Set in the shadow of magnificent Mount Diablo, dog-friendly Concord is an under-the-radar East Bay gem. Jazz musician Dave Brubeck was born here. The popular Iron Horse Regional Trail winds through town.
Dog-friendly hiking paths unfold in every direction, and a new passport program in place through June 30 spotlights a thriving regional craft beer scene. Stay for a day or spend the weekend. Either way, Visit Concord shares engaging itineraries and suggestions for families traveling with four-legged friends. Read more...
Like to hike? You’re in luck in the Trail Capital of California, as Redding has so aptly branded itself. The city boasts about 80 miles of trails within its city limits and hundreds more within a 20-mile radius of its core.
Trails are free to all, and most are dog-friendly, which means the whole family can explore together. Remember to pack your camera, a few snacks and plenty of water. Before you put paws to path, request a free trails brochure or check out the virtual guides online. And as always, pack it in, pack it out, and Leave Only Paw Prints™! Read more...
Fresh sea breezes. Fido-friendly paddling, pedaling and hiking. Local wine and produce plated hours after harvest. Simple suggestions for living well. Enjoy highlights like these at dog-passionate Stanford Inn by the Sea, a historic farm and eco-resort on the Mendocino coast. Tucked between old-growth trees and USDA-certified organic gardens, this dog-friendly destination weaves wellness, relaxation and only-in-California recreation into each stay. Here’s what to explore when you visit. Read more...
As the weather warms up, the great outdoors calls. With COVID restrictions lifted somewhat and more and more recreational sites opening up, there’s a feeling of freedom in the air. Your dog is sure to feel it, too. So what are you waiting for? Prepare ahead of time, pack up your tent, your hikers and your pup and get out there! Of course, be sure to Leave Only Paw Prints™ Read more...
DogTrekker.com's recent reader poll ranked hiking as the #1 activity that you want to experience at destinations you visit in 2021. In a recent blog, our friends at Visit Santa Cruz, who also get the same requests, put together a list of hikes in Santa Cruz County that will really get those tails wagging. Here are a few of our favs, with links to many more. . Read more...
After a year of color tiers and various stages of COVID lockdown, it’s time to get your dog show on the road. So, plan ahead using DogTrekker.com, make your reservations, download or update the DogTrekker mobile app, pack the leash, bowls, beds and whatever else your pup needs, and take off on a fun-filled road trip! Here are some of our favorites. Read more...
Spring is here and Yosemite and Mariposa County are ready for you. The National Park Service is working to increase access to the park on a phased approach. Reservations are not currently required to drive into Yosemite, but will be required beginning May 21.That means that if you are staying outside of the park, you will need an advance reservation; which begin on April 21. Here is the complete guide from our friends at Yosemite.com. Read more...
OK, enough already about the over-abundance of Zoom calls, meetings, appointments and conferences we’ve had to sit through this past year. The silver lining for those of with pets: we've had our furry critters by our sides during most of the year! Read more...
Wow, has it been a year already since COVID-19 came along and “shelter in place” orders and mask mandates were issued to keep us safe? A lot more is known now than then, and the bright side, as we wait for vaccinations and the gradual lifting of restrictions, is that we’re a lot more free to get out and about with our canine companions. Here are some suggestions for dog-friendly hikes this spring. Read more...
Sacramento’s restaurant scene, if not in full bloom, is at least budding again. No, you can’t yet eat indoors, but heated dining tents and patios have sprung up all over town, and with stay-at-home orders lifted and the weather generally mild, people (some accompanied by their dogs) are eating out again—socially distanced, of course. Here’s a sampling of some of our favorites. Pay them a visit with your pup and help save SAC restaurants! Read more...
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We all agree 2020 was a very tough year for travel, but there were a few bright spots. After working with many local health and other park jurisdictions in the South Lake Tahoe area, Wild Blue Dogs was given the go-ahead for their fall 2020 camp. Actually, the camp turned out to be the only operational Dog Camp in the USA. Utilizing the most advanced cleaning techniques and social distancing protocols, the camp did not have a single reported illness. Read more...
Woof-woof hooray! With Governor Newsom’s recent lifting of stay-at-home orders, California has recovered some of its dog-friendly mojo. While many COVID-19 restrictions are still in place (don’t take that mask off yet and stay safer at 6 feet), we can dine outdoors again (with our pups) and enjoy many aspects of the outdoors. Here’s a look at some possibilities for the month of February. Read more...
