Many Northern California residents and visitors blast through Solano County without ever turning off Interstate 80. And that’s a shame, because beyond the urban areas lies a largely rural region richly endowed with farms, wineries and public lands ready for you and your pup to explore. Whether you follow segments of the Bay Area Ridge Trail, look for elk at Grizzly Island Wildlife Area, hike to your heart’s content at Benicia State Recreation Area or hole up waterside and watch ships pass through the Carquinez Strait, you won’t run out of new sights to see with your dog at your side.

Your host for a Solano County stay is Vacaville, where you will find affordable dog-friendly hotels, yummy places to dine, plus hikes, dog parks and wineries galore.