With our countless outdoor adventure activities, beautiful hotels, world-class restaurants, and miles of pristine coastline, Martin County is known for being a premier family-friendly escape. But that concept doesn’t only apply to human family members. Martin County is also an ideal vacation destination for your four-legged family members, too!
To help you plan the perfect pet-friendly retreat, we’ve collected some of the can’t-miss hotels, restaurants, doggy boutiques, and more that can be found sprinkled throughout the county. Read more below and let us know what your pup’s favorite Martin County gems are.
The Opal Paws program at Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa ensures your pooch is seriously pampered.
Dog-Friendly Hotels in Martin County:
Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa: Part of the Opal Collection, the Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa in Jensen Beach follows the company-wide Opal Paws policy. Canine guests weighing 30 pounds and under are welcome at the resort for a non-refundable fee of $75 per night per dog. The puppy pampering begins immediately upon arrival with perks like a welcome bag (filled with treats, fresh breath dental chews, and waste bags); dedicated food and water bowls; and plush Opal Paws dog bed (which is also available for purchase upon check-out). The beautiful waterfront resort recently opened its doors in 2017 and was just named a Top 30 Resorts in Florida in the 2019 Condé Nast Traveler 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards. Its debut marked the first new resort to be built on Hutchinson Island in almost two decades. Other pet-friendly hotels within Jensen include the River Palm Cottages & Fish Camp in Jensen Beach and the Driftwood Motel.
The Old Colorado Inn located in Historic Downtown Stuart includes a collection of various boutique accommodation styles, and their charming Coastal Cottage welcomes pups of all sizes. They welcome dogs up to 35 pounds with a $125 non-refundable fee. The Courtyard Stuart by Marriott is another pet-friendly hotel with a maximum of two pets per room (weighing less than 75 pounds) for a non-refundable fee of $75.
Dog-Friendly Activities in Martin County:
Photo credit: Instagram user @earth.to.mochi – Mochi enjoying a visit to Ross Witham Beach
Martin County Parks and Beaches: Dogs and other pets are generally permitted in Martin County parks and beaches during hours of operation, so long as the pet is properly restrained. For most unguarded beaches, on-leash dogs are permitted (some popular unguarded beaches include Santa Lucea Beach, Tiger Shores, Ross Witham Beach, and Bob Graham Beach). Or, bring your pooch for a leisurely stroll along Indian Riverside Park, he he’s bound to make a new friend or two.
Tako Tiki: Tako Tiki is one of Downtown Jensen’s newest openings. The eclectic open-air restaurant serves elevated street tacos, small plates, and craft cocktails and features live music four nights a week. The outdoor retreat is also pet-friendly and has become a favorite hang-out for the area’s four-legged friends. They also provide water bowls and healthy pet dishes prepared just for pups.
Pineapple Jack’s: Housed in the Historic R.R. Ricou building (established 1909), the charming pink building in Downtown Jensen is now home to Pineapple Jack’s, an upscale bistro featuring fresh, locally sourced American fare with European influences. The tropical outdoor patio space is dog-friendly and is especially popular during the weekly “Jammin’ Jensen” street fair every Thursday night and during weekend brunch.
Pet owners can spend hours inside Wagnolia’s shopping for the perfect souvenir.
Wagnolia’s: Located Stuart, Wagnolia’s opened their doors in April 2018. The doggy boutique offers all the essentials, from premium dog food and healthy treats, to the dog toys, beds, and outfits. But for the more special occasions, be sure to head over to Wagnolia’s Bakery. There, the team creates custom cupcakes, cookies, treats and even birthday cakes especially for your fur baby.
Dog Mamma’s: Another Stuart staple is Dog Mamma’s. Specializing in small-batch, handmade, oven-baked dog treats, the husband and wife team only uses 100% USDA organic certified ingredients. Some of the most popular flavors include peanut butter, berry banana coconut, and pumpkin snaps.
Hair of the Dog: Looking to pamper your pup during a vacation? Then look no further than Hair of the Dog. This full-service dog grooming studio has been serving canines of the Treasure Coast for 20 years. Located in the Rio community of Jensen Beach, David Pierce can groom any breed from a poodle to Pekingese.
Sign Up for the Free B.A.R.K. Ranger Program:
We launched the B.A.R.K. Ranger program on World Wildlife Conservation Day 2023. This free program (part of our ongoing Explore Natural Martin partnership with Leave No Trace) outlines the simple “Rules of B.A.R.K.” to ensure visitors and residents are recreating responsibly when exploring Martin County with their four-legged fur babies. Pet-owners who sign the free online pledge can pick-up a free branded bandana and locally made dog tags from our partner locations! Read more about the B.A.R.K. Ranger program here.
Rules of B.A.R.K:
Always leave the outdoors better than you found it, which means picking up after your dog on the trail and disposing of their waste properly. This is important because it keeps the area clean and pleasant for other visitors and keeps diseases and bacteria from entering our waterways. And, if you don’t want to carry it, there are lots of unique ideas for getting around it, such as getting a special vest designed for your dog to carry it themselves or leash attachments.
Our parks, preserves, and beaches are for us to enjoy, but also to protect. Keeping your pet leashed while enjoying our beautiful public lands helps protect these places and the wildlife that lives there. Our beaches support threatened sea turtles from March to October, and they are sensitive to disturbance from people and dogs. Our scrub habitat is home to many rare and threatened plants and animals like the gopher tortoise, the scrub lizard, and fascinating lichens and flowers. Our hammocks have many species of birds, small mammals, and even orchids.
Keeping your pet leashed and on the trail keeps them from trampling vegetation and from scaring, injuring or killing wildlife. It also keeps them safe from potentially dangerous wildlife. It is also important to keep in mind that your dog may be friendly, but other leashed pets might not be, so staying on leash will help avoid unnecessary confrontation. And let’s not forget that not everyone feels comfortable with dogs, so keeping them on leash helps all to enjoy our public lands.
Make sure you and your pet always keeps a safe distance from any wildlife while out exploring. Keeping your pet on leash and on the trail helps decrease the chances of them scaring or endangering wildlife. Our beaches and sand spits can be habitat for ground nesting birds which are extremely vulnerable to off leash pets (always look out for signs indicating nesting areas). Birds you see resting or loafing on the beaches or sand spits may be resting after migrating hundreds or even thousands of miles, so it’s important to keep your dog from chasing them.
Sea turtle hatchings are also extremely vulnerable making their journey from their nest to the ocean during the summer and fall months, so keeping your pet leashed on the beach helps increase their chances or survival. Remember, while out in our parks, preserves and beaches, you are in their home so please respect them by not letting your dog sniff, chase, or interact with wildlife.
When exploring a new place with your dog, it is important to check beforehand if that place allows dogs and if there are any specific rules for bringing them. For example, in many state parks, dogs are allowed, but only in specific areas, so it is important to call ahead. Dogs are allowed in Martin County parks, but never on athletic fields. Leashed dogs are allowed on unguarded beaches in Martin County such as Bob Graham, Beachwalk Pasley and Tiger Shores. Dogs are allowed in all county preserves, but they must be on leash. Always keep in mind trail distances, conditions and weather to make sure your BARK Ranger enjoys their trip, and don’t forget to bring enough water! Being aware of your surroundings and where you are venturing helps keep you and your BARK Ranger safe.