Calistoga on a leash

I Love Calistoga art. Photo by Tim Carl.

A welcoming destination with a rich history, the charming town of Calistoga caps the far north end of the Napa alley like a cork in a bottle. Recently named one of the ten best small towns in America by Fodors Travel, Calistoga encourages visitors to stay a little longer, with small-town ambience, dog-friendly dining and lodging options, the walkability factor and the many wineries that roll out t  Read more.

Reserving a camp spot for Spot

So, a friend told you about a great place to camp with your dog. But how do you make reservations? Here are three places to start. Plus some tips to securing your favorite spot.  Read more.

Campground petiquette

Photo by Jessica Bay.

California leash laws, revised in 2006, set out some rules for people leaving home with their pets, and individual RV parks and campgrounds may impose additional layers of regulations. A page at Camp-California.com spells out the leash-law basics.  Read more.

A-glamping we will go

What’s glamping? It’s one of those made-up fusion words meant to convey the idea of “glamorous” camping, a concept adopted from African safari tradition and catching on in California and elsewhere in the world. Glamping for DogTrekkers might involve a dog-friendly platform tent, yurt, tipi, Airstream trailer or any other kind of outdoors-oriented lodging where guests aren&r  Read more.

Close encounters in Nevada County

Baxter and Montana in Nevada County. Photo: Bob White (CC) Truckee, Grass Valley, Nevada City…. some of Northern California’s favorite dog-friendly vacation destinations are situated along the Highway 49 and Interstate 80 corridors in Nevada County. Historic Nevada City, with its hopping downtown and dog-friendly lodging, makes a great base for a weekend getaway.  Read more.

Make it Mendocino

Dog-friendly vacation rentals in Mendocino County are as abundant as scenery is beautiful, so you and your four-legged pals should have no trouble snagging a retreat for a week or a long weekend.   Read more.

Martin resorts gives back

Dog-friendly Pismo Lighthouse Suites Planning a vacation in beautiful San Luis Obispo County with your favorite four-legged travel companion? We suggest checking out Martin Resorts. Martin Resorts’ collection of premier hotels and restaurants on the Central Coast includes four hotels that offer dog-friendly lodging: the oceanfront Pismo Lighthouse Suites, Best Western Plus Shore C  Read more.

Riverside romps

Photo by Greg Morris, National Wild and Scenic River System.

If you and your pup prefer paved trails to dirt ones, seek out the Truckee River Legacy Trail next time you head up to Lake Tahoe.Truckee River. Photo: Karen (CC) If you and your pup prefer paved trails to dirt ones, seek out the Truckee River Legacy Trail next time you head up to Lake Tahoe. Your furry companion will enjoy meet-and-greets with lots of other canines out for morning walks with thei  Read more.

Rambling around Oakland

Dog-loving residents of Oakland have it all: tons of bars and restaurants with dog-friendly outdoor seating; an overall welcoming attitude toward canines; and a wealth of open-space trails, many of which don’t require leashes away from developed areas. The city also has a hip, dog-friendly place to stay in the Waterfront Hotel in the heart of the vibrant Jack London Square dining, shopping a  Read more.

East bay hikes

Point Isabel. Photo: Maverick Wyatt Myers Since DogTrekker.com kicked off in late 2010, our hiking pages and listings have become the most popular features on the site. Readers continue to be astonished by the wealth of possibilities offered by the 64 parks of the East Bay Regional Parks District, which span 108,000 acres and include 1,200 miles of trails in Contra Costa and neighboring Alamed  Read more.

When it snows

Photo by Glenna Haug.

Yes, it will snow again — and when it does, you and your best friend will find groomed cross-country trails as well as limitless tracts of public lands to glide on. Be sure to check with these centers regarding their status prior to heading out.  Read more.

Romantic retreats worth woofing about

It's February, and Cupid is calling. Time to sniff out an alpine love nest, just for the three of you. Don’t worry about the weather, as romantic splurges are as much about cuddling as exploring the destination.  Read more.

Joshua tree and anza borrego

Joshua Tree National Park. Photo by Kindel Media.

As at most national parks, regulations at Joshua Tree prohibit dogs from accompanying you on trails—but not from driving through to admire the scenery or enjoy a picnic at a site surrounded by the fuzzy, forklike cacti from which the park takes its name.  Read more.

Trekking in temecula

Southern California’s high-desert wine country is centered around the town of Temecula, 90 miles southeast of Los Angeles and 60 miles north of San Diego.  Read more.

