Due to leash laws and owners’ fears of mauling-induced lawsuits, urban dogs don’t get to run wild except at boring old dog parks. While most of these are just fenced-in areas, not unlike someone’s backyard, Honeymoon Island’s dog beach, northwest of Dunedin, is an actual stretch of sand on the Gulf of Mexico. The large area provides plenty of energy-burning running room, and it is far enough from the parking lot that a dog owner could corral a pooch on the lam before it runs into the road and gets squished. This puppy playground gives doting dog owners the warm-and-fuzzies when they see how much fun their pet has by being completely free for a little while. Just make sure you bring plenty of bug spray. One Causeway Blvd., Dunedin, 727-469-5942, floridastateparks.org/honeymoonisland/
This article appears in Sep 10-16, 2008.
