Leash-free sand and sea

The hands-down, No. 1 place to play in waves and sand in California is Carmel Beach, a powder-white, city-managed, mile-long strand on the outskirts of Carmel-by-the Sea, the chic vacation village on the Monterey Peninsula. DogTrekkers come from around the country to share their good fortune here. A trio of tips: Read more.

Off-leash beaches for chasing waves

Three off-leash dogs frolicking at the beach.

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.

Monterey bay labrador retriever rescue

Monterey Bay Labrador Retriever Rescue got its start four years ago when some longtime Lab rescue volunteers noticed that while a number of Lab groups served the greater Bay Area, there was something of a gap in Monterey and San Benito Counties. "It seemed like a good idea," recalls founder/CEO Judy Kreger. History's borne this out, as about 125 Labs a year have been finding loving forever homes through MBLRR ever since. Read more.

Inland bounty in Monterey County

Anyone who’s visited Monterey County with a dog knows about that glorious off-leash beach in Carmel-by-the-Sea. But that's not the only place you can unclip Spot and Sassy and let them run free so long as they stay within sight and under voice control. Garland Ranch Regional Park in Carmel Valley has miles of trails to roam, a river and tributary creek with swimming holes to splash in, a stellar visitor center and even specially designed water fountains for dogs. Read more.

Sip and stroll

Like wine tasting but don’t have the time or inclination to visit area wineries by car? With a growing number of tasting rooms in town, almost all of them dog-friendly, the two of you can stroll and sip at your own pace. Read more.