Taxi, charging the surf at Dog Beach in Pasadena, Maryland
Now that I am a dog owner, I hang out at dog parks daily, and have been hearing much about the “Dog Beach” in Maryland. It was described to me as a canine oasis on the Eastern Shore where dog, sand, and sun can come together in an untethered paradise of play and pooches. I was really looking forward to this journey, and so, got some travel gear for dogs from Dog Gear.
Enchanted with the vision of a broad, flat beach where our dog Taxi could dash for balls and splash in the surf, Amy and I headed to Dog Beach, better known as Down’s Park in Pasadena, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. There our beloved Taxi sure found joy in the surf.
In the photo above, we have Taxi charging the knee-high waves in an attempt to eat all the bay’s foam. Yeah, she never did that, but did drink enough saltwater to give us a few liquid “surprises” over the next several hours. The beach itself offered us its own surprise too.
Be warned that Dog Beach is tiny – note the chain-link fenced end
Dog Beach is tiny! At less than 50 feet long from rocks to fence and less than 20 feet from knee-high waves to overhead-high weeds, its about the size of my back yard in DC. So for one dog on a random Wednesday, it was enough space. But for a pack of dogs on a busy weekend? Count me out.
Worse, you could not wade or swim at Dog Beach. Part for health reasons, poop floats remember, but also because the bay floor is sharp rocks and rubble past the little waves. I found this out the hard, painful way. Also, this tiny sliver of sand is apparently the only beach at Down’s Park. Its mainly a camping and picnic area with picnic table areas for rent at $125+ per day. Just to enter Down’s Park its a $5 per car fee.
Had we not combined Dog Beach with lunch in Annapolis, I would’ve felt the drive wasted. Taxi is happy, yes, but I could have more fun for less cost at Little Rascals.
wow thanks for the info. I’ve never been but I’ve considered getting a zipcar to take my puppy out there! Now I won’t bother.
There is a nice dog beach at Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis. It is on the South River, and has no chain link fence. It isn’t huge, but sounds larger than the place you are describing. The park itself is large, with many hiking trails along the water, and dogs are welcome on leash everywhere else. I have taken my Jack there a few times, he loves it…minus the “River Butt” of course.
That first shot of Taxi is great, Wayan.
Indeed. That is a happy puppy.
Meaghan,
The Quiet Waters Park sounds similar in size – small. I was hoping for a big off leash run, like a full on beach. Or at least off leash in the park. Guess I’ll keep taking Taxi to a local school instead.
And yeah, she was damn happy jumping into the waves. Drank herself sick with all the salt water too.
Pasadena is on the WESTERN shore of the Chesapeake. To get to the Eastern Shore you have to cross the Bay Bridge.