Newsletter Archives

Welcome to dog-friendly San Luis Obispo County on California's beautiful Central Coast. A rural county with all the amenities of its more urban neighbors, "SLO" boasts a way of life that is also a state of mind. When inSLO, dogs and their families can hike, dine and romp in relaxed environments far from big-city crowds. Join us in celebrating the newest dog-friendly region to make its debut on DogTrekker.com.   more »

Spring break doesn’t have to be all about beaches. Late March and early April is when snow country winds down for the season, gardens burst into bloom and vineyards glow a luminous lime-green. Whether you stick to the lowlands or head up to the mountains, it’s a great time to go exploring with your four-legged friends.   more »

Think of Yosemite, and the famous national park comes immediately to mind. Yet the rugged Sierra Nevada landscapes that characterize the park don’t suddenly stop at its boundaries. The Yosemite Region, which includes parts of four counties, is also notable for food, wine, history, outdoor recreation, quirky mountain towns, scenic drives and unsung treasures. Here are some of our favorite ways to play along the four main highway corridors leading into the park.   more »

Spring hikes are nice no matter what the destination, but there’s something about a waterfall that acts like a magnet to pull you and your dog down the trail. From now into May, as snowmelt swells Northern California streams, is the time to put paws to the path and seek out a gusher.   more »

Look around Marin County , and much of what you see is open space-hills and more hills, rugged headlands, vistas that belie the fact that this is also part of the heavily populated Bay Area. Residents of this environmentally focused region have fought hard for many decades to keep Marin green, and in the process, the county also has remained amazingly dog-friendly. From the redwood forests to the ocean beaches, this land is custom-made for visitors with four-legged friends.   more »

It's almost February, time to sniff out a Valentine's love nest, just for the three of you, dog included. (Come on, you wouldn't leave your best friend at home just because she has four legs...) Take our word for it: your dog would prefer an overnight outing to anything that comes in a heart-shaped box. And we can’t think of any better way to be zinged by Cupid than snuggling up in a cozy cabin and exploring someplace new.   more »

Northern California in January is as green as the rest of the country is brown, and crisp weather makes it an ideal time for hiking in the undulating hills that define our topography. Don’t wait for spring: Pull on your hiking boots, usher Rover to the car and explore some of the 112,000-plus acres of open space preserved as part of the East Bay Regional Park District.   more »

Ho ho ho! It’s a stellar snow year at Lake Tahoe, and you and your four-legged sidekick don’t want to miss out on visiting a true winter wonderland. So don’t let the season pass you by: winterize your car and your dog and make plans to head up the hill soon for some tail-waggin’ fun.   more »

It's been a doggone good year, if we do say so ourselves. DogTrekker, the newsletter, marked its second birthday in October, and along the way added several new features to help your four-legged friends explore Northern California with their humans. Please join us in a little tail-wagging as we review some of our favorite finds, tips and developments of the year.   more »

Coast redwoods, tallest trees on Earth, are the enduring symbol of Humboldt County. And if you look, listen and use your imagination, you and your four-legged friend might just spot (or smell) Bigfoot crashing through undergrowth of ferns that surround the giants of the forest. This is rural and very scenic country with hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands where leashes are the exception, not the rule. Start with our suggestions, carry a camera and let serendipity be your guide.   more »