Roam: Hearty eats and great outdoor seats in Kansas City

Kansas City—is this one of the first places to come to mind when envisioning your next trip with Fido? If not, it should be. Travel deep within the US, to discover this land of pet friendliness. You’ll find a diverse food scene, swanky hotels, and lot of outdoor recreational space—all ready to accommodate dogs as well.

Hearty Eats and Great Outdoor Seats

Kansas City’s food scene features trendy, hearty and fresh dishes waiting to fill your rumbling belly. Dozens of restaurants ensure dog parents don’t have to pass up their establishment.

Happy Gillis has a great outdoor patio that allows pet parents and pups to enjoy the warmth of the summer, along with mouthwatering brunch style dishes, from their biscuits and gravy to refreshing salads.

Ollie’s Local is a Kansas City staple for those looking to indulge in classic American fare, from artisan style burgers, to grilled cheeses made with an impressive assortment of gooiness. Hungry yet? Outside resides a generous number of tables for families who want to bring their dog along, making for an overall enjoyable night out.

Il Lazzarone is more than just pizza, it’s a place where you can sink your teeth into real, Italian pies with fresh mozzarella, aromatic herbs and that undeniably perfect foldable dough. So if only pizza will do, they’ve got you, and your sweet baby, by providing a welcoming outdoor patio space.

Hi-Dive Lounge fulfills the craving for something satisfying, whether it be their tender meatloaf, which pairs excellently with a variety of brews, or a vibrantly flavored taco. Pups are treated like family, except they have to stay outside. But the patio provides pure comfort through the spring, summer and early fall, and your baby will get plenty of water and even a snack.

Snuggle Time

More than 80 hotels in the city allow furry friends, with some having higher ratings than others. These stand out among reviewers.

Sheraton Suites Country Club Plaza provides luxurious accommodations for humans, which dogs can enjoy as well, for a fee of course. Dog parents rate the property highly, and particularly love the pet relief station complete with disposal supplies.

Homewood Suites Kansas City Airport may be a short distance from downtown, but the warm welcome for Fido, and the very reasonable pricing, make this selection a big win. Breakfast is delicious as well.

Intercontinental Kansas City allows pets to stay for a modest fee, and well-behaved ones can be left unattended. Potty time is a breeze at the various relief spaces, and dog parks are a short walk from the location.

Plenty of Green Spaces to Stretch Those Legs

The Trolley Track Trail is a part of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy initiative, that’s turning old tracks into super cool recreational paths. A selection of interconnecting trails is available for tranquil walks and moderate exercise, with different routes each providing a different experience.

Everything compiles into one at Longview Lake Park. Dogs must be on leash and cannot go into the water, but can certainly be a part of other fun activities. Folks come to fish, pedal the bike trails and escape the bustle via a few nights of camping.

Swope Park offers an off-leash area where your pup can really get a good run in. Five acres of adventure await, and the necessities are there to make things simple, like water fountains and disposal receptacles. Swope also features human play space as well, from tennis courts to concert venues.

Maybe you’re coming to Kansas City to see family, or to work. Or perhaps you see the trendy offerings that too often go unnoticed. Now you have some guidelines to kick off a successful visit with your four-legged baby.

Karyn Wofford is a “Mom” to her fluffy, sweet dog Halli. She spends much of her time traveling and advocating for Type 1 diabetes—and Halli sometimes accompanies her on her adventures. You’ll find Karyn’s work on sites like Mother Earth Living, and in magazines such as Diabetes Forecast.