Step up to a summit in San Francisco

Dog hiking Mount Davidson - Sharon Hahn Darlin (CC) Everyone who comes to San Francisco catches a glimpse of the deep green hill topped by a 103-foot-cross that serves as a kind of subliminal city landmark. But while many seek out the views at neighboring Twin Peaks, relatively few bother to find their way to the top of Mount Davidson, whose 938-foot summit is the highest point in a city said to be built on 44 hills. Read more.

Park it in San Francisco

What’s the biggest park in San Francisco after Golden Gate Park (1,017 acres)? We were stumped, too, until our staffers stumbled upon John McLaren Park, a hidden gem in south San Francisco’s Visitacion Valley. Read more.

Paws on pillows

Maximo, Hotel Rex Ambassador When it comes to dog-friendly hotels in the City by the Bay, two trustworthy brands and many individual stars stand out. Joie de Vivre, largest operator of boutique hotels in California, has seven dog-friendly properties in San Francisco, none of which impose breed or weight restrictions or charge extra for canine guests. Policies vary a bit from hotel to hotel, but in general, you can expect Fido to be welcomed with a soft bed, food and water bowls, tasty treats and clean-up bags. We at DogTrekker.com are such JDV fans that we’ve teamed up with the brand’s Hotel Rex, a Union Square property that takes its inspiration from literary salons of the 1920s and ‘30s, to offer a two-night “DogCation” for one (or two!) lucky dogs and their humans. Sign up here for a chance to win! Read more.

Splash down

The America’s Cup sailing showdown comes to San Francisco this summer and fall, and there’s no reason you and your four-legged friend can’t share the excitement sure to be generated by those high-tech yachts hydroplaning around the bay. They’ll be visible from many vantage points; if you can see the bay, you can watch the races live (although you’ll get better interpretation on TV). Crissy Field, one of San Francisco’s most cherished dog-friendly places, may be inundated by crowds for a few hours on race days, but the rest of the time, Fido can romp off-leash along designated areas of the shoreline. Read more.

Exploring the urban forest

Most visitors to San Francisco never make it to the upper reaches of the Presidio, a 1,500-acre former U.S. Army base transferred to the national park system in 1996. And that’s a doggone shame, especially for DogTrekkers unaware of the 24 miles of trails winding along the Presidio’s coastal bluffs, through shady forests and past historic sites and neighborhoods that seem a world removed from the bustling city below. Read more.