La Valencia Hotel has been a La Jolla landmark since 1926, and it’s one of the few places in the village where you can actually stay right on the cliffs with your dog. The big picture windows throughout the property frame the Pacific directly from your room—you’re not looking at the ocean from a distance or through trees, you’re genuinely close to it. The hotel itself maintains that old-money aesthetic without feeling stuffy; rooms are appointed with care, and the staff moves through the place with quiet professionalism rather than the forced cheeriness you sometimes get at bigger resorts.

What makes La Valencia work for traveling with a dog is that it sits in the heart of La Jolla but doesn’t feel trapped by the village’s crowds. You can walk directly to Sunny Jim Sea Cave—the only sea cave in California accessible from street level—or head down to Children’s Pool, where you’ll see harbor seals lounging on the rocks (keep your dog back, obviously). The hotel’s outdoor spaces give your dog room to move around, and the location itself is walkable if you want to explore Prospect Street and the local shops nearby.

The rooms are done in that California coastal style from decades past, which means they’re elegant but also comfortable—not the kind of place where you’re anxious about your dog shedding on the furniture. Since La Valencia sits right where the cliffs meet the water, you get the full sensory experience of being in La Jolla rather than just passing through it. The hotel’s pet policy is straightforward enough that you should contact them directly to confirm current details before booking, especially if you have a larger dog or are planning an extended stay.