u/Ok-Discount595

[Portsmouth, NH] We’ve traveled to many places across the U.S. and internationally with our 9-pound poodle, and we’ve never had an experience quite like this.
When we visited this town during the summer, we were surprised by how few places were dog-friendly. Most restaurants didn’t allow dogs—even on their outdoor patios—and many parks, including some state parks in New Hampshire, prohibited dogs altogether.
What made it even more frustrating was that AI and Google indicated these parks were dog-friendly. But when we arrived, there were large signs at the entrances clearly stating that dogs were not allowed.
There were only a handful of places—mostly bakeries—that welcomed dogs on their outdoor patios. Because of that, whenever we wanted to have a proper lunch or dinner, we had to walk to Kittery or drive to another town in Maine.
While I appreciate that many shops put out water bowls for dogs, it feels contradictory to be welcoming in small ways while banning dogs from parks and outdoor restaurant seating. For travelers with well-behaved dogs, it makes the area much less enjoyable and far less pet-friendly than expected.

We’ve traveled to many places across the U.S. and internationally with our 9-pound poodle, and we’ve never had an experience quite like this.
When we visited this town during the summer, we were surprised by how few places were dog-friendly. Most restaurants didn’t allow dogs—even on their outdoor patios—and many parks, including some state parks in New Hampshire, prohibited dogs altogether.
What made it even more frustrating was that AI and Google indicated these parks were dog-friendly. But when we arrived, there were large signs at the entrances clearly stating that dogs were not allowed.
There were only a handful of places—mostly bakeries—that welcomed dogs on their outdoor patios. Because of that, whenever we wanted to have a proper lunch or dinner, we had to walk to Kittery or drive to another town in Maine.
While I appreciate that many shops put out water bowls for dogs, it feels contradictory to be welcoming in small ways while banning dogs from parks and outdoor restaurant seating. For travelers with well-behaved dogs, it makes the area much less enjoyable and far less pet-friendly than expected.