Next time your Newfoundland is in New Britain, pay a visit to Connecticut’s most dog-friendly brewery, Alvarium Beer Co. This spacious spot was the talk of the town in 2017 when it became the first brewery to open in the city in over 90 years. Your best friend is welcome to keep you company inside and might even charm his way into being featured on the brewery’s dedicated doggy Instagram page, Dogs of Alvarium. If he’s particularly photogenic, he might even grace the pages of the annual canine calendar. In addition to Dogs of Alvarium stickers, swag on sale includes leashes and collars. Alvarium also hosts adoption drives to help hounds without a home to live “hoppily” ever after.

When you’re done drinking for the day, make your way to The Farmington Inn and wake up to a complimentary hot breakfast in the morning.

Leash up your pup and hike through pine, oak, and hickory trees along the Chatfield Hollow Brook at Chatfield Hollow State Park. Explore the jagged ledges and rock outcroppings within the park that were once home to Native Americans who used the area for hunting and fishing. Today, the most dog-friendly state park in Connecticut is a designated Trout Park and the perfect place to cast a line with your four-legged angler. While swimming isn’t allowed in the pond, there are plenty of streams where your pup can take a dip.

Put your paws up for the night at Sheraton Hartford South Hotel. You’ll be just a stone’s throw from the Rocky Hill Off-Leash Dog Park in case Fido has more energy to burn.

Pups have free reign to play all day at The Cascades at Lake Mohegan in the coastal city of Fairfield. Wiener dogs can wander the trails off leash, cool off in the lake, and meet other mutts at Connecticut’s most dog-friendly attraction. Hike or snowshoe around the easy Lake Mohegan Loop, then head to the waterfall and creek to dash and splash among the bedrock and take a picture on the bridge under the shady trees.

Spend a few nights with your best friend at the "Story-Book" Cottage near Lake Mohegan. This beautiful guesthouse has a pool for people and a lovely garden that your dog is free to explore.

Let Fido run leash-free on the sandy shores of the pet beach at Brialee RV & Tent Park, Connecticut’s most dog-friendly campground. He’ll have a ball splashing in the water, digging in the sand, and exploring the trails. Choose a tent or RV site nestled in the woods, or stay in one of two pet-friendly cabins. Bring your gear for catch-and-release fishing, or venture out to nearby Natchaug State Forest to hike with your pup. Check the campground’s weekend event calendar for Pet Adventure Days featuring a pet talent show, crafts, and more. Two pets of any size are permitted at campsites, and one pet of any size is welcome in the pet-friendly cabins for an additional fee of $25 per stay.

From a huge grassy field to a shallow stretch of river, ideal for an afternoon dip, Southbury Dog Park has something for all canines. Connecticut’s best dog park covers 14 acres of inviting countryside, including a smaller fenced area, two wooded trails, and tables and benches where you can enjoy a picnic with your pooch after a morning of fun. The river access within the park is both shallow and shady, which makes it “pawfect” for pups who love to spend long stretches in the water.

Finished for the day? Wind down at Wyndham Southbury, an affordable hotel with a grassy relief area and spacious pet-friendly rooms.

Connecticut’s most dog-friendly attraction, The Cascades at Lake Mohegan is also home to the state’s top trail to hike with your dog. Visitors can let Fido loose in the off-leash open space and tackle the loop trail that circles the lake, where he’s sure to make lots of new canine friends. This easy loop is just over two miles in total and makes a great hike for all levels of trekking Terriers.

If you want to stay in a comfortable vacation rental nearby, book this quaint house situated on a cliff. Inside, tile floors make for easy clean-up and there’s space outside for late-night walks.

The best pet-friendly B&B in Connecticut, Litchfield Inn is a pristine place for pups to hang their leash after a long day of exploring the pet-friendly Berkshires. Your King Charles Spaniel will receive the royal treatment in rooms equipped with hardwood floors and easy access to ten acres of green space and gardens. If you’re feeling hungry, make your way downtown to Market Place Tavern for dinner on the pet-friendly patio.

Litchfield Inn accepts pets of any size for an additional fee of $25 per pet, per night.

Bring your Wolfhound to Pucks & Paws Night at the XL Center to cheer on the Hartford Wolf Pack. At Connecticut’s can’t miss dog event, Fido can catch the action from the designated pet section, then help pick out a new brother or sister at the on-site pet adoption area. Pucks N’ Paws dates vary each year and typically take place in the spring and fall.

After the action, skate back to Residence Inn by Marriott Hartford Downtown for a cozy night in an affordable hotel.

If our Best of Connecticut preview left your dog drooling for more, we hope you check out our book - Ruff Guide to the United States. Remember to use gift code BEST to get a copy for just $10. Happy Travels!