Sit. stay. dog-friendly vacation rentals

Photo by Drew Coffman.

With all of the great hikes and fun places to play in the city by the bay, why not book a vacation rental as your base of operations? Read more.

Sit, stay and snore in dog-friendly San Francisco

Photo by SF Travel.

If there’s a more dog-friendly city than San Francisco when it comes to lodging, we don’t know about it. The City by the Bay boasts dozens of hotels, motels and B&Bs that welcome pets. Read more.

The bark on bernal heights

Otto in Bernal's secret garden. (CC)ejbSF Bernal Heights Park is something you don’t expect to find in a densely populated city: 35 acres of rugged, often windswept terrain that can feel more like a wilderness than an urban playground. Your dog can be off-leash here so long as she comes when called—and you definitely won’t want an eager canine pulling at the leash as you huff and puff up the steep, grassy hill that once served as a rock quarry. Several paths loop around the park, which is forested on top and can feel like a different place every time you visit, depending on the weather. Read more.

Chasing waves on ocean beach with your dog

Traveling in Style at Ocean Beach. (CC) torbakhopper If your dog has a reliable recall and can be trusted not to jump on people, bring her to Ocean Beach, a four-mile strip of sand at the foot of Golden Gate Park. The section between stairwells 1 and 21 is off-leash territory, and dogs go wild chasing waves, fetching balls and dodging the throngs of humans who congregate here on weekends.  Read more.

Waterfront dog-friendly delights in mission bay

Hanging out in Mission Bay. (CC) Bhautik Joshi One of the fastest changing parts of the city is Mission Bay, a South-of-Market shoreline neighborhood in the midst of a redevelopment boom. Start this three-mile jaunt at AT&T Park, crossing McCovey Cove on Third Street to reach China Basin Park, a thin strip of green space facing the home of the World Champion San Francisco Giants. On game days, the park is crowded with fans and the energy level can get frenetic, but at other times, you and your four-legged sidekick can explore the Giants History Walk or simply cuddle on a bench and enjoy the spring sunshine and the views. Read more.