You’re sure to have a Beach Boys sound track playing in your head as you and your pup cavort on aptly named Dog Beach, the leash-free segment of 3.5-mile-long Huntington Beach, centerpiece of the city of the same name (also known as Surf City USA). Surf culture rules in this SoCal mecca for more than 8 million annual visitors—and sometimes, especially during the annual Surf City Surf Dog competition (Sept. 24 this year), it seems like there are that many dogs, too!
Dogs play at Huntington Beach Dog Beach.
Photo Credit: Jake Schultz (Visit HB)
Dog Beach is free (although parking probably won’t be), and your dog will have a blast chasing balls, Frisbees and other dogs along the water’s edge. You can even try surfing. But don’t wait for a special event to visit Surf City. On Monday nights, after you shake the sand out of your shoes, bring your four-legged sidekick to Doggie Date Night at Fred’s Mexican Café, where Daisy eats free when Two-Legged Mom orders an entrée. The Park Bench Café also offers canine cuisine, along with good people food and dog-friendly seating at picnic tables on the grass at Huntington Central Park. This 350-acre preserve has lots of attractions, including beautiful trails, but of chief interest to DogTrekkers is an off-leash dog park with separate areas for large and small canines.
Pampered Pup at Shorebreak Hotel.
Photo Credit: Jake Schultz (Visit HB)
When it comes to dog-friendly places to stay, your pup’s ears will perk up at more than a dozen pet-welcoming properties. You’ll score extra by choosing one of the four oceanfront resorts in the HB Collection. All four (Kimpton Shorebreak, Waterfront Beach Resort, Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach and Paséa Hotel & Spa) are within walking distance to downtown shopping and restaurants—plus, they offer special packages for dogs accompanied by their people.
Photo Credit: @mochi.s.doodle