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All Donations Now Matched at Muttville! So many dogs are suffering and need your help right now. Some are the casualties of unavoidable tragedy – people who have lost homes, gotten sick, or died. Some are victims of neglect. No matter why a senior dog ends up in a shelter, their chances of ever getting out are not good. No matter how wonderful, senior dogs rarely make it out of shelters alive. Read more.
DogTrekker has long promoted nearly 300 Napa Valley dog-friendly hotels, restaurants, wineries, attractions, and local services. As part of our mission to provide local and accurate listings, engaging travel content, and support for animal welfare organizations, we regularly feature a number of Napa Valley adoption, rescue, and shelter services, all that need financial assistance on an ongoing basis.
This year we are pleased to recommend CanDo's Napa Valley Give!Guide 2020 that supports a culture of year-end giving. This guide raises awareness of 57 local non-profits, both animal welfare-related and community-focused organizations. Over 2.3 million dollars has been raised through the guide in the past seven years by providing easy one-stop giving to these groups. Read more...
Yellow, orange, red or purple? Keeping up with ever-changing pandemic color codes and associated restrictions can be confusing, but your dog doesn’t care: She just wants to be with you, whether for an hour, a weekend or more. In Northern California, we have limitless options for safe, dog-friendly getaways. So leash up, keep an eye on the rules, get out and enjoy our big Bay Area backyard. Read more...
Photo: Lauren Burtz
Autumn is in full swing in Mariposa County, home of Yosemite National Park. The great news for DogTrekkers is that the park is open and the vehicle reservations required during the pandemic are no longer needed as of November 1. Read more...
October is DogTrekker.com’s official winery month, covering not only the “usual suspects” around the Bay Area, but smaller, more out-of-the-way destinations you may not have heard of or explored. The California wine community is taking extra precautions this year to keep visitors, residents, employees and their families safe and healthy during the pandemic.
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The change of seasons brings shorter days—and, perhaps, a sense of urgency to score a little “away” time following six months of pandemic travel restriction. What better place than Santa Cruz? Fresh air, pounding surf and dog-friendly activities abound. Read more...
For avid DogTrekkers, late summer and early fall have been difficult, to say the least. Coming on the heels of the ongoing pandemic, fires throughout the state have impacted many Californians with some of the worst air quality in the world! Read more...
By now we all know the COVID-19 drill: Mask up, wash your hands, maintain at least 6 feet of social distance, etc. But with summer in full flush, DogTrekkers are getting restless. And so, after months of staying close to home, it’s time to hatch, of course with caution! Gold Country welcomes responsible visitors, dogs included. Here’s a sampling of places to go and things to do during the time of COVID-19 in California’s Gold Country, An Amazing American Road Trip! Read more...
DogTrekkers are a giving bunch as witnessed by their support for the adoption/rescue community through donations, volunteering and attendance at adoptathons and other special events during the year. Unfortunately, during the pandemic, many of these events have had to be canceled or postponed. The good news, and for now the new normal, is that many organizations have moved to staging virtual events. Here are some upcoming fundraisers DogTrekker recommends, virtually. Read more...
As Californians begin hatching from months of staying at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the itch to travel (safely) is growing stronger. Mendocino County is one destination that’s cautiously reopening to visitors. Their “Clean and Safe” commitment (download #SafeMendocino Visitor Guide) is geared to responsible travelers—including those accompanied by four-legged friends—who long to connect with nature, scenery and fresh, clean air. Read more...
We all know that Yosemite National Park is a great destination for you and your dog to visit, but an even better destination is Mariposa County, the home to Yosemite National Park. Read more...
Ready to get paws outta Dodge? You’ll find a multi-faceted, drive-distance gem in the East Bay in the community of Concord, which is slowly and safely reopening to visitors after months in various phases of lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Visit this Mount Diablo Region town for a day or come for a weekend; either way, you’ll find a variety of places and spaces to explore, with the safety of visitors and locals a top priority everywhere. Read more...
Summer is here and as California begins to open up its coastal beaches, state and local officials urge all visitors to continue to practice social distancing to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 for you, your family and the dedicated park staff that is working hard to provide us with these important outdoor experiences. Read more...
After almost four months in lockdown, Californians are ready to roam—and Redding, nucleus of the eight-county Shasta Cascade Region, is ready to welcome DogTrekking visitors back. Wide-open spaces and clean air await, and dog-friendly businesses are open with new sets of procedures aimed at keeping customers safe. From scenic trails and gushing waterfalls to comfy lodging and gorgeous lakes, it's all waiting for you and yours to put paws to path! Read more...