How to Give Your Dog the Best Day Ever in Sandy Springs

There’s nothing better than spending quality time with your favorite pooch.

In Sandy Springs, you can treat your dog to the best day ever!

Whether your precious, four-legged friend is an agile trail hound or a cuddly couch potato, Sandy Spring is a pup’s paradise. From leafy trails to pup-friendly patios at local restaurants, here are just a few ways to have an unforgettable day indulging your favorite mutt in Sandy Springs.

Explore Dog-Friendly Trails

Your outdoorsy pup will love hitting the trail in Sandy Springs, and with 950 acres of parkland, there are plenty of miles to explore. Older dogs will love hiking the gentle trails at the historic Lost Corner Preserve, which has 24 acres of serene woodlands threaded by a slender creek named Falling Branches.

Adventurous pups can also savor the woodsy scents at the John Ripley Forbes Big Trees Forest Preserve. The 30-acre sanctuary features an interlinked network of backcountry trails meandering through hardwood and softwood forests adorned with azaleas, seasonal wildflowers, and fern-edged streams.

Mix and Mingle at the Dog Park

The Morgan Falls Dog Park is a perfect spot for your social pup to run around and play with new friends. Visit Sandy Springs Do you have a social butterfly on your hands? Let your gregarious pooch mix and mingle with other friendly mutts at the Morgan Falls Dog Park. The fully-fenced dog park features a separate play area for smaller dogs and puppies, along with benches for pet parents—just be sure to bring along a drink and extra waste bags for your pup. After a play session at the dog park, you can also easily tack on a trip to the adjacent Morgan Falls Overlook Park, that offers expansive views of the Chattahoochee River, plenty of picnic spots, and a leafy nature trail along the water.

Treat Your Pup to Some Serious Pampering

Your dog deserves to be spoiled and in Sandy Springs, you can treat your beloved pooch to all sorts of tasty treats, engaging toys, and even a full-fledged day at the spa. If your pup has a penchant for tasty treats, head over to Dog City Bakery II, where you can order a tailor-made canine birthday cake. The pup-pleasing establishment offers homemade treats, holistic pet foods, and other gifts for dogs and cats, including leashes, collars, and toys.

You can also indulge your pup at the Whole Dog Market. The canine-inspired boutique is loaded with healthy treats, inventive toys, and natural pet foods, including locally-sourced dog treats and chews.

For some serious pampering, there’s the Perk-N-Pooch. The doggie spa offers a range of professional grooming services along with a self-service dog wash and an in-house café for pet parents, so you can sip a cappuccino while your pooch is treated to a rejuvenating bath and brushing.

Make a Splash in the Chattahoochee River

Let your dog get out some energy with a quick dip in the Chattahoochee. Visit Sandy Springs, Is your pup a real water dog? With 22 miles of the Chattahoochee River and three different units of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area—East Palisades, Island Ford, and Powers Island—Sandy Springs offers plenty of places to treat your pup to an invigorating swim. At Powers Island, the 2.5-mile trail system provides generous river views and serene inlets perfect for stick fetching, while the Island Ford unit has a three-mile trail network studded with dog-friendly swimming spots.

For a longer hike, head for the East Palisades unit of the national recreation area. The four-mile trail network features plenty of riverine plunge pools and scenic spots to hang your trusty backpacking hammock, ideal for an afternoon of relaxing beside the water.

Rather take your favorite, four-legged buddy on a paddling trip instead? At Morgan Falls Overlook Park, the High Country Paddle Shack rents kayaks and stand-up paddleboards (SUPS), and allows polite, water-savvy pups to tag along on water-based adventures on the Chattahoochee River. Dogs will love floating the stretch of water flanking Morgan Falls Overlook Park. This broad, slow-moving stretch of the Chattahoochee River is so serene it is dubbed Bull Sluice Lake, and makes an ideal spot for an afternoon of paddling with your adventure-loving pup.

Head to Yappy Hour

Bring your favorite pup to happy hour, and enjoy an evening sipping frosty microbrews, flavorful wines, or artfully-crafted cocktails with your furry friend. The laidback Pontoon Brewing has an eclectic assortment of craft brews, from crisp pilsners to robust porters to berry-infused sours, and the airy patio is the perfect place to relax with your dog.

Polite pooches are also welcome on the outdoor patio at Thos. O’Reilly’s Public House. The restaurant serves up pub classics from the Emerald Isle, including staples like Guinness stew and bangers with mash, while also featuring an extensive menu of Irish whiskeys, locally-crafted beers, and traditional European ales.

Plan a Lunch Date

In the mood for crowd-pleasing, family-friendly cuisine? Grab an outdoor table and try inventive burgers and indulgent milkshakes at Grub Burger Bar, or opt for a classic wood-fired pie at Hearth Pizza Tavern. If you want a lunch date that feels like a mini-vacation, chill out on the beachy wrap-around deck at Hammocks Trading Company while you peruse the surf and turf inspired menu and sip craft cocktails.

Want to impress your dog with a palate-pleasing menu sure to delight even the most discerning canine? At Southern Bistro, your sophisticated pup can sample from the ‘Doggie Dining Menu’ while you enjoy thoughtfully-crafted Southern classics, like buttermilk fried chicken, freshly-caught rainbow trout, and shrimp and grits.

Cities like Sandy Springs make bringing your dog on vacation easy. Spa treatments, yappy hours, treats, and nature-filled adventures are sure to keep you both smiling and wagging. The next time you are looking for a welcoming spot to adventure with your four-legged friend, you now know where to go.

Want to stay in Sandy Springs with your pup? Book a pet-friendly hotel now.

Written by Malee Baker Oot for Matcha in partnership with Sandy Springs GA.

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