Traveling the slo lane with your dog

Three dogs playing with a stick on the beach.

From Ragged Point in the north to Pismo Beach in the south, the San Luis Obispo County coast is a dog-friendly wonderland at the beach. Read more.

Dining with daisy in slo

Bella dining out in Paso Robles. (CC) Diane Main So long as the weather is good, which is 90 percent of the time on the Central Coast, visitors with dogs will have no problem finding a place to chow down at an outdoor table where Daisy can relax, too. In downtown SLO, head for Luna Red, across from the mission, which offers fine dining with outdoor seating for dogs and their families. The menu changes seasonally based on supply from local farmers and fishermen. Outdoor dining is complemented with views of the mission, and of course your happy pooch at your feet. Read more.

Dog-friendly beaches of san luis obispo

Let's go to the beach! CC E.Haug Dog-friendly beaches abound in SLO County, including several strands where you can cut the cord and let your best friend run free. You can always visit a dog-friendly beach on your own, of course, but for occasions worthy of a splurge, call the Beach Butlerz. This innovative service staffed by local college students promises to change a typical day at a dog-friendly beach into a remarkable experience for you and yours. Options range from simple delivery of beach chairs and firewood to a package dubbed the “Moroccan Love Encounter” entailing setup of a “luxe canopy” tent furnished with hard-surface flooring, lighting, a queen-size futon, 10 plush pillows, decorated table, feather fan, tiki torches and bonfire. Now what could be more memorable than that?

Take to the hills around slo

The town of San Luis Obispo prides itself on surrounding open space where dog-friendly hiking trails dot the hillsides. The most popular and certainly the most rigorous of day hikes is local landmark Bishop’s Peak, tallest of the Nine Sisters, a string of peaks spanning the 12 miles between Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo. The hike to Bishop’s Peak’s 1,546-foot summit is a 3.5-mile, out-and-back adventure with an elevation change of more than 1,200 feet. Normal hike times range from three to five hours, and temperatures along the trail will vary, becoming quite hot in summer. Be sure to bring plenty of water for yourself and your dog even when the weather is cool, as this is a strenuous outing.

Towns of slo county

Ready for a trip to town. (CC) E. Haug San Luis Obispo, home to California Polytechnic State University, is a quintessential college town nestled in a sea of hills just 10 miles from the Pacific coast. It has just about everything going for it so far as DogTrekkers are concerned, from dog-friendly hotels and restaurants to dog parks and historic sites including a Spanish mission dating to 1772 and an 1850s adobe home whose alluring gardens are open to canine visitors with people on the other end of the leash. Even SLOMA, the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, is happy to host leashed dogs and their owners during regular business hours. Read more.