Fireworks, Lake Views, and Sandy Paws

Chicago on the 4th of July is exactly what you’d expect — crowded, loud, spectacular — and it turns out it’s also one of the better cities to bring a dog for the holiday. We went this week not entirely sure how dog-friendly a big holiday weekend would actually feel in practice. The answer: very.

Here’s how we spent it.

Where We Stayed: The Wade

The Wade sits right on Lakeshore Drive, across from Navy Pier — which sounds like a nice location detail until you realize it means you can watch the Navy Pier Summer Fireworks from your hotel room. That was not a small thing.

For traveling with a dog, the location is genuinely practical: grassy areas for relief breaks are close by, and just steps from the hotel there’s a pedestrian tunnel that leads directly to Jane Addams Memorial Park, the Lakefront Trail, and Ohio Street Beach. We used that tunnel constantly. It felt like a shortcut the rest of the city didn’t know about.

Two things worth knowing before you book: the hotel restaurant and bar are closed at lunch, so plan around that for midday. And the elevator situation — there aren’t quite enough of them for the number of guests, which means wait times during busy periods. Luna and I had a few long lobbying sessions on the ground floor. She handled them with more patience than I did.

For the views, the fireworks access, and the easy dog logistics, though? We’d stay here again.

Lakeside Lunch: Caffè Oliva

From The Wade, the walk to Caffè Oliva at Ohio Street Beach is short — through the pedestrian tunnel, along the Lakefront Trail, and you’re there. It’s the kind of spot that feels like a reward just for showing up: lake views, a breeze off the water, music in the background, and a staff that treats your dog like an actual guest.

Luna ordered the Gracie Burger off the dog menu, which she finished before I’d finished reading mine. I had the Hummus & Pita Platter — fresh, generous, exactly right for a hot day. The staff brought Luna a water bowl without being asked.

One important note: Caffè Oliva sits right on Ohio Street Beach, but Ohio Street Beach itself is not dog-friendly. Luna watched the water from the patio, which she accepted philosophically. The sunset over the lake from that patio is genuinely beautiful, so the trade-off isn’t bad.

The Main Event: Montrose Dog Beach

If there’s one reason to bring your dog to Chicago, this is it. Montrose Dog Beach was better than expected in every way that matters: the sand was clean and bright, the water was cold and clear blue (a genuine gift when it’s over 90 degrees out), and — this is not a given at public dog beaches — owners actually cleaned up after their dogs. The whole atmosphere was relaxed and genuinely enjoyable.

Luna ran off-leash, made a full roster of new friends, and swam until she was completely soaked and sandy and happy. When we were ready to leave, Mutt Jackson, a dog wash station right outside the beach area, was there to handle the aftermath before we headed back into the city. That detail alone is worth mentioning.

One important logistical note on the permit process: the Chicago Park District website describes a process that has changed. As of July 2025, here’s how it actually worked: call the Chicago Parks District directly, and they’ll mail you a form for your vet to fill out. You mail the form back with an $8 check, and they send Luna a blue tag for her collar. That’s it. The process on the website may be out of date, so call ahead to confirm current requirements before your visit.

A Few Stops Just for Me

While Luna recovered from her beach day back at the hotel, I made two solo detours that I’d recommend without hesitation — even though the second isn’t dog-friendly.

The Last Chapter Book Shop Chicago is exactly what it sounds like, and I spent more money there than I’ll admit publicly. Books, candles, bookish accessories — all of it. The shop leans into romance and fantasy, which is exactly my wheelhouse, and the curation is genuinely good. If you have any love for a well-stocked indie bookstore, budget some time here.

The other stop was the Harry Potter Shop Chicago, which I’d been curious about since it opened. As someone who grew up waiting for a Hogwarts letter, it delivered: house gear, accessories, wands you can browse by style and wood type, and the Butterbeer Bar inside the shop, where I had a Frozen Butterbeer that was excellent and entirely worth the line. Not dog-friendly, but worth the solo trip.

The Full Chicago 4th of July Itinerary at a Glance

By the time the fireworks went off over Navy Pier, Luna was asleep on the hotel couch and I was watching from the window with a very good view and no complaints. Chicago’s 4th of July is worth it — and with the right hotel and a permit for Montrose, it’s one of the better holiday weekends you can do with a dog. We’ve been back since — read about our stay at The Drake for another angle on the city.