Patios that put out a water bowl without being asked. Trails that don't require leashes when nobody's looking. Breweries with a yard. Beaches off-season.
Indian River's own brewery, pouring an ESB and a dark ale that show up in most local recommendations, with food trucks parked outside covering the kitchen the brewery doesn't have. Live music runs summer weekends; board games take over in winter. Kid- and dog-friendly on the patio. Closed Monday and Tuesday; open from 2 midweek, noon on Friday and Saturday.
A winery on M-68 east of downtown, dog-friendly, pouring its own Lake House wine alongside a sangria that gets more mentions in reviews than anything else on the list. It sits on the route out toward Cross in the Woods and the drive to Lake Huron, a reasonable stop before or after either. Open from 11 most days, until 9 on Thursdays, shorter hours on Sunday.
Established in 1921 on the lake's southeast corner — 2,000 feet of sand beach so shallow it stays three feet deep a hundred yards out, which makes it the easier swim than the open lake past the drop-off. The campground spreads across several loops between the beach and the woods; ask for a water-view site if a boat's coming along. A separate dog beach sits on the park's south end. Boat launch on site; Recreation Passport required.