Where to take a dog near Seattle: Marymoor Park

The dog romping in Lake Sammamish.

This dog park has it all: large, open grassy areas for your dog to chase balls by themselves. Long, fenced walking paths that make for pleasant strolls for both of you while meeting plenty of other dogs and people. And, finally, long stretches of beaches on the shores of Lake Sammamish and the Sammamish Slough.

All 40 acres of the park are off-leash, and if you are staying in Seattle, you can reach it by driving only about 20 miles over Lake Washington to Redmond.

Words to the wise: 

• If you have a small dog, they best be brave, because there are no separate areas for them. Also, if you dog isn't super friendly with all dogs, there are very narrow areas that could cause uncomfortable bottlenecks for dogs that don't like meeting strange dogs in enclosed areas.
• If you are staying in or near downtown Seattle, crossing Lake Washington is no easy feat, especially Highway 520. It can be busy all day, but is especially clogged in the mornings with students and staff trying to get to the University of Washington. Be sure and check on the current traffic conditions before you head out. We definitely got stuck in traffic, but watching the dog running freely through the water after being strictly on-leash in the busy city streets, and on her best behavior in our hotel, was well worth the hassle.

Where to stay with a dog in Seattle: The Westin