Kayla is DogTrekker's 9-year old Yellow Labrador 'Research Lab'. She follows in a long line of Kendrick family researchers that are truly the inspiration for dogtrekker.com. Kayla, better known as K.K., has traveled the state, and beyond, and given her bark of approval to dog friendly hotels, restaurants, beaches, lakes, wineries, boats, trains, stores, ballparks and much more. Here are her favorite '4-paws up' experiences in Northern California as determined by her wags/minute and smiles/mile.
Kayla loves this Subaru spot, the story of a doggie camping trip . . .
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One of Kayla's favorite things to do is explore the many, many hikes within the Marin County Open Space District (MCOSD). It is one of the few truly dog-friendly places she is able to run free on the fire protection roads. The MCOSD hike that seems to get both Kayla (a.k.a. kk) and her uprights excited is the Blithedale Summit, accessible from two different trailheads minutes from downtown Mill Valley. This trip, kk entered the Blithedale Summit East trailhead for a comfortable hike up towards the great sleeping lady of Marin, Mount Tam. more »
Kayla, Dog
Trekker’s Research Lab, took her first DogTrek of the year on New Year’s Day hiking with buddy Kiya along the actual Emigrant Trail. After following the Old Reno Road (just outside of Truckee) for a few miles, the two pups and their uprights appropriately turned onto Dog Valley Road for their hour and a half jaunt. more »
Kayla is definitely a road-warrior. Say wanna go for a ride? – her ears are up, tail is wagging, leash is in her mouth, she’s in the car, and it’s full-sniff ahead. One of her favorite road trips is the Shasta Cascade region of Northern California, which actually covers about 20 percent of California. Back-country dog-friendly trails, lakes and rivers abound, as do dog-friendly accommodations. more »
While oysters are perhaps the most visible crop in this West Marin coastal community, Marshall is where Marin’s dairy industry began in 1852. Marshall is not only the launching point for some of Kayla’s favorite beaches (Limantour Beach near Point Reyes Station), it’s also the home of the very pet-friendly Nick’s Cove. more »
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 »
Kayla’s first real beach experience was with Coco, her big sister and water-mentor. Coco was the typical water-crazy lab who would search out and lay in even the tiniest amount of water. On the dog-welcoming, leash-free, family-friendly Carmel Beach, she showed Kayla how to crash the surf, find sticks, jump for Frisbees and of course, roll in the sand. more »