Santa Cruz County

Have dog, will travel. And you know a great place that you and your four-legged friend will love? Santa Cruz! From dog-friendly beaches and redwood hikes to restaurants and resorts, Santa Cruz County has a ton to offer for people and their pets.

Hideaway Finds In the Santa Cruz Mountains

Storrs Winery - Photo Credit: @ltkphotography

If you appreciate all things organic, mark your calendar for Saturdays and Sundays in September, when the Organic Wine Trail of the Santa Cruz Mountains showcases  certified organic vineyards and practices. Of eight member wineries, four have tasting rooms (three of them dog-friendly) with regular weekend hours, while the others are appointment-only. more »

End of Summer Coasting With Your Four-Legged Friend

Queen of Asilomar Beach - Photo Credit: Tandra Wright

Whew! Summer’s over, the crowds are gone, fall weather is on the way—and with it (usually) crystal-clear skies and views to go with. There’s no better time for a trip con canine along California’s gorgeous Central Coast. Start in Santa Cruz County, where the cottage-and-cabin options include the family-favorite Santa Cruz/Monterey KOA in Watsonville, just a few miles from the coast. more »

Things to Do in Santa Cruz County

Roaring Camp Railroads - Photo Credit: zak_the_vizsla

When it comes to things to do with your dog in Santa Cruz County, there’s the obvious (beaches, wineries), and the not-so-obvious—like Byrne-Milliron Forest, a 400-acre Land Trust of Santa Cruz County property managed as a working forest and laced with dog-friendly trails (off-leash hiking for dogs with reliable recall is allowed). Another option for hikers is Pogonip, a 640-acre nature reserve/greenbelt with numerous dog-friendly trails. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is one of few state-run parks in California that allows dogs on some (but not all) trails. More...

Photo Credit: @zak_the_vizla more »

Cruz The California Coast

Beach Time! Photo Credit: Visit Santa Cruz County

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 »

Last Chance to Win a Santa Cruz “Let’s Cruz” DogCation!

This Friday will be the last day to enter the "Let's Cruz" Vacation Getaway for a chance to win a two-night stay at the renovated AAA four-diamond Chaminade Resort & Spa located on a spectacular 300-acre Santa Cruz mountaintop. more »