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
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
California’s best dog-friendly resorts
Resorts are different from hotels. A hotel is somewhere you sleep between activities. A resort is the activity — grounds you can walk for an hour, restaurants and bars on the property, water access, real space for a dog to settle in over multiple nights
Dog-friendly Memorial Day weekend in California: 6 escapes
Six dog-friendly California escapes for Memorial Day weekend: North Lake Tahoe, the Mendocino coast, Big Bear Lake, Avila Beach, Bishop and the Eastern Sierra, and Bodega Bay. Each pick includes real places to stay, and why the rooms book out early.
Dog-friendly Temecula wine country: wineries, restaurants, and hotels
Temecula Valley welcomes dogs across more than 30 wineries, 16 patio restaurants in Old Town, and 13 pet-friendly hotels and resorts. Tucked between San Diego and Los Angeles, it is Southern California's most dog-friendly wine country weekend.
Dog-friendly North County San Diego coast
North County San Diego's coast links Coronado, Del Mar, Encinitas, and Carlsbad by Highway 101 and Interstate 5. Expect off-leash beaches, resort and boutique lodging, walkable village districts, and a deep bench of dog-friendly patio dining.
Dog-friendly San Diego: the complete guide
San Diego offers one of California's deepest dog-friendly lineups: off-leash beaches at Ocean Beach and Fiesta Island, 60-plus pet-welcoming hotels, dozens of patio restaurants, and easy day trips to Coronado, Del Mar, and Temecula wine country.
Dog-friendly Ojai and Ventura: a Southern California escape
Ojai and Ventura: two dog-friendly towns, one unforgettable trip The Ojai Valley and the coastal city of Ventura together make one of the most appealing dog-friendly getaways in Southern California. Just 90 minutes north of Los Angeles, these two destinations offer dramatically different experiences —