Dog-friendly gifts that keep giving

Dog photos with Santa for a good cause What’s the nicest thing you could do for dogs this holiday season? Aside from taking on another four-legged family member, the best way to reach out is to help pets in need find loving homes. The ways to do so are as endless as the stream of abandoned pups pouring through shelter and rescue-organization doors.  Read more.

Pet-passionate Stanford Inn

Photo by Stanford Inn.

One of Mendocino's favorite dog-friendly inns is the Stanford Inn By the Sea. Featured in Oprah Magazine and more than 139 other publications, as well as on TV, this hillside resort overlooking the rugged Mendocino coast was one of the first inns in North America to adopt sustainable practices. On top of that, the “pets welcome” sign has been out for decades!    Read more.

Dog-friendly koa

Camping in California is surging in popularity with DogTrekkers, in part because privately owned campgrounds such as the award-winning San Francisco North/Petaluma KOA have diversified to offer not just RV camping, but tent sites, camping cabins, dog-friendly full service lodges and resort amenities that appeal to a wide variety of vacationers.  Read more.

Rovering around

Camp life is very exciting for a dog, so long as she doesn’t get into the s’mores. Dogs are welcome at 90 percent of California campgrounds; it’s the rare one indeed that doesn’t allow four-legged family members. But before you make reservations, you’ll want to find out where, outside of developed campsites, Buddy is allowed to accompany you.  Read more.

Highway 50 is nifty

Photo by Isaac Ordaz.

From Sacramento and the Bay Area, Highway 50 is the main artery leading to and from South Lake Tahoe. What many travelers don’t realize, however, is how many great recreation spots are situated along the way.  Read more.

Settle into South Shore

Where to stay is always the first consideration for DogTrekkers on overnight quests, and in South Shore there’s something for every budget, from the luxe Fireside Lodge B&B to the basic but well located Motel 6. In between, we’re partial to Spruce Grove Cabins just off Ski Run Boulevard at the foot of Heavenly Mountain Resort; Holly’s Place, a cabin property on two securely fenced acres; and  Read more.

Paws overnight at north Lake Tahoe

Dogs on the beach at Lake Tahoe.

After checking out the North Lake Tahoe scene, we at DogTrekker.com figure there are as many dog-friendly places to stay in as there are establishments that turn away canine guests.  Read more.

To the hills, spot

Here we are again, just coming off the rainy season. With Jake bouncing off the walls, it's time to head for the hills.  Read more.

Canines in the vines

SLO Wine Dogs DogTrekkers touring the Central Coast wine country will leave with a happy tail after stopping by any one of the area’s dog-friendly vineyards.  SLO County’s wineries dot country roads, and we havedog-tested a few in the Paso Robles growing region that are sure to please even the most discerning palate.  Read more.

Martin resorts

  Read more.

Martin resorts

DogTrekker.com appreciates feedback from our readers, and one of the most-asked questions we get is, “when are you planning to add the Central Coast, and more specifically, San Luis Obispo County, to the destinations you cover?”    Read more.

Shelter in the Tahoe snow

Tahoe in February is bound to be snowy, so pack up your dog and bring your cross-county skis, snowshoes and boots  Read more.

View to swoon for

Residents of the Bay Area know they have it good when it comes to open space, but relatively few venture into Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve, a 208-acre oasis tucked behind the historic (and dog-friendly) Claremont Hotel in the Berkeley and Oakland Hills.   Read more.

Sleeping with sparky in carmel

Cypress Inn. Photo by Cypress Inn.

Dog-friendly hotels are a dime a dozen these days, but dog-passionate ones don’t come along very often—except in Carmel, where more than 20 hotels and inns put out a welcome mat for canine guests.  Read more.

Dog-friendly folsom

Johnny Cash may have put Folsom on America's mental map. but visitors don't sing the blues once they experience the vitality of this historic little city at the western gateway to California Gold Country.  Read more.

Toolin’ around tuolumne

Groveland Hotel. Photo by Groveland Hotel.

Dog-friendly Groveland Hotel You’ll need time and fair weather to explore the upper reaches of this diverse county, but we’ll get you started with dog-friendly suggestions in a couple of areas ripe for a fall visit. Sonora, the county seat, is a great jumping-off point for excursions to nearby Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, where Rover can join you as you ogle the displays and   Read more.

Dog-friendly Tahoe Keys Resort

Photo by Tahoe Keys Resort.

Lake Tahoe is a paradise for dogs, and at Tahoe Keys Resort you will find a variety of cabins, condos and homes that welcome dogs.  Read more.

