Cypress Inn

by Dave Kendrick, Co-founder DogTrekker.com

A reader recently mentioned that as part of our in-depth coverage of destinations around the state, we should provide tips that locals use to have fun with their dogs in their home towns or regions. Since Cannery Row and Monterey County are DogTrekker.com’s backyard playground, we thought this would be a good time to begin sniffing out how to navigate the local scene.

Tip 1: The Monterey Bay Aquarium on Cannery Row is a top attraction for many visitors. Dogs aren’t allowed inside, but that shouldn’t stop you from bringing your pup on a visit to the area. Here are some ways to do that:

• Short-term boarding: a seven-minute walk from the aquarium is Casa de Amigos Animal Hotel, where you can leave you pup (as long as she’s up to date on her vaccines) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for a flat fee of $25. Other sitting services are listed here.

• Maya, DogTrekker.com’s Director of Barketing, loves to be pampered while her parents are checking out the latest aquarium exhibits. Close by is a full-service Petco groomer. Others can be found on DogTrekker.com and on the DogTrekker mobile app. more »

Part of the fun of visiting Carmel with your four-legged BFF is sharing the village with other people holding a leash. You’ll meet plenty of kindred spirits of both the two- and four-legged varieties at the dog-centric Cypress Inn, which hosts daily “yappy hours” that include soft jazz entertainment around the Living Room fireplace on weekends. more »

Carmel-by-the-Sea is nirvana for dogs and the people who love them, and that's as true when it comes to restaurants as it is with the town's glorious leash-free beach. Start your morning with a scone and a mocha latte savored at an outdoor table at Carmel Valley Roasting Company—or, should you care to greet the day with a scenic journey along 17-Mile Drive, pull off at the historic Lodge at Pebble Beach and treat yourself to breakfast (or lunch) at a dog-friendly table on the terrace of the Gallery Café, a favorite with early risers and, later in the day, those who relish a good old-fashioned milkshake. more »

This is it, the holy grail of DogTrekking accommodations. Visitors arrive in Carmel-by-the-Sea from all points of the country and beyond to enjoy a stay at the Cypress Inn, where film star and animal lover Doris Day pioneered the concept of catering to pets. more »

Maybe its something in the air, or some mysterious substance in the water. More likely, that mile-long, powder-white beach is what set Carmel-by-the-Sea on course to become the undisputed center of the dog-friendly universe in California. more »