The California coast is nothing if not moody in late fall and early winter. Calm, crystal-clear days are interspersed with blustery gray ones, so it’s best to prepare for all possibilities. DogTrekkers who prefer cabin or cottage accommodations to standard hotels and motels will find a staggering selection of dog-friendly options along the coast.
In Mendocino County, Andiron Seaside Inn & Cabins in Little River is a collection of 11 one- and two-room units decorated in 1950s themes and endowed with ocean views and a soundtrack to match. Howard Creek Ranch Inn is a registered historical site with a farmhouse built in 1871, a string of ocean-view cottages decorated with antiques, 60 acres of grounds to romp on and a dog-friendly beach to top it off. Want to surprise your sweetheart with an out-of-the-ordinary overnight stay? Dog-friendly West Cottage on the grounds of Point Cabrillo Light Station, a picturesque lighthouse and associated buildings dating from 1909, is available as a romantic vacation rental.
The Monterey Peninsula is another great dog-friendly getaway destination. Our favorite coastal-cabin hideouts start with a string of 1940s and ’50s-era cottage motels—Sea Breeze Inn & Cottages, Andril Fireplace Cottages and Bide-A-Wee Inn & Cottages—in the seaside town of Pacific Grove. All are fixed up for the 21st century and situated within walking distance of dog-friendly Asilomar Beach and a gorgeous trail hugging the dramatic and much-photographed coastline. Just down the road in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Forest Lodge, Carmel Resort Inn Cottages and Carmel River Inn are just three of many cottage-style inns that welcome dogs accompanied by their well-behaved people.
In San Luis Obispo County at the southern end of Big Sur, pet-friendly vacation rentals are the way for cottage-seekers to go. Check with the property management companies listed in our SLO pages to find the property that suits your budget, location and style.
