and for your dood too. The only thing I would not recommend is taking them on really busy events in Carytown such as the Watermelon fest. There are way too many people for humans let alone dogs. It can be to over whelming for them and it usually is very hot so do your dood a favor and leave them behind on such big social gatherings.