More than 50 pet-friendly lodgings—something for every style and budget—are sprinkled across the Santa Cruz County landscape. They run the gamut from camping cabins to luxury inns to vacation rentals where you can spread out like at home. If you’re up for a splurge, the AAA Four-Diamond Chaminade Resort & Spa, a woodsy, 156-room boutique retreat fresh from a $7.9 million makeover, pampers with luxury rooms and 3 miles of hiking trails on 300 mountaintop acres overlooking Monterey Bay.
The resort even sports a “pooch patio” at Linwood’s Bar & Grill, which boasts a doggie menu featuring “yappetizers,” “faux paw entrees” and “doggie drinks.”
Too over the top? Get down to earth at the Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA, where Bowser can lodge in your cabin or campsite and two-legged kids can enjoy a heated pool, campfire circle, excursion-train rides, miniature golf and a bounce house.
Closer to the coast, Edgewater Beach Inn & Suites catches the breeze just a block from the sand, while Fireside Inn and Bay Front Inn—bright, open and popular with couples and their fur kids—are also walking distance to the beach. West Cliff Inn is an attractive, 10-room B&B across from Main Beach. (Main Beach does not allow dogs but many other beaches in Santa Cruz County do.) A little farther afield, Monarch Cove Inn is a luxury 11-room, 2.5-acre Capitola estate perched on Depot Hill overlooking the water. Another solid choice is Ocean Echo Inn & Beach Cottages, with accommodations ranging from one-bed guest rooms to multi-room family units with kitchens.
For those who prefer the tried-and-true amenities of a nationally branded hotel, the Best Western Plus Inn Scotts Valley, Best Western Rose Garden Inn and numerous Hotel Solares and other chain properties can be found in the area. And don’t overlook the region’s many vacation rentals, where you can spread out and relax just like at home.
Photo Credit: @kenzothed0g
