Mendocino County
Mendocino County is one of the most dog-friendly destinations on Earth, a place you where you and your canine pal can find respite at cozy B&Bs, luxury resorts and everything in between, including a wide variety of vacation rentals. Many lodgings offer dog beds, towels for sandy paws, bowls, organic and locally made treats, and special canine welcome kits.
Wine tasting in Mendocino County with a pooch in tow is an unexpected pleasure. The rule here is to ask first, but since most wineries in the county are small and family-owned, tasting is often gratis and pets generally are considered part of the family.
Most of Mendocino's beaches have a six-foot-leash policy, but if off-leash is what you crave, hit Noyo Harbor Beach in Fort Bragg. There, thanks to cooperation between the City of Fort Bragg and the Mendocino Coast Dog Owners Group (MCDOG), your best friend can romp and roll in the sand unencumbered.
There’s much more to experience with your four-legged companion in this North Coast wonderland. We’re here to show you some of our favorite places.
While Carmel has the well-earned reputation as the dog-friendly capital of the world, Mendocino is certainly nipping at her heels. In Dog Fancy Magazine’s 2010 Top-40 dog-friendly towns in the country, Mendocino Coast’s Fort Bragg came in at number 5. Kayla has always found Mendocino to be welcoming towards 4-legged critters. more »
You won’t find a more eclectic collection of canoes and kayaks than at Catch-A-Canoe, which has been outfitting paddlers on the eight-mile-long Big River estuary near Mendocino since 1972. Well behaved dogs of all makes and models are welcome to ride along and enjoy the scenery in surrounding Big River State Park.
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There are many places to chase waves with your pooch along the gorgeous Mendocino coastline. Most enforce a six-foot leash policy, but at Noyo Beach near Fort Bragg, it’s legal to unclip Fido from his noose and watch him romp free.
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If there's one destination in Northern California that really rolls out the red carpet for your pooch, it's Mendocino County. You'll find dozens of hotels, motels, inns, B&B's and cottages that will welcome you and your pup with open arms, treats and amenities. For more on accommodations, check out the Visit Mendocino lodging page and search "Pet Friendly." In addition to great places to stay, many winery tasting rooms welcome canine companions with water, treats and a place to curl up by the bar.
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In previous issues, we've explored many facets of Sonoma and Mendocino counties, and we'll be back with more. For this trip, we're cruising through Bodega Bay, Jenner, Mendocino town and Fort Bragg and taking our first big break in Leggett, where Highways 1 and 101 merge and the Redwood Coast begins. more »