Central Coast
Head out on The Original Road Trip and explore California’s Central Coast—350 miles of the world's most dramatic coastline. This incomparable region stretches from
Santa Cruz County, south of the San Francisco Bay Area, to Ventura County just north of Los Angeles. Along the way, you'll pass through Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.
Photo Credit: @johnalbertseed
• San Simeon Cove, San Luis Obispo County. Tucked beneath William Randolph Hearst’s famous castle, San Simeon Cove is a jewel of a place with emerald water and ample space for dogs to romp. Off-leash dogs aren’t allowed on adjacent Hearst Memorial State Beach, so if you want to unclip, simply walk a few hundred feet to the right of the pier where signs announced the beach boundary. more »
We found a cave! Photo Credit: @phantompoodleparti
• Mitchell’s Cove, Santa Cruz County. This pretty city beach just off West Cliff Drive allows leashed dogs at any time, while leash-free romping is permitted between sunrise and 10 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to sunset. more »
Photo Credit: @colby_1_kenobi
If pit toilets and DIY tent camping in general aren’t your style, you may find your bliss at one of California’s hundreds of private campgrounds. They range from family-friendly KOAs (Kampgrounds of America), with their swimming pools, playgrounds, camping cabins and dog parks; to luxury “glamping” resorts like AutoCamps in Guerneville and Santa Barbara, where DogTrekkers can overnight in shiny Airstream trailers. And there are many choices in between. more »
Bonny Doon Vineyard
Photo Credit: @bonnydoonvineyard
First-time visitors to Santa Cruz County usually have beaches in mind. But once they discover wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation, one of the oldest in the state and known primarily for pinot noir and chardonnay, they’ll be herding their four-legged buddies into some of the dozens upon dozens of winery tasting rooms sprinkled throughout the county. DogTrekker.com has rounded many of them up in a wine-trail itinerary heading north to south on Highway 1. more »
Photo Credit: @mrkobeandme
Follow the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) along the Santa Cruz County coastline, and you’ll be tempted by 29 miles of beaches (15 of them dog-friendly) along the way. Only one, Mitchell’s Cove, is legally leash-free, and then only before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. But no worries: there are plenty of other strands to explore provided you keep a tether stretched between you. more »
Dog Travel Events
Mount Hermon
Uncle Ro's Pizza Pairing Party
September 21, 2018 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
450 Highway 1, Mount Hermon, California 95041
Map & directions
Aptos
2018 Harvest, Hops & Hounds!
September 22, 2018 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
8022 Soquel Dr., Aptos, California 95003
Map & directions
Mount Hermon
Uncle Ro's Pizza Pairing Party
September 28, 2018 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
450 Highway 1, Mount Hermon, California 95041
Map & directions
Mount Hermon
Uncle Ro's Pizza Pairing Party
October 5, 2018 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
450 Highway 1, Mount Hermon, California 95041
Map & directions
Emergency Services
Santa Maria Animal Center - Lost Dogs
548 W. Foster Rd.
Santa Maria, California 93455
Phone: (805) 934-6119
VCA Care Specialty and Emergency Animal Hospital in Santa Barbara
301 E. Haley St.
Santa Barbara, California 93101
Phone: (805) 899-2273
Pet Specialists of Monterey
451 Canyon Del Rey Blvd.
Monterey, California 93940
Phone: (831) 899-4838