Dog Friendly Vacations In Northern California – California may be synonymous with Hollywood (Los Angeles), beaches (San Diego/Santa Barbara) or even Silicon Valley and the Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco Bay Area), but its beauty is undoubtedly elsewhere in its small towns. it (those looking into the distance). it’s also a great place in winter BTW). Many of these cities welcome dogs at pet-friendly venues, restaurants and events. These towns are a great escape from city life for dog-friendly places or those looking for dog trips from San Francisco.
As a dog mom and two-time San Francisco resident, I’ve explored many beautiful cities in Northern California with our precious munchkins Babu and Gunda through dog-friendly travel. Whether you have a dog or not, these cities that I will reveal in this post are not only good as a dog vacation, but also the best place to relax with family and friends, and the amazing romantic places in Northern California let you. discover a hidden part of California that most tourists don’t know about.
Dog Friendly Vacations In Northern California
Perfect for a dog-friendly weekend, these towns are a good way to cross Napa Valley and Sonoma for wine tasting, as well as some good hiking, giant redwoods, and pristine beaches to help you enjoy that long week. from the cares of the world!
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I’ve also included some real Northern California weekend ideas like dog kennels, hiking, dog-friendly Redwoods, and dog-friendly restaurants that are 100% based on my travels and are honest and authentic.
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For all dog-friendly hotels, please call and confirm with hotel management their dog policies prior to booking in case they change. Thank you!
This is one of the best dog escapes and we love this town so much we’ve been there three times! Mendocino, a foggy coastal town, is pet-friendly and the gateway to the great California Redwoods, along with the towns of Ukiah and Willits.
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You can pamper yourself (and your baby) a little more by staying at the Stanford Inn (home of the famous Ravens restaurant where dogs can eat in the dining room!) with nice reservable dining rooms or the Heritage House Resort and Spa (a great place to entertain your dog) or the reliable Holiday Inn Express in the Fort Bragg area where we stayed in Fort Bragg to go whale watching (which is also dog friendly). ).
Being close to the Anderson Valley, one of California’s pinot noir growing wine regions, Mendocino is blessed with wineries in Boonville and Yorkville in Anderson County and the upper Russian River Valley around Ukiah, Redwood Valley, Hopland and Potter Valley, to name a few. which dogs are welcome.
Fort Bragg’s beautiful beaches, ferret train rides through the Redwoods with your dog, and boating on the Grand River are just a few of the things to keep you and your pup entertained on a dog-friendly vacation. Finally, don’t miss Point Cabrillo Light as it’s a dog-friendly lighthouse at the lowest point. The Coastal Road from Mendocino to San Francisco is a great trail full of big holes that you can’t miss!
Dogs are not allowed in all Redwood Groves in Mendocino County, but you can read my amazing list of dog-friendly redwoods near San Francisco for more options.
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All those who visit the Napa Valley are drawn to the allure of the vineyards in St. Helena, Yountville and Healdsburg are a few miles north of the small town of Calistoga. Once a rural farm town, Calistoga is now a figurative hot spot, thanks to all the pools and mud baths here due to the area’s high temperatures.
Calistoga is also dog-friendly, thanks to its many pet-friendly resorts, such as the Solage Resort (which has a beautiful garden for outdoor dining) or the Calistoga Motor Lodge & Spa, which we stayed at and were favorites on our recent trip to Calistoga.
This great dog haven has another secret “Old Faithful” Geyser (this place also has a goat farm… say what?) on the dog friendly Tubbs Trail. There are also plenty of dog-friendly wineries nearby for tasting vintage wines with your best friend! Add this wine city to your list of dog-friendly weekend getaways and you won’t be disappointed!
Murphys is a beautiful little town in California’s Calaveras County (aka between San Francisco and Stockton) that no one will tell you anything about. That’s a good thing, because not only is it a great place to take the dogs on a weekend, but it also has some of the cheapest and most diverse things you can find in California.
Northern California Pet-friendly Vacation Rentals
Fun fact: Calaveras County was made famous by Mark Twain in his short story “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” so it’s no surprise that you’ll find bullfrog statues scattered around this small town.
We stayed at the beautiful Courtwood Inn B&B for the weekend with Babu and explored the town of Murphys, which is an easy main street with lots of wine tasting rooms and dog friendly restaurants.
Some of our popular pet stops include Alchemy Market & Cafe, Grounds, Aria Bakery (you must try their delicious croissants and biscuits) and V Restaurant & Bar. Alchemy also has live music on the covered patio which was great for us considering we visited at the end of the rain.
Downtown wineries like Gossamer Cellars (they have a dog sign outside), Twisted Oak (their winery is known for their amazing signs leading to the tasting room, so get there early) and Frog’s Tooth will let you do a good old dog. friendly wine tasting on the main street.
Dog Friendly Vacation Rental Title Graphic V
We also stopped at Chatom Winery (another dog friendly winery in Murphys) to add some wine since we had already visited the tasting rooms. The wines on tap can be a mix of red, white and sometimes salt wines and are very cheap at $5-10 per taste, with the fee waived if you buy a bottle.
In addition to wine tasting, you can walk Murphys Road (a beautiful river runs through it) or hike the 17.5-mile Arnold Rim Trail, Calaveras County’s most popular dog trail. In short, this modest town is perfect for a weekend getaway with dogs.
Lodi, the Zinfandel capital of the world, is California’s best-kept wine secret. Dog or not, you will be delighted by the famous wineries in Lodi, which boast unparalleled beauty and an affordable $8 per person. Downtown Lodi also has several dog-friendly rooms and many of their restaurants welcome dogs on covered patios, all within easy walking distance of the friendly cabin where we stayed.
It’s the perfect dog weekend and one of our best dog spots yet! I recommend visiting Toasted Toad Cellars in town, Oak Farm Vineyards and Bokisch Vineyards known for their Iberian wines.
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Lodi Lake is a great place to hike and don’t miss the “Lodi Special Grape Pie” at Smack pie Pizza. Lodi is crazy about grapes and wine and you’ll have a great time there if wine tasting and natural beauty are your jam!
Enjoy Lodi with a luxury dog-friendly stay at the Wine & Roses Hotel (with outdoor pool, spa, and fine dining) or the ever-reliable Econo Lodge Inn & Suites or Holiday Inn Express.
Santa Cruz is a mix of hippy yoga and California town, but there’s more to this place than you might think. Many people in the Bay Area flock to Santa Cruz for its crowded AF trails (no dogs allowed and too noisy to walk) or to stay at one of the noisy and expensive hotels overlooking the beach. However, this city has another side that is friendly and peaceful.
Santa Cruz is home to the coast redwoods, one of the tallest trees in the world, and you can embrace their beauty by staying in the nearby town of Bonny Doon at a charming, dog-friendly B&B among the redwoods. Hidden beaches near Santa that no one can see
