Suzy the Shih Tzu and I have been scouring the country, checking out all the top pet friendly traveling destinations. Finally we got the chance to head back to a long time favorite, New York City! The atmosphere and energy, the restaurants, the shopping! What more could a girl and her dog want in a big city?

Stay

Accommodation opportunities abound in New York, with a never-ending supply of fine hotels to choose from. We got ourselves a nice and cozy room at the W New York Union Square located at 201 Park Ave S, New York. It is a dog friendly chain of hotels and close to an off-leash park. The hotel has a historical significance and the building was considered a landmark in 1911. It was famous as the Guardian Life Building. It was a beautiful experience especially because I got to sleep on a down feather bed with custom pillow-topped mattress, and 350-thread count Egyptian cotton blend linens. It was like a dream come true. Suzy got a similar treatment though her bed was much smaller. Suzy enjoyed every moment from the energy of the fitness center, to the ethereal view of New York from our balcony.

FEE: I paid $100 one time fee. If you have two dogs then you will be required to pay $25 additional fee for the second dog.

You can check out some other dog friendly hotels in New York like:

” Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers: 811 7th Avenue on 53rd St

” Sofitel Hotel: 45 West 44th Street

” Soho Grand Hotel: 310 West Broadway

” Swissotel NY -The Drake: 440 Park Avenue

” The Muse: 130 West 46th Street

” The Westin New York at Times Square: 270 West 43rd Street

” Tribeca Grand Hotel: 2 Avenue of the Americas

Play

Suzy’s favorite activity by far was the Brooklyn Bridge Self-Guided Walk. The bridge is absolutely awe inspiring especially at 5am in the morning just before the sunrise. I have never come across a more beautiful sight and the standing there all by myself at the center of the bridge - nothing but the smell of freshness and the echo of the morning breeze. The sign of the New York skyline from the Brooklyn Bridge was beholding. I walked the entire length of the bridge with Suzy on the wooden walkway that has been kept elevated over the traffic. It took me 40 minutes to cover the bridge and Suzy did it twice in the same time. She loved the walk and the breeze and barked at the small cruises that whizzed under the bridge.

Of course we spent quite a bit of time hanging out at Central Park and Suzy loved every minute of it. Central Park is a designated off-leash area from 9 pm until 9 am daily and Suzy relished the chance to run freely. She loved hanging out at the Shakespeare Garden and made quite a few friends. Another great area for dog socializing is “Dog Hill”. Suzy made so many new playmates it was almost impossible to get her to leave. Dog Hill is located near Central Park West and 79th Street (north of 79th Street.)

Another great New York dog park is the Washington Square Park at W 4th St and Waverly Pl. There are two separate dog runs here. One is for smaller dogs like Suzy and the other is for larger dogs. That was great for her as she had a wonderful run with some Maltese’s and Chow Chow’s.

Some of the other good dog parks in New York include:

1. Tompkins Square Park: 500 E 9TH St

2. Madison Square Park: 25th St at Madison Ave

Katies Kitty: 170 East 83 Street

I had to leave Suzy here for a day to go to Manhattan to meet a dear friend who is not really comfortable around dogs. Suzy had such a great time that once I returned; she was not really willing to go back to the hotel with me. I guess I can owe that to the caring and friendly staff at Katies Kitty. Their kennels are special because they arrange homes for pets with a proper family and not the traditional kennel system. As a result my Suzy got the same affection that a family can provide and she was fed well and taken care of.

Eat

Boat Basin Caf: W 79th St, New York

Suzy has a weakness for good food and boats. So when we went to the Boat basin caf, she was more excited than any dog out there. I think this is the most dog-friendly place in the city of New York and is an unusual place. The caf is riddled with history and has a vaulted stone ceiling that will remind you of the Victorian era. There is a huge veranda that overlooks the docks, and from here the New Jersey skyline looks absolutely mesmerizing. At the end of the day, I was intoxicated by the cocktails and Suzy was intoxicated by the experience.

Shop

There is no dearth of pet stores in New York and they have designer stores for pets too. A favorite for pampered pets like Suzy is Trixie and Peanuts at 23 E 20th St. There always up on the latest dog fashion trends and Suzy loves being able to try the items on. We got her a great new sweater for fall and a gorgeous Hampton carrier for all her travels. They had the cutest dog Halloween costumes on display. Suzy really wanted to be a little devil, fitting I suppose.

Some of the stores we frequent in New York include:

1. Whiskers Holistic Pet Products: 235 E 9th Street. They sell mostly natural and organic pet food. They have mostly home cooked meals for pets, which I think is great for all kinds of pets.

2. Furry Paws: 141 Amsterdam Avenue.

3. Ralph Lauren: 867 Madison Avenue

4. Tiffany & Co: 727 5th Avenue

5. Saks Fifth Avenue: 611 5th Avenue

Gerald Cormier is the owner of The Shih Tzu Store -a pet boutique specializing in small dogs. Stop by for more great dog travel resources and see our unique dog carrier collection.