North Coast
Mendocino County, Humboldt County,
Lake County and Del Norte County make up The North Coast Region. Here you'll find California's favorite Wine, Waves, Wilderness & Woof destinations. Relaxation is the name of the game, and your dog is welcome almost anywhere.
Whether your inclinations run toward renting a vacation home at popular Clear Lake or cozying up for a weekend at a bed-and-breakfast inn overlooking the Pacific, you’ll find plenty of dog-friendly lodging and activities to suit your needs.
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens - Photo Credit: lapin1 (CC)
Festival of Lights, Mendocino - Friday-Sunday through Dec. 16
Dog-friendly Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens celebrates the season with a myriad of twinkling lights and inventive displays. This is one of the few events dogs are not allowed, but you can secure doggie day care here. more »
Bed & Barrell at Stonehouse Cellars
“Agritourism”—an agriculturally based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch—is as old as winemaking in California, yet there aren’t many places where visitors with dogs can spend the night on the premises. Bed & Barrel at Stonehouse Cellars, a winery/tasting room/B&B in Clearlake Oaks, Lake County, is an exception. more »
Blue Fish Cove Resort
Photo Credit: @thekingstonyard
If being on or near the water is a priority on your Lake County vacation, you’ll find options aplenty among the many family-owned and operated cabin resorts situated along the Clear Lake and Blue Lakes shores. Blue Fish Cove Resort on Clear Lake, for example, has pet-friendly cabins with lake views, full kitchens and private BBQ grills, along with amenities including a boat launch, fishing pier, beach, game room and grassy lawn perfect for a (leashed) romp. more »
The Lodge at Blue Lakes
Photo Credit: @nima_and_jasper
Clear Lake, that big puddle of blue in the middle of Lake County, is a popular vacation destination for families, but it’s hardly the only body of water in the vicinity. Blue Lakes (Upper and Lower), just five miles away, are a pair of clear, spring-fed bodies of water ideal for swimming and fishing. Only human-powered craft or those with or electric motors are allowed (speed limit is 5 mph), but you can rent an electric “yacht” or pontoon boat from the Lodge at Blue Lakes and pile the family (dogs included) on board for a great day of cruising about. more »
Langtry Estate & Vineyards - Photo Credit: @embeckwith
While water activities are of course a big attraction in Lake County, more than 30 wineries, most with dog-friendly picnic areas and tasting rooms, welcome visitors in what is one of the fastest growing wine regions in the country. While the region is best known for its sauvignon blancs, petit sirahs and big reds are gaining well deserved cachet. The Lake County wine-growing region blanketing the eastern portion of the county is divided into seven AVAs (American Viticultural Areas), or appellations, each with its own sense of place. more »