Best Dog Friendly Vacations West Coast – In this post, I want to look at the most dog-friendly destinations in the West ~ with an emphasis on California and Oregon, two states that are easy to visit with pets (I know because I drive here all the time) ! In this state, I like to find places that are more dog-friendly: that is, big dog parks or dog-friendly beaches, great pet-friendly hotels, and laid-back city vibes that make it easy to bring your pet. And I found some interesting places like Bend, Oregon and Carmel, California…among many others. Join me and my dog Dylan in our quest for the “Best Dog Friendly Place on the West Coast!”
While my only dog-friendly beach in Oregon is Cannon Beach, please note that almost EVERY beach in Oregon is dog-friendly, with fewer rules and restrictions than California beaches! Translation: The Oregon Coast is PERFECT dog-friendly territory. Photo by Gold Beach, Oregon.
Best Dog Friendly Vacations West Coast
I love Cannon Beach for many reasons: charming town, dozens of great restaurants, COFFEE (Sleepy Monk!!), tons of popular pet friendly hotels, and of course the 100% pet friendly BEACH. friendly No chains needed here!! Oregon is more relaxed than California in this regard. And the view of Haystack Rock will amaze you, especially at sunset. Walk your dog along Ocean Avenue, grab a bowl of soup on one of the many indoor and outdoor patios, and be sure to stop by the adorable pet shop around the corner: Puppy Love by the Sea.
Ten Of Our Favorite Dog-friendly Hotels And Resorts In California
***My pick for the best pet friendly hotel in Cannon Beach is a tie between Ocean Lodge and Surfsand Resort. Both are upscale beachfront hotels and are very pet-friendly. Ocean Lodge rooms are bigger, have great views ~ but Surfsand is closer to town and Haystack Rock, rooms are more comfortable, and their Wayfarer restaurant is my favorite place in town (and offers room service)…
Bend is where I live in America right now, and I honestly don’t think I’ve ever lived anywhere more pet-friendly. Bend’s impressive number of dog parks alone puts California’s dog parks to shame, and nearly every restaurant in town with a patio is dog-friendly, including: McMenamin St. Francis School (it’s a pub, brewery, cinema, concert venue, cigar bar and hotel, all in a former Catholic school), Naked Winery, Avid Cider, Crux Brewing, 10 Barrel…& the list goes on…& ON.
Per capita, Bend has more dog-friendly parks, hotels and restaurants than any other city on this list! Dylan is pictured on the famous Deschutes River Trail in downtown Bend.
***My pick for the best pet-friendly hotel in Bend: Tetherow Golf Resort. In Tetherow, you have upscale golf resort living with beautiful mountain views ~ and you’re only a 5 minute drive from downtown Bend and the popular Old Mill area. This is the best pet-friendly place in town. Otherwise, head to Sunriver Resort, about 20 minutes south of Bend: one of the best family resorts in the US.
Where To Find Dog Friendly Beaches In San Diego
Carmel’s Main Beach is my favorite dog-friendly off-leash beach in the world: legendary Pebble Beach is on the right, and if you follow the crescent beach to the left, you’ll see million-dollar cypress trees lining you up . different types of homes…from funky cottage styles to statement and modern styles. There’s a reason Clint Eastwood lives here: there’s something special about Carmel.
And it’s a dog-friendly city: they’re welcome everywhere ~ but I love Forge in the Forest’s cozy outdoor patio with its dog-friendly menu…
Carmel isn’t the only place in Monterey Bay with amazing ocean views: head to Pacific Grove and walk along the beach for a view that…
***My top picks for dog-friendly hotels in Carmel: The Lodge and Pebble Beach. Yes dear~ but according to my parents and assistants, every room here is pet friendly! And you can bring any size dog. For a cheaper option in Carmel, try Doris Day’s Cypress Inn for Puppies.
Longport Dog Beach Nj
I grew up in Orange County and last week I met friends in Huntington Beach at the newly opened Pacific City Mall. When I came home for Christmas, Dylan was with me ~ which meant I had to take him to the mall… And I was surprised at how friendly the animals were! The upscale boutique invited us in, he had coffee with us, and we all had lunch on Simmy’s terrace overlooking the pier and ocean. I will be back soon! And there’s another reason to visit Huntington with your dog: It’s the ONLY off-leash beach in Orange County.
***My top pick for dog-friendly hotels in Huntington Beach: Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach. Kimptons is known for being stylish and always dog-friendly…they even offer a happy hour for dogs! This one in particular is also romantic, with an ocean view complemented by a light blue palette ~ and you’re only a block away from the pier, Main Street and the ocean. And Huntington Dog Beach is just a few miles north…
San Diego has not one, but two off-leash dog beaches, and both are in great neighborhoods: Del Mar and Coronado. Last year, Dylan and I tried the Del Mar dog beach, located south of Encinitas. Although not as big as Carmel Beach, it is still very beautiful. Dogs happily run in and out of the water, people are relaxed and friendly and parking is easy as the space is on the same street as the beach entrance. Coronado Dog Beach, with its pristine white sand, is located just a short walk from the pet-friendly historic Hotel Del Coronado.
Coronado Dog Beach is one of the best places to play with your pup on the sand in Southern California.
The Best Dog-friendly Walks In Ireland
***My top picks for dog-friendly hotels in San Diego: San Diego is big, so it all depends on where you want to go. For North County, try the upscale L’Auberge Del Mar, which accepts two dogs of any size. If you’re in the center of the Gaslamp, try the modern Hotel Indigo with its stylish rooftop bar. And if you want to be close to Coronado’s legendary dog beach, check into Hotel del Coronado ~ where three pet-friendly restaurants! (Dogs up to 40 lbs only at Del….)
That rounds out my picks for the best places on the West Coast to hang out with dogs! One thing I would like to add is that more and more travel articles I read lately seem to be written by A.I. or by unavailable editors who haven’t actually been to the places they recommend. Rest assured, every place on this list I visited last year, so my recommendations are up to date and designed for 2020 and beyond!
Every year since 2010 I have traveled between California and Oregon with Dylan ~ so all of these places are places I really visit and look forward to going back to every year. Looking for the best west coast road trip for dogs? As a dog mom who has traveled all over California with her furry munchkin, I’m here to tell you all the fun details about two of California’s most awesome and dog-friendly road trips that are sure to spice up your travel plans! This dog-friendly Northern California travel guide has tons of information on the best dog-friendly stops, hikes, beaches, restaurants, and accommodations—basically, anything you’re looking for when traveling with a dog .
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Is Catalina Island Dog-friendly? (+ Activities & Hotels)
If you’re a pet parent like me and swear by “dog travel,” one of the items on your bucket list should include at least one dog-friendly trip to Northern California. In over 10 years of traveling with Babu (our Tibetan Spaniel partner) all over Northern California (we live in San Francisco), we have taken several dog trips to San Francisco, two of which remain our favorites so far. This dog-friendly Northern California road trip is a clear winner thanks to several attractions and restaurants along the way that welcome your best friend.
Exploring California’s Coastal Redwoods in the north and the famous 17-mile loop in the south (between Carmel and Monterey) are two of the best west coast road trips with your dog you can have, especially in the winter. So, without further ado, here are the details of all the dog-friendly attractions, stops and spots on these two Northern California Pacific Coast road trips.
P.S. I’ve done my best to provide up-to-date information on accommodations with dogs based on my stays, but pet policies change frequently. Therefore, please call and confirm before booking.
1) It should be comfortable on the road with dogs! Traveling with dogs is not always easy, and
