A Dog-Friendly Outing in Olympia with Benz the Shepherd
When it comes to travel and exploring new places, a lot of us enjoy the added bonus of bringing our "fur-babies" along. Follow along with Benz the Shepherd as he experiences an adventure-filled day with his owners here in Olympia.
Story by guest blogger, Luz Lopez (and her German Shepherd, Benz)
If you're anything like me, you love exploring new places and searching for your next, great adventure. Here in Olympia and its surrounding communities, there's a never-ending list our family enjoys checking off and adding to, and most of the time, Benz, our Shepherd, is right there with us. We thought you might enjoy our most recent excursion around Olympia, which, like most of the PNW, is pretty dog-friendly.
A few rules of the road:
- Make sure your pet is leashed while in public places (and when signage requests it)
- Bring along "poop bags" to take care of their business
- It's never a good idea to assume a location is dog-friendly, but if you ask politely, 9 times out of 10 your pet will be allowed to be with you at many locations.
Ready? Grab your leash and a squeaky toy and let's head out!
Stop #1 - Olympia Dog Park (at Ward Lake)
2008 Yelm Hwy SE, Olympia, WA 98501
Amenities:
- Dog waste station
- Trash cans
- Toy library (take a toy and leave a toy)
- Small and large dog area
This park is a great place for you and your dog to make new friends! Benz had so much fun running and playing with other dogs, and all the dog owners were respectful. Toys are not allowed but there is plenty of space for the dogs to run. Be prepared to wait for parking a parking space because the public lot is rather small. Additionally, there is no public bathroom.
Stop #2 - Coffee Break
1301 Yelm Hwy SE, Tumwater, WA 98501
Amenities:
- Beverages
- Breakfast
- Pet treats
- Dessert
- Outdoor Seating
- Drive thru
After the dog park we took a caffeine break at the Starbucks on Yelm Highway. While we sipped on Mochas, Benz enjoyed a “puppuccino” (whipped cream). We love the friendly Starbucks atmosphere and the quick bite options. Pets are always welcome in the outdoor seating area.
Stop #3 - Pioneer Park
5801 Henderson Blvd SE, Tumwater, WA 98501
Amenities:
- Barbeque Grills
- Shelter (Rentable)
- Baseball Field
- Soccer Fields
- Horseshoe Pits
- Trails
- Picnic Areas
- Volleyball Courts
- Restrooms
- Play Toys
All rested up from our coffee break, our next stop was another outdoor adventure in Tumwater. Pioneer Park provides access to Deschutes River and a lot of trails to explore with your dogs. Benz loved swimming and fetching his toy at the river. The distance from the trail to the river is an easy quarter of a mile. Make sure you follow the park rules.
Stop #4 - The Pet Works
407 4th Ave E, Olympia, WA 98501
If you are looking for a cool, local pet store with a grooming station after a long day of playing outside, look no further than downtown Olympia’s The Pet Works. This pet store has a large variety of high-quality pet foods, local treats, dog gear, toys, dehydrated treats, and a self-wash dog station. The self-wash dog station includes shampoo, conditioner, towels, and a dryer station. They also offer a reward program for the self-wash (details in the store). Benz isn’t a fan of bath day, but they carry his favorite local treat which made his time there enjoyable. You can also find supplies for a wide variety of non-dog pets (looking at you, cat lovers, fish lovers, and reptile pet owners).
Stop #5 - Lunch at Briggs Taphouse
4528 Maple Ln SE #105, Olympia, WA 98501
Amenities:
- Pet friendly Patio
- Family friendly (Play area)
- Hand tossed pizza dough, salads and appetizers
- Gluten free and vegan options
- Rotating local taps
After a long day having fun exploring with Benz, we popped into Briggs Taphouse for some local beer and pizza. Briggs has a covered outdoor seating area which is great for summer shade or unexpected rain. The pizza here is delicious and the servers are super friendly. We ordered the La Carnivora and fun Guy pizzas and the cheese curds.
Pro Pet Owner Tip: I brought a water bowl and jerky treats from home to keep Benz busy while we had lunch.
Stop #6 - Dessert at Humble Cow
4528 Maple Ln SE Suite 104, Olympia, WA 98501
A fun day should never come to an end without dessert, and that goes for dogs, too! Right next door to Briggs Taphouse is an ice cream shop with outdoor seating. Humble Cow carries dairy-free and vegan options in addition to their regular ice creams, floats with craft root beer, milkshakes made from scratch, and even pet-friendly desserts for your pup.
We hope our adventures inspire your next trip with your pets. If you'd like to follow Benz, you can find him on Instagram @benztheshep
Spend the weekend and find dining, lodging, events, festivals and entertainment ideas at www.experienceolympia.com. Make sure to share your best shots with us by tagging social posts #ExperienceOlympia and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter (@Experience_Oly) and Instagram (@ExperienceOly).
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER