Summer in Stillwater, Minnesota (dog-friendly)
St. Croix River Walk
There is nothing better than summer days & nights in Minnesota! Stillwater, MN is on the St. Croix River on the border of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Stillwater is an incredibly cute small town just 35 minutes from downtown Minneapolis. Stillwater is one of my favorite places to visit in the surrounding twin cities area and it is super dog friendly. Stillwater could make a great day trip from the twin cities or a fun overnight destination. Here are some things to check out on your next visit to Stillwater!
Accommodation
If you are traveling to Stillwater with or without a dog the Lora Hotel is the place to stay. It is a boutique hotel at the edge of town that has been completely remodeled. The aesthetic is clean and modern. They go above and beyond with their dog service. They provided a dog bed, treats, a bowl, and doggy bags. The staff is amiable and a fantastic restaurant, cocktail bar, and coffee shop are attached. The restaurant, Feller, has a nice dog-friendly patio. The menu is smaller but I was able to find nice vegetarian options. The coffee shop, Made Coffee, allows dogs and also has fresh pressed juice and pastries. Made Coffee takes photos and creates a “dogs who visited” bio book. Look for Monty in the book! If you are a cocktail lover you have to check out The Long Goodbye next door to the restaurant. the Lora Hotel was such a relaxing spot and I highly recommend it!
Things to Do
Check out the historic Lift Bridge! In the summer the lift bridge lifts every 30 minutes to let taller boats go through. It is neat to watch it go up and you can stand fairly close to it while it lifts. You can also walk across the bridge into Wisconsin. I recommend grabbing an ice cream from MN Nice Cream and then enjoying the sunset while walking across the bridge admiring the St. Croix River and all the boats. MN Nice ice cream has lactose-free and vegan options!
Stillwater makes it easy to get out on the water. Stillwater River Cruises has several different options for cruises to take out on the St. Croix. You can also go the romantic route and book a private gondola cruise with Gondola Romantica!
Right within Stillwater you can get on Brown’s Creek State Trail. This trail is great for walking the dog, running, or going on a long bike ride. It connects to the Gateway Trail which can connect you ALL over the twin cities area.
Stillwater has so many cute shops and almost all of them are dog friendly! I highly recommend popping in Sota Clothing to grab something Minnesota! Right next store is Unpaved Athleisure which has more upscale casual clothes perfect for lake days. All the stores we went into offered Monty treats and pets!
If you have been swept up in the pickleball craze, you will want to bring your paddles because Stillwater’s Northland Park has some of the nicest pickleball courts I have played on. Some courts have umbrellas for shade too.
There are several places to access water around Stillwater. If you want to take a dip in the St. Croix River I recommend crossing into Wisconsin and heading to Brown’s Beach. It is about a 15-minute drive from downtown Stillwater and dog friendly! The water is also calmer in this area. Hudson is a super fun town to explore too if you have the time! Lake Elmo is another great option for swimming, boating, or paddling. It is a 15-minute drive from Stillwater and there is a $7 fee to enter the park. Dogs are not allowed on the swimming beach but we took Monty out on our paddleboards and he was allowed there!
Lastly, If you have little ones you will want to visit Teddy Bear Park. It is a cute park on top of the hill right above downtown with a playground and a big teddy bear.
Places to Eat
The Oasis Café - They have a dog-friendly patio and the yummiest cheese curds! I also loved the veggie burger they serve.
Mon Petit Cheri - Hands down the best breakfast/lunch in Stillwater. I love their veggie quiche and the pastries are heavenly. If you are working remotely and need a place to plug in for a while there is a fantastic coworking space right above here. It is called Lift Bridge Cowork. A day pass is $35. Unfortunately, neither of these places is dog friendly.
The Wild Hare - All-around great food and tons of vegetarian options. Their patio is dog friendly.
The Tilted Tiki Tropical Bar & Restaurant - Who doesn’t love a tiki bar & grill? This place has tropical drinks that come in funky glasses. In the summer they frequently have live music on the patio. They have a dog-friendly patio and several vegetarian dishes to choose from.
Drinks & Nightlife
P.D. Pappy’s - Right on the water and has a great dog-friendly patio. You will find lots of locals and bikers who frequent this bar. They also regularly have live music and in the summer open the huge windows/doors so you can sit outside and watch the show.
No Neck Tony’s - Such a fun “dive bar” vibe. They have good drinks, games, pull tabs, and really nice staff. The Stillwater location doesn’t really have a dog-friendly patio so it is best to check this place out later at night without the pup.
River Siren Brewery - Wonderful dog-friendly patio with lots of beers (&other options) to choose from. You can bring your own food or there are usually food trucks. Get the flight that is in the shape of the Minnesota state line!
I hope you enjoy your time in Stillwater! Comment below on other recommendations you would add to this list for me to check out!
