Mark your holiday calendar because Santa and his water sleigh are making their way to Tomales Bay! Jolly Old Saint Nick is making his 9th annual visit to Nick's Cove on Sunday, December 8, from 3-5PM. more »
Photo: Instagram @thecharliebean
Yes, Oakland is a vibrant urban place to visit, but it’s not all about dog-friendly ale and wine trails, waterfront dining and hotels (more about that below). As dog-centric locals know, one of the pleasures of living here is proximity to many open-space preserves where you can flee the big-city hustle-bustle and revel with your pup in the shade of redwoods or atop grassy ridges with panoramic views. more »
Whispering Oaks Vineyard - Photo Credit: @winedogs_hq
The remote part of California east of Redding and Red Bluff, in the shadow of Mount Lassen, is one of the fastest growing but least known wine regions in the state. But there’s much to get to know, from producers with Redding and Oroville tasting rooms to dog-friendly boutique wineries way out in the country whose wines will surprise and delight. more »
Miner's Leap Winery - Photo Credit: @russ_hooper
The San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta is a boater’s paradise that in places feels like anther world. But you don’t need a boat to explore this rich agricultural region marked with old-time lift bridges, small towns and miles of levees that in the id-1800s transformed a once trackless wetland into 55 agricultural islands that still produce food for Northern California (pears and wine grapes are the main crops). Numerous winery tasting rooms have cropped up over the past decade on both sides of the river, all of them dog-friendly. more »
My bottle, don't touch - Photo Credit: @travels_with_dafydd
Monterey wines rely on warm sun, cool fog and nurturing soils resulting in intense varietal flavor. Chardonnay, pinot blanc and riesling are notable varietals grown near the coast, while reds are more common in the warmer southern areas. You can sample them all while your dog waits patiently (we hope!) by your side at dozens of pet-friendly tasting rooms from Cannery Row to Carmel to the Santa Lucia Highlands. Best bet: Pick a region and check out our recommended itineraries. more »
Wine snob - Miner's Leap Winery - Photo Credit: @russ.hooper
The San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta (often referred to as the California Delta) is a maze of navigable waterways winding from Sacramento to the San Francisco Bay. You don’t need to go far out of town to get a taste of the farm towns, wineries and bucolic agricultural scenes alongside the Sacramento River. The dog-friendly places we recommend for a short outing are all within 15 miles of downtown Sac. more »
Langtry Estate & Vineyards - Photo Credit: @embeckwith
While water activities are of course a big attraction in Lake County, more than 30 wineries, most with dog-friendly picnic areas and tasting rooms, welcome visitors in what is one of the fastest growing wine regions in the country. While the region is best known for its sauvignon blancs, petit sirahs and big reds are gaining well deserved cachet. The Lake County wine-growing region blanketing the eastern portion of the county is divided into seven AVAs (American Viticultural Areas), or appellations, each with its own sense of place. more »
The Lodge at Blue Lakes
Photo Credit: @nima_and_jasper
Clear Lake, that big puddle of blue in the middle of Lake County, is a popular vacation destination for families, but it’s hardly the only body of water in the vicinity. Blue Lakes (Upper and Lower), just five miles away, are a pair of clear, spring-fed bodies of water ideal for swimming and fishing. Only human-powered craft or those with or electric motors are allowed (speed limit is 5 mph), but you can rent an electric “yacht” or pontoon boat from the Lodge at Blue Lakes and pile the family (dogs included) on board for a great day of cruising about. more »
Bed & Barrell at Stonehouse Cellars
“Agritourism”—an agriculturally based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch—is as old as winemaking in California, yet there aren’t many places where visitors with dogs can spend the night on the premises. Bed & Barrel at Stonehouse Cellars, a winery/tasting room/B&B in Clearlake Oaks, Lake County, is an exception. more »
Lord Sandwich and friends at Smith Story Wine Cellars
Photo Credit: sandwichthedoodle
Talk about having it all beneath one roof…The Madrones, an Italian-style enclave in the Mendocino County town of Philo, is a multifaceted destination with three tasting rooms, five pet-friendly “guest quarters,” a wellness spa and a dog-friendly restaurant, Stone & Embers, specializing in wood-fired cuisine. Visitors with four-legged companions in tow will get a special welcome at the Smith Story Wine Cellars tasting room, where the resident goldendoodle, Lord Sandwich, reigns supreme. more »