California coasting with your dog

Summer in California means sandcastles, swimming, shoreline walks, and patio dinners at sunset – all with your dog in tow. As we look ahead to this year’s splash season, the DogTrekker team has put together pup-tested itineraries for some of the state’s best coastal destinations.

Slap on the sunscreen and get ready to roll. Whether you want to surf, watch waves, or paddle tranquil rivers, you’ll find exciting options. Outline your journey with this beach-trip bucket list, organized from north to south. 

Surf towns and sand on the Central Coast

California’s Central Coast is a sun-splashed adventure hub, especially during the dog days of summer. Start your voyage in

Local tips from the top (human) dog

A reader recently mentioned that as part of our in-depth coverage of destinations around the state, we should provide tips that locals use to have fun with their dogs in their home towns or regions.

Lots to do on dog-friendly Cannery Row

“Cannery Row in Monterey in California is a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream.” So wrote John Steinbeck in his famous 1945 novel. “The Row” gets its name from a string of long-defunct sardine-canning factories, some of which have been converted into dog-friendly restaurants and hotels.

Soak up some coastal scenery in Monterey County

The most abiding joy to be had on the Monterey Peninsula is simply enjoying the rugged coastal scenery, and there’s no better way to soak it up than on the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail. This paved, multi-use path stretches 18 miles from Castroville in the north to Pacific Grove in the south. To get started, we suggest strolling the segment between Cannery Row and Asilomar State Beach, which will take about an hour at a moderate walking pace.

Put these hiking havens on your radar

Regional park districts in the Bay Area and beyond offer myriad venues for hiking with your dog. Check out the possibilities and put paws to path this fall!