Featured beaches
Hidden Beach
Aptos
Hidden Beach in Aptos, Santa Cruz County, California Coast, is a serene oasis within a 1.5-acre neighborhood park, offering a delightful escape for both locals and visitors.
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Its Beach
Santa Cruz
Its Beach, located in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, California Coast, is a hidden gem for dog lovers seeking a tranquil coastal retreat.
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Manresa State Beach
Aptos
Manresa State Beach, located in Aptos, Santa Cruz County along the California Coast, offers a serene getaway for beach-loving travelers and their furry companions.
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Mitchell’s Cove Beach
Santa Cruz
Mitchell's Cove Beach, located in Santa Cruz, offers a picturesque coastal retreat for both locals and visitors. Administered by the City of Santa Cruz, this serene beach welcomes leashed dogs at all times.
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Moran Lake Park
Santa Cruz
Moran Lake Park surrounds a lagoon in the Live Oak area of Santa Cruz. The park has its own parking area, restroom facilities, and even has a dirt trail running along the north side of the lagoon.
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New Brighton State Beach
Capitola
Named for its British namesake, New Brighton State Beach in California is a scenic marvel that has attracted both humans and wildlife for generations, including those with four-legged companions.
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Rio Del Mar State Beach
Aptos
Located in Aptos along the stunning Santa Cruz County coastline, Rio Del Mar State Beach is a must-visit destination for water enthusiasts and their furry companions.
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Seabright Beach
Santa Cruz
Seabright State Beach in Santa Cruz, California, is a welcoming destination for dog owners looking for a beach day with their furry companions.
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Seacliff State Beach
Aptos
Seacliff State Beach in Aptos, California, offers a welcoming retreat for dog lovers and their furry friends.
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Davenport Beach
Davenport
Davenport Beach, located in Santa Cruz County along the California Coast, offers a serene escape for water-loving visitors and their furry companions.
Read moreGreyhound Rock Beach
Davenport
Greyhound Rock Beach, named for the mudstone sea cliffs, offers a serene coastal escape about seven miles north of Davenport in Santa Cruz County, California.
Read morePalm State Beach
Watsonville
Palm State Beach, located in the vicinity of Pajaro Dunes at the southern end of Sunset State Beach west of Watsonville, offers a delightful day-use area along the Santa Cruz County coastline.
Read morePleasure Point Beach
Santa Cruz
Pleasure Point Beach, located on the northern Monterey Bay in Santa Cruz County, California, is a renowned surf destination.
Read moreSunny Cove Beach
Santa Cruz
Sunny Cove Beach in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, California, is a picturesque destination along the stunning California Coast, offering a serene retreat for beach-loving visitors and their furry companions.
Read moreTwin Lakes State Beach
Santa Cruz
Twin Lakes State Beach in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, along the Central Coast, is a picturesque destination for water fun enthusiasts and their furry companions.
Read moreMore Adventures in Santa Cruz County
Central Coast nesting season: a dog owner’s calendar
Month-by-month guide to Central Coast beach closures for snowy plover nesting, plus dog-friendly beaches that stay open March through September.
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Ticks and Lyme disease in California dogs
California reports roughly 1/200th the Lyme cases of New York — and our tick season peaks in fall and winter, not summer. Here's what California-specific CDC data, vet research, and CDPH surveillance actually show, and what it means for protecting…
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Dog-friendly Bay Area spring getaways under 2 hours
Five spring dog-friendly escapes under two hours from San Francisco or Oakland: Half Moon Bay and Pescadero, Healdsburg and the Russian River, Calistoga and upper Napa, Bodega Bay and the Sonoma Coast, and Santa Cruz on the edge of Monterey…
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Dog-friendly breweries in California: your spring patio season guide
Spring patio season is here, and California has more than 350 dog-friendly breweries across the state. From Lagunitas in Petaluma to Firestone Walker in Paso Robles and Cool Beerwerks in Gold Country, here is where to start your paws-and-pints tour.
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Dog-friendly Santa Cruz: spring guide to beaches, trails, patios
Santa Cruz in April delivers off-leash beaches like Its Beach, greenbelt trails through Pogonip, walkable coastal paths, and dozens of dog-friendly patios and hotels. It is an easy weekend from the Bay Area before the summer crowds arrive.
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ADA accessible dog-friendly trails on the Central Coast
California’s Central Coast stretches from Santa Cruz to Ventura, encompassing some of the most dramatic coastline in the state. For travelers with mobility challenges — and their loyal four-legged companions — this region offers a surprising number of paved paths…
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