Monterey's Cannery Row is a dog-friendly destination packed with waterfront restaurants, wine tasting rooms, shops, and pet-welcoming hotels. Stroll the historic mile of coastline and soak in the seaside atmosphere with your pup.
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The Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail stretches 18 miles of paved, scenic coastline perfect for walking with your dog. Pair it with an inland hike at Garland Ranch Regional Park for off-leash trails through redwoods and open savannahs.
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Carmel City Beach is perhaps the best-known off-leash dog beach in the country, a powdery mile-long strand within walking distance of Carmel-by-the-Sea's shops and restaurants. Nearby, Big Sur's Pfeiffer Beach offers dramatic sea stacks and pink sand.
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Santa Cruz County 29-mile coastline has 15 dog-friendly beaches, from Seabright and Manresa to Davenport and Lighthouse Field. Add a stroll along West Cliff Drive and dog-welcoming hotels for a full coastal getaway.
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Beyond famous Carmel Beach, Monterey County offers miles of off-leash hiking at Garland Ranch Regional Park, scenic views at Jacks Peak, and 20-plus miles of trails at Toro County Park. Well-behaved dogs can roam free on many of these paths.
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Santa Cruz County has more than 50 pet-friendly lodgings for every budget. Splurge at Chaminade Resort with its pooch patio and mountaintop trails, or keep it simple at coastal inns, KOA cabins, and vacation rentals near the beach.
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The SPCA for Monterey County reunited three tiny puppies with their nursing mom after both were found separately on a school campus. Now thriving in foster care, the little family is looking for forever homes.
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DogTrekker.com's founders introduce Maya, a 5-year-old English Lab adopted from Monterey Bay Labrador Retriever Rescue. Despite some car anxiety and leash issues, Maya won their hearts and stepped into the role of Director of Barketing.
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California's 840-mile coastline has some wonderful off-leash beaches for dogs who love chasing waves. From Mendocino's Seaside Beach to Carmel's famous strand, Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur and Coronado Dog Beach in San Diego, here are top picks by region.
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Monterey Bay Labrador Retriever Rescue pulls Labs from overcrowded shelters across California and places about 125 dogs per year into loving homes. All-volunteer fosters provide one-on-one care, and families anywhere in California can adopt.
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From MacKerricher State Park on the Mendocino coast to Pfeiffer Big Sur in the redwoods and Pismo State Beach on the Central Coast, these paw-tested California campgrounds keep dogs and their people coming back year after year.
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No tent? No problem. From dog-friendly KOA cabins near Petaluma and Watsonville to Casini Ranch on the Russian River, these soft-camping options let you and your pup enjoy the outdoors without a full gear kit.
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