Condé Nast Traveler readers’ top Northern California hotel picks

Stanford Inn by the Sea at sunset. Photo by Stanford Inn.

The #1 priority topic among our DogTrekker community has always been recommendations for the most dog-friendly hotels in California. Here are four of our favorites from Condé Nast Traveler’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards list of leading Northern California hotels. Add these to your must-stay list when visiting the Bay Area, Sonoma Coast and Mendocino.

Design and nature harmonize at Sea Ranch Lodge

At Sea Ranch Lodge, a coastal wooden deck provides a stunning setting for dog walkers and their canine companions. The deck features four suspended white pendant lights, their soft illumination creating intricate patterns on the walls as evening approaches. Framing an uninterrupted view of the vast ocean under a clear blue sky, the platform offers a peaceful space where you and your dog can enjoy the calming rhythm of rolling waves. In the foreground, patches of grass add a touch of green and invite dogs to explore or rest in between bouts of playfulness.

Photo by Sea Ranch Lodge.

Sea Ranch Lodge is a California treasure tucked on a remote stretch of the Sonoma Coast near the Mendocino County

Shell Beach coastal access trail

The Shell Beach Coastal Access Trail, part of the Sea Ranch public access areas in Sonoma County, offers a picturesque .65-mile path through pine forests and meadows, leading to a sandy beach adorned with sea rocks and tide pools. Accessible from Highway 1, this trail is suited for various activities including hiking, fishing, and wildlife … Continued Read more.

Hiking hills and headlands

Tolay Lake Regional Park. Photo by Harminder Dhesi.

Every good bird deserves watching at Bodega Bay, and the 1.2-mile Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail is a great venue for walking your dog while sharpening your identification skills. Read more.

Sonoma county regional parks with your pup

Hillside view in Santa Rosa. Photo by Megan O’Hanlon.

Sonoma County’s diverse network of regional parks is laced by more than 140 miles of trails leading to beaches, mountains, forests, lakes and meadows. Read more.