East Bay Area
Alameda,
Contra Costa and
Solano Counties are collectively referred to as the East Bay. We add to that Tri-Valley and the cities of
Concord, Pleasant Hill and
Vacaville. Recreational opportunities with dogs find high expression in the
East Bay Regional Park District, which includes 1,200 miles of trails in Contra Costa and Alameda counties.
Dog-loving residents of Oakland have it all: tons of bars and restaurants with dog-friendly outdoor seating, an overall welcoming attitude toward canines, and a wealth of open-space trails.
Solano County is filled with farms, wineries, wildlife areas and coastal trails, all dog-friendly and ready for you and your dog to explore together. The city of
Vacaville has a pack of dog-friendly restaurants and lodging properties and the historic town of Benicia has been named one of the nation’s most accommodating dog-friendly towns.
Courtesy of the East Bay Regional Park District
The very dog-friendly East Bay Regional Park District is partnering with Outdoor Afro to commemorate Juneteenth by waiving park entry fees on Saturday, June 19, 2021. Juneteenth is an annual recognition of the 250,000 enslaved Black Americans in Texas who were notified of their freedom on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect.
“There is no better place than parks to reflect on Juneteenth, the end of slavery, and today’s ongoing social justice issues,” said Park District Board President Dee Rosario. “The District embraces diversity, inclusion and promotes equal access for all.” Learn more here. more »
Shop Benicia
The City of Benicia has long been a DogTrekker favorite for daytrips and the occasional overnight stay. This hidden gem of the San Francisco Bay Area, Benicia has it all: a quaint, historic downtown, wonderful "retail therapy" shopping and lots of dog-friendly fun.
The City has now launched Shop Benicia, an eGift Card program designed to reward people for supporting small local retailers in Benicia while providing the public with a safe and convenient holiday shopping experience. The gift cards can be redeemed at any participating business in the city.
Cards can be purchased online, used personally or sent to loved ones as gifts via email or text messages. In addition, the City has donated $10,000 of free bonus gift cards for gift cards purchased from Shop Benicia. Purchased cards never expire, City bonus cards expire February 28, 2021. more »
Maya & Friends
Taken aback by prices at Napa and Sonoma hotels and wineries? Stay in Vacaville at half the price (or, just make it a day-trip) and visit nearby Suisun Valley Rustic Wine Country, a verdant Solano County agricultural region where you’ll find numerous dog-friendly wineries offering outdoor, socially distanced tasting opportunities. more »
Wineries, Pumpkins and Vacaville, Oh My!
There’s no time better than October to visit the Suisun Valley between Davis and Vacaville in Solano County. Not only are the vineyards ablaze; pumpkin patches, farm stands and other agricultural points of interest are in full swing. (Don’t miss Larry’s Produce, a vast produce enterprise with adjacent pumpkin patch.)
The valley is just a ridge away from the famous Napa Valley, and its wines share many characteristics native to the shared climate. Suisun bills itself as “rustic wine country” and prides itself on providing friendly welcomes to visitors with dogs on the other end of the leash. more »
The Contra Costa County town of Concord calls itself a “Northern California Original,” and it’s easy to see why. With a booming craft brew scene, creative dining options and a thriving music scene (it’s the birthplace of jazz great Dave Brubeck and the Concord record label), quick access to thousands of acres of open space and massive Mount Diablo looming in its backyard, it’s an East Bay oasis for outdoorsy types. more »