Cool your jets (and your pets) in Sacramento

Sacramento is hot, hot, hot—and we’re not talking summer weather. The restaurant and craft brewery scene here has exploded of late, and thanks to a (usually) mild climate, outdoor dining is ubiquitous, and almost every restaurant and brewery patio in town is dog-friendly. Read more.

Kimpton Sawyer Hotel, Sacramento

Smack downtown in the middle of the action surrounding the new Golden 1 Center (home of the Sacramento Kings), the new, 260-room Kimpton Sawyer co-anchors a developing retail and entertainment district called Downtown Commons (DoCo for short). Like every Kimpton, this one welcomes pets of all shapes, sizes and breeds at no extra charge, Read more.

Fifth stop: Mammoth Lakes back to Sac via Yosemite

Allow a full day—or more, if time permits—for the long but scenic drive back to Sacramento via Highway 120 over Tioga Pass Road through Yosemite National Park. Read more.

Second stop: Highway 50, Sacramento to South Lake Tahoe

Of the two primary ways to get to Lake Tahoe from Sacramento (Interstate 80 or Highway 50), 50 is by far the more scenic. Read more.

First stop: Start in Sacramento

The California capital makes a great jumping-off place for DogTrekkers poised for a trip to high country. Snuggle into a dog-friendly hotel, dine on a restaurant patio with your pup at your side, take a scenic hike on the American River Parkway, and you’ll be primed to head “up the hill” for your next stop on your high Sierra road trip. Read more.