Do you take your dog on trips to other cities? This year Lucy and I took a road trip from Pittsburgh to Myrtle Beach and along the way we found some awesome dog friendly towns and activities. On our way back up north, we spent a night in Raleigh, North Carolina.

I wanted to stop there because I found a lot of dog friendly places online, and I also convinced one of my fashionista friends who I don’t get to see often (and her husband) to meet me there. What I discovered is that dog friendly Raleigh is full of art and design!

Raleigh Flea Market + Dog Friendly Lunch

As soon as we pulled into town, Lucy and I went to the Raleigh Flea Market which is just huge! I didn’t realize the State Fair would be going on the same day, so it was extra packed with people and vendors. This is where we met up with Niki and Alex and browsed cool vintage and handmade wares. I bought some local honey and a handmade wooden sign that says I Heart My Lab (because it’s true!).

After the market we went to lunch at The Flying Biscuit where they had a great dog friendly outdoor patio. There were at least 4 other dogs there while we had lunch. We all loved our food and the whole staff was so nice and welcoming to Lucy. The restaurant is located in a shopping center that you can walk around, and many of the shops are dog friendly. It’s mix of chains and local stores, and there are lots of benches if you prefer to sit and people watch.

Dog Friendly Aloft Raleigh

After Niki and Alex left to drive home, Lucy and I went over to Aloft Raleigh to check in. As soon as we pulled up I was really excited because the hotel has such a modern, designer feel. There are pops of pink, artwork and cool lighting everywhere. The staff was so friendly, I think they wanted me to leave Lucy at reception all night! Also… look at that guy who was also checking in. He was so jealous of Lucy’s treat!

Since we were both pretty tried from our trip and walking around the Flea Market, we stayed in and I grabbed a little bite to eat and a Moscow Mule in the hotel bar. It’s on the 2nd floor and opens up to a patio over looking a park and monument. I was a great place to hang out!

Up in the room, the hotel had Lucy all set up with a food and water bowl, a dog bed and blanket in case she wanted to get up on the bed (she did!). We really enjoyed having a peaceful night and hanging out in a big comfy bed to watch TV together. It was just what we needed after the endless excitement of BlogPaws!

One of the most dog friendly things about this hotel is that it’s right across the street from a big park that’s part of the University of North Carolina Raleigh. It’s the perfect grassy area for a late night or early morning bathroom break. While you’re walking around, you can also admire the beautiful campus.

Dogs Are Welcome At North Carolina Museum of Art

After a great night’s rest, we packed up the next morning and stopped by the North Carolina Museum of Art before leaving town. The museum isn’t open on Mondays (the day we were there), but they have a huge sculpture park that is open every day of the year… and it’s dog friendly!

I couldn’t believe how big and nice it was. The park was a mix of paved walkways and nature trails, and there was awesome art all along the way. There was even a water fountain with a dog height faucet way at the back of the park.

Before we went on our art walk I had stopped by a Whole Foods less than 5 minutes away and picked up lunch for myself. Lucy and I enjoyed sitting under umbrellas overlooking the park while I had my lunch and she had a treat.

I would highly recommend taking a dog friendly trip to Raleigh! I’m sure there are so many other places that we didn’t get to explore, but we were there for about 24 hours, so you can only do so much! Thank you so much to Aloft who graciously hosted Lucy and I free of charge, and Up Country Inc for providing Lucy’s collar and leash for this trip. Order your very own Alligator collar!

Watch the Video Diary of our Whole Trip!

Love this post? Check these out while you’re here:
The Best Dog Friendly Shops Across America
A Dog Friendly Trip to NYC
Dog Friendly Summer Day Trip to Cleveland
The Ultimate Dog Mom Road Trip