DOG WELCOME CENTER

Asheville is home to the country’s first official Dog Welcome Center, Dog City, USA! It is more proof that Asheville loves dogs. The Welcome Center is a place where your dog can get a fresh drink of cooling water from its doggie drinking fountains, pick up a free dog goody bag and, of course, take advantage of its public restrooms and potty areas. While at the Welcome Center, pick up information on the best dog-friendly attractions, restaurants, and things to do.

The Welcome Center shares space with The Dog Door, a canine shop full of treats, toys, chews, and dog necessities. The Dog Door and the Welcome Center, Dog City, USA!, are in downtown Asheville across the street from the Grove Arcade at 1 Battle Square. The Center is open Monday-Wednesday 9-5, Thursday-Saturday 9-7, and Sunday 11-5.

The Center has traditionally offered tours designed exclusively for visitors and their dogs. The tour will take you to local shops with doggie goodies, breweries catering to pups, and restaurants that offer special canine dining for you and your dog. The tours were temporarily discontinued due to COVID-19, but the Center expects to resume tours shortly. If you are interested in the unique dog-friendly experience, be sure to call (828) 656-8305 in advance to book your spot. The tours are conducted on Fridays at noon.

The Twisted Laurel restaurant downtown, located at 130 College Street adjacent to Pack Square Park, dishes up a special menu for dogs bringing their owners to lunch and dinner on their dog-friendly outdoor patio. Features include the Twisted Doggy Bowl with a choice of protein—salmon, chicken, burger, or scrambled eggs. For dessert, your dog has a choice of doggy ice cream, restaurant-made doggy biscuits, or frozen yogurt coated in peanut butter with a fruit center. The Twisted Laurel restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner, as well as fresh craft cocktails, dozens of beers on tap, and an extensive wine selection that can all be enjoyed either inside in their spacious dining room or outside on their dog-friendly patio adjacent to Pack Square Park.

If you are not up for lunch or dinner with your canine companion, check out the Battery Park Book Exchange in Asheville’s Grove Arcade. You and Fido can browse their 22,000 new and used books, or just head to the Champagne bar and order a glass of wine, a pint of beer, or an espresso paired with a cheese and sausage plate, a smoked trout dip, or a dessert to nibble on while you read. While you must pay for your drinks and snacks, your dog gets to eat and drink for free. It is a great place to spend an afternoon sipping and reading with your pet or for taking a short break from shopping.

Asheville boasts 81 other dog-friendly activities. For a list, including plenty of dog parks, go to the Bring Fido website for Asheville (https://www.bringfido.com/destination/city/asheville_nc_us/).

And, of course, if you are visiting Asheville with your four-legged friend, you will want to book your stay in Applewood Manor’s Cortland Cottage. The Cortland Cottage suite is separate from the main manor house, only a short 30 feet away and with its own private parking spot. Well-behaved pets are welcome in this suite for an additional fee, and the Manor’s beloved French Bulldogs, Cleopatra, and Pearl will be delighted to visit and play with your companion.