Fort Bragg, the largest dog-friendly community on the Mendo coast has much to recommend, including the Beachcomber group of properties offering variety and value close to the sea. The Beachcomber Motel itself is a luxury motel that offers panoramic views, fire pits and “pet suites” (rooms that open onto a deck with dog house and pet shower) with direct access to the property’s leash-free dog park.
Nearby, the pet-friendly, 30-room Beach House Inn is just a 500-foot walk from the shore and comes with many amenities, including soaking tubs for two. So close to the sea you’ll be lulled to sleep by the shushing surf, is Surf & Sand Lodge, walking distance to Fort Bragg as well as water’s edge.
Don’t miss beautiful Mendocino Botanical Gardens, a coastal preserve best known for rare species of rhododendrons, dahlias, begonias, heath and heritage roses. It’s the perfect place to visit after running off steam at leash-free Noyo Beach. Three miles north of town, MacKerricher State Park is a rarity in the California State Parks system in that it is more dog-friendly than most, with canine companions allowed on-leash in most of the park, including dirt trails and some beaches.
