Because DogTrekker focuses mainly on California travel, we always look forward to the annual Sunset Travel Awards. The 2024 winners include the “125 best ways to experience the West now,” often with furry companions by your side.
Current honorees include several Golden State coastal gems – including Timber Cove Resort, in the Sonoma County town of Jenner, the Laguna Surf Lodge in Laguna Beach, and Orli La Jolla, near San Diego. Here’s the scoop on these dog-friendly hotels.
Timber Cove Resort sits on a rugged bluff where the Russian River meets the Pacific. The views are panoramic, the restaurant features local ingredients, and rooms are outfitted with soaking tubs, comfortable living spaces, record players and a well-curated vinyl collection. Nature access here is legendary.
Please note, the resort charges a $150 pet fee per stay, with a two-pet limit per room. This might be higher than some travelers are used to, but there’s value in planning an extended stay and capitalizing on the property’s amenities.
Comforts include morning coffee and pastries, fresh-baked cookies each evening, sunset bubbles on Saturday nights, free parking and EV charging stations, local newspapers and more.
Laguna Surf Lodge offers a more metropolitan SoCal beach experience. The updated waterfront property is steps from both the Thalia Street surf break and many Laguna Beach shops, galleries and cafes clustered near the South Coast Highway.
Bright, airy rooms have Avocado Green mattresses, yoga mats, essential oil diffusers and views of both twinkling city lights and sparkling ocean waves. As part of the Soul Community Planet hotel group, the lodge’s Every Stay Does Good programs supports beach cleanups, tree plantings, youth mental health programs and more. The property charges a reasonable $35 per dog, per stay (limit two dogs).
The 13-room Orli La Jolla is a home away from home tucked in a beautifully updated 1913 residence. Cross the street to reach La Jolla Park, or walk about five minutes to reach the community’s postcard-pretty shoreline.
Well-appointed rooms and suites offer amenities like classic novels, board games and Polaroid cameras for guest use, while others might have private entry or coastal views.
Enjoy fresh air in the olive-shaded courtyard, sample local beer at the property’s brew bar and fuel up at EV charging stations. You can also customize your stay via an app that works like a digital concierge. Simply tap to order food, request fresh flowers or check in or out at your convenience.
The Orli La Jolla welcomes one dog per room (50 pounds or smaller) for $100 per stay. Furry companions must be leashed and may not sit on furniture in public areas.