10 ways to have fun with your dog at Lake Tahoe

Photo by Jessica Bay.

Yes, you can take your dog swimming at Lake Tahoe! True, there are only a handful of dog-friendly beaches, but for most dogs, just one a day is enough. One of our hidden favorites on the West Shore is the private beach at Obexer’s General Store in Homewood.   Read more.

Dog-friendly campsites in northern California

Brynn & Tyn. (CC) Mark Totten We’re not claiming to be personally familiar with every campground in Northern California, but our experiences at these dog-friendly sites have been pawsitive enough to keep us coming back again and again.  Read more.

Where else to rover around

Kayla Takes to the Trail Camp life can be very exciting for a dog, so long as she doesn’t eat too many marshmallows. Dogs are welcome at 90 percent of California campgrounds—it’s the rare one indeed that doesn’t allow pooches. But before you put your credit card down, you’ll want to find out where, outside of developed campsites, Daisy is allowed to hang out.  Read more.

Sleep green

Photo by Bardessono Hotel.

Northern California leads the nation in the number of hotels—more than a dozen to date certified by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. The road to certification is long and rigorous, involving strict standards for energy efficiency, waste reduction, recycling and such. Choosing a LEED-certified property for your next DogTrekking expe  Read more.

Kick, glide, bark

Photo by Rich Morgan.

Cross-country skiing is intensely popular in Northern California snow country, but if you prefer groomed trails at developed ski areas, your need to know where dogs are welcome and where they're not.  Read more.

Curl up in a cabin

Tahoma Meadows Cottages.

There’s nothing like an old-style cabin to impart a sense of place at Lake Tahoe. We have a few dog-friendly favorites, starting with Tahoma Meadows Bed & Breakfast Cottages on Tahoe's West Shore  Read more.

On being a good hotel guest

Too often, rules are in place because the human/canine parties who visited before caused trouble or annoyance to management or other guests.   Read more.

No fee for fido

Photo by Amy Humphries.

Kimpton and Joie de Vivre, the leading boutique hotel players in Northern California, are also leaders of the pack when it comes to dog-friendly policies.  Read more.

Slivers of silver

South of Lake Tahoe, along the Highway 88/Carson Pass corridor, a string of silvery lakes tucked into a rugged mountain landscape beckon DogTrekkers who want to get into the high country one last time before the snow flies.  Read more.

Dog-friendly Stanford Inn, Mendocino

Photo by Stanford Inn.

One of Mendocino's favorite dog-friendly inns is the Stanford Inn by the Sea. Featured in Oprah Magazine and more than 139 other publications, as well as on TV, this hillside resort overlooking the rugged Mendocino coast was one of the first inns in North America to adopt sustainable practices. On top of that, the “pets welcome” sign has been out for decades!    Read more.

Mammoth views

Photo by Visit Mammoth.

Dog with a view Mammoth Lakes area is the most developed part of the Eastern Sierra, with amenities and services to accommodate everyone from luxury-seekers to campers and, of course, DogTrekkers. The area is loaded with dog-friendly lodging establishments, and while we can't vouch for them all, we do have our favorites.  Read more.

Who let the ocean in?

Photo by Whale Watch Inn.

About 120 miles north of San Francisco on Highway 1, the Whale Watch Inn in southern Mendocino County is a close-to-nature haven with ocean views from all 18 rooms.  Read more.

Cabins in the woods: Tahoma meadows and desolation hotel

Tahoma Meadows: A cozy retreat for pet owners One of the best-kept secrets in Lake Tahoe’s West Shore is Tahoma Meadows Bed & Breakfast Cottages. This charming hideaway has become a favorite among couples and families who love the outdoors—and their pets. The owners figured out early on that people want to bring their dogs … Continued  Read more.

Sit. stay. lie down.

Photo by Kehn Hermano.

Canine-friendly hotels abound in San Francisco, but those in the Kimpton chain rate especially high with experienced DogTrekkers.  Read more.

Cuddle up in monte rio

Photo by Boho Manor.

This Sonoma County village on the Russian River has been welcoming San Francisco vacationers for more than a century and serves up sophistication along with big doses of rural charm.   Read more.

Bark for benicia

Photo by Cristina Glebova.

Yelp, we thought that seeing this Solano County town in the No. 4 slot on the Dog Fancy list would elicit yowls of surprise. Yet behind all those happily wagging tails in Benicia is a community of dog lovers who worked hard to create amenities such as Phenix Community Dog Park, and a pair of leash-free beaches on the Carquinez Strait at the edge of downtown.  Read more.