Southern
This summer, dog-friendly Southern California invites pet parents to experience unbeatable hospitality, sunshine-filled days and breathtaking scenery. From beach strolls and shaded trails to vibrant patios and dog-welcoming shops, every outing becomes a shared adventure.
It’s the perfect place to relax, recharge and roam with your pup. Whether you crave waves, wide-open desert skies, mountain air or vineyard views, this region delivers. Explore the best of Southern California below and discover your next unforgettable getaway with your dog.
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Stories about Southern California
Your guide to Puptopia Big Bear 2026
Clear the calendar and get the car road trip ready—the mountains are howling! Big Bear Puptopia Festival is coming up on Saturday, July 25. The charming dog-centric celebration makes the perfect anchor to a fun-filled weekend along the shores of Big Bear Lake under the
Splash, stay and play in Big Bear
There’s so much to enjoy in Big Bear before and after the festival. Pair your Puptopia weekend with a property that’s got its own pool, then take the party to the lake—paddling, swimming and dockside naps included. Here’s how to build a stay-and-splash itinerary around
Tables for tail-waggers
Big Bear’s Village rolls out the welcome mat for four-legged diners, with ample summer patio seating, water bowls and the occasional honest-to-dog menu. Looking for a quick slice, a hearty breakfast or a craft beer after the festival? You’ll find plenty of dog-friendly spots where you and your
Choose your Big Bear basecamp
Veterans Park is an easy stroll from Big Bear Lake’s Village, so you can bed down anywhere from a lakefront boutique hotel to cozy, fireplace-warmed cabins. Book ASAP; festival weekend fills fast. Here are a few dog-friendly favorites within reach of the action, from modern
Plan your pup’s Puptopia festival ‘fit
Puptopia is a day of sheer canine cuteness in waterside Veterans Park. It’s all about fun, games and pampering, with a giant ball pit, agility tunnels, spa treatments, vendor shopping and live stage shows. Whether your pup is a social butterfly, the sporty type or
Roll, stroll and sniff: California’s most wheelchair-accessible dog-friendly beaches
Sand is where good intentions go to get stuck. A boardwalk ends, the dunes begin, and suddenly a wheelchair, a walker or a 14-year-old dog with stiff hips is parked at the edge of the very thing you drove out to enjoy. California has quietly
Splash hits: Summer delights for water-loving dogs
The dog days of summer are here! Got a pup who loves the water? California's rivers, lakes and coastal landscapes welcome four-legged family members with paw-some adventures.
Dive into summer at Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake boasts 300 days of sunshine and dark nights perfect for stargazing, but that's just the start. This mountain jewel in the San Bernardino National Forest also has great fishing, boating and water activities, hiking and biking trails, and 22 miles of tranquil
Puptopia Festival
Calling all dog lovers and pet parents! You're invited to come out to the Big Bear Puptopia Festival on July 25 for a tail-wagging day of fun in Veterans Park. Enjoy the Pawground, relax in the K9 Lounge, watch stunt shows at the Main Stage, pamper your
Cinco de Mayo with your dog: California’s best patios
Cinco de Mayo is one of California's great outdoor holidays. The first week of May delivers reliably warm weather from San Diego to Sacramento, patio season hits full stride, and the margaritas flow. And if you have a dog? You're in luck — California's restaurant
14 dog-friendly vacation rentals in Greater Palm Springs
14 dog-friendly vacation rentals across Greater Palm Springs, from Desert Hot Springs to Rancho Mirage, drawn from DogTrekker's directory of vetted pet-welcoming properties.
Pups for the planet: leaving only paw prints
This Earth Day, DogTrekker is celebrating something worth wagging about: our community. A recent reader survey shows 99% of you pack it in and pack it out, and 95% leash up in sensitive habitats. Now, that’s a pack worth howling about! Our Leave Only Paw