With summer crowds gone and low-season specials in play, fall and winter are ideal for a dog-friendly Mendocino County coast getaway. The Little River Inn, Beachcomber Motel, and other welcoming properties offer cozy rooms and easy beach access.
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DogCation contest winner Jolene shares her Mendocino County adventure with two pups at the Stanford Inn by the Sea. Highlights included canoeing up the Big River, riding the Skunk Train from Willits, and spending days on Fort Bragg's off-leash beaches.
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Beyond the Russian River, Sonoma County's northern coast around Gualala offers whale watching, redwood groves, and sandy beaches for a peaceful dog-friendly getaway. Stay at the Whale Watch Inn, hike the Bluff Trail, and explore Gualala Point Regional Park.
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Mendocino County's Hopland Wine Road features 18 tasting rooms, most of them dog-friendly, along Highway 101. Stop at McFadden Farm Stand for organic wines, enjoy the firepit patio at McNab Ridge, and sample history at Milano Family Winery.
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Several Northern California excursion railroads welcome dogs aboard for scenic rides through redwoods, Gold Country, and farmland. Options include Pumpkin Trains at the Western Railway Museum, the Skunk Train in Mendocino County, Roaring Camp in Santa Cruz, and Railtown 1897.
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Sonoma County's coastline offers dozens of beaches, bluff-top trails and dog-friendly inns where you can fall asleep to the sound of the Pacific. From Sea Ranch to Bodega Bay, leashed dogs are welcome along miles of rugged, scenic shoreline.
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Little River Inn on the Mendocino coast rolls out the red carpet for dog lovers with its River Dog Package. Two nights in an ocean-view room, an outrigger canoe trip, dinner vouchers, and spa time are all included.
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Catch A Canoe near Mendocino offers a specially designed canine cruiser with a stable center deck for dogs to sit or stand as you paddle the calm Big River estuary. The 8.3-mile waterway flows to the ocean through beautiful scenery.
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Glamping puts a stylish spin on camping, and Northern California has plenty of dog-friendly options. From safari tents in Gold Country to restored Airstream villages on the Russian River, these properties combine outdoor fun with creature comforts. "Glamping," a hybrid…
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Most California state parks keep dogs off dirt trails, but a few welcome leashed pups on paths beyond the pavement. Samuel P Taylor, South Yuba River and MacKerricher state parks stand out as happy exceptions worth a visit.
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Mendocino County's wineries produce excellent whites alongside their reds, and many welcome dogs right into their tasting rooms. Family-owned spots along Highway 101 and the scenic Highway 128 Wine Trail treat your pup like part of the family.
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Mendocino County's coastline is lined with dog-friendly lodging, from the Beachcomber Motel's on-site dog park and doggie-door suites in Fort Bragg to the Stanford Inn's ocean-view rooms that welcome pets of all kinds, including iguanas and parrots.
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