For water-loving canines, nothing beats fetching a bright yellow tennis ball from the surf and romping full speed ahead on a sandy beach. But while there’s plenty of sand to share with your leashed pup along California’s 840 miles of coastline, you should know before you go where dogs are and aren’t allowed to run off-leash. Here are a few of our favorite off-leash beaches.
Read more.Dogtrekkers go santa cruzin’
Wilder keeping it super cool in Santa Cruz. Photo by Celeste Cesena.
Santa Cruz County, located on California's Central Coast, 65 miles south of San Francisco and 35 miles north of Monterey, is known for its sun-soaked beaches, famous Beach Boardwalk amusement park, redwoods, and eclectic community. Read more.
Things to do with your dog in Santa Cruz County
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.
When it comes to things to do with your dog in Santa Cruz County, there’s the obvious (beaches, wineries), and the not-so-obvious—like Byrne-Milliron Forest, a 400-acre Land Trust of Santa Cruz County property managed as a working forest and laced with dog-friendly trails (off-leash hiking for dogs with reliable recall is allowed). Read more.
Hang your hat—and leash
Rio Del Mar State Beach. Photo Credit: Phil King (CC)
Variety is the name of the game when it comes to dog-friendly lodging in Santa Cruz County. Many DogTrekkers appreciate the spread-out comfort and conveniences (including a kitchen) that come with a vacation rental home, dozens of which can be found in Santa Cruz, Capitola, Aptos and other coastal communities. Those who’d rather be pampered to the max have options such as Chaminade Resort & Spa, a four-diamond, 156-room property on 300 mountaintop acres overlooking Monterey Bay. Not only are guest rooms dog-friendly; so is the “pooch patio” at Linwood’s Bar & Grill, which boasts a doggie menu featuring “yappetizers,” “faux paw entrees” and “doggie drinks.” Too over the top? Get down to earth at the Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA, where Bowser can lodge in your cabin or campsite and two-legged kids can enjoy a heated pool, campfire circle, excursion-train rides, miniature golf and a bounce house. Read more.
Keep santa cruz woofy
Dog on Santa Cruz Beach. Photo: Don DeBold (CC)
The bumper stickers read “Keep Santa Cruz Weird,” but DogTrekkers visiting this diverse coastal county might prefer to just keep it tail-waggingly wonderful. And with 29 miles of beaches studding its crenelated shoreline, Santa Cruz County has plenty of room for dogs and people to spread out. Fifteen coastal beaches are dog-friendly, and one, Mitchell’s Cove, is legally leash-free before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. Read more.
