Fear not when traveling with your furry four-legged friend. They're welcome at plenty of places in the Greater Providence area.

As the weather warms up, lots of Providence restaurants extend their footprint by offering outdoor dining on their patios and sidewalks. From Angelo's on Federal Hill and Nicks on Broadway on the West Side, to downtown's Parkside Rotisserie & Bar and Hemenway's, dogs and diners are free to share a delicious al fresco meal.

Some of the city's many breweries are also dog-friendly, including Union Station Brewery, located in the heart of downtown, and Narragansett Brewery, which is across the street from India Point Park. Narragansett not only offers a dog-friendly patio but also incredible fresh-baked flatbreads and pretzels.

Cranston's Garden City Center is packed with plenty of retail and dining options in an open-air mall setting. Nearly two dozen stores are pet friendly, as indicated by decals on their storefronts, while Bistro 22 and Chaska allow dogs to join diners on their patios.

Back in the capital city, head over to the Providence Flea on South Water Street near the Pedestrian Bridge every Sunday from June through September and browse unique wares from dozens of carefully selected vendors with your pet in tow.

You might be surprised at some of the other fun adventures you and your doggo can have in the city. For your bibliophile canine, Books on the Square welcomes leashed pups as you browse their ever-growing shelves, while the Providence Athenaeum keeps a special stash of treats at the circulation desk. If you're feeling adventurous, climb into a kayak from Providence Kayak Company or enjoy a ride with La Gondola and explore the city from the Providence River with your furry first mate.

When you and Fido are ready to call it a night, don't settle for any ol' doggy bed. Aloft Providence Downtown offers all the comforts of home with their Animals R Fun (ARF) package, including a bowl, picker-upper bags, treats, toys and a bed. As an added bonus, proceeds from the ARF package benefit the Providence Animal Rescue League. Not to be outdone, The Beatrice offers a Pampered Pup package with an in-room dog bed and bowl plus tasty treats from Jack's Snacks.

This is just a sampling of the Providence area's pet-friendly businesses. Remember, it's always best to check with individual businesses ahead of time before bringing along your pooch or any other critter.