Lucky 13 California beaches

Sun, surf and sand with your dog

We’ll have fun fun fun with our furry friends begging for a vacation at the beach. Your favorite canine will love going surfing, swimming, fetching, sniffing, sunning and digging in the sand at all of these dog-friendly beaches.

1. Newport Beach

Miles of surfer and puppy friendly sand! What furshionista would not want to walk on a leash on this expansive sandy beach, surrounded by millionaire homes? Cici thinks it is a great place to sunbathe, relax and dream. And after hours, have a bonfire with your best friend, listening to the waves crashing and munch on s’mores while telling woof woof stories.

https://theocbarkyard.wordpress.com/2015/02/11/dog-friendly-beaches-in-orange-county/

2. Torrance Beach 

Rat Beach is a little known beach near Redondo Beach in Palos Verdes Estates. Doggies can run off leash on soft sand for a mile and a half.    

http://celiasue.com/2012/06/27/july-4th-in-southern-california/

3.   Huntington Beach

Pooches can catch a wave, shoot a curl, hang four paws and practice their best moves at doggie surf camp for Surf City’s annual Surf Dog event. Three days of doggone fun for everyone.

http://surfcitysurfdog.com/

4. Laguna Beach

Romping and rolling on leash is allowed during the non-tourist season from September to June and before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. during the rest of the year. But there are still fun shops, art to paw at, doggie parks to chase other dogs in, music and dance festivals and skateboarding for pooches with imagination and energy to spare.

  http://www.lagunabeachmagazine.com/four-legged-laguna/

5. Carmel

Soak up the sun and surf at one of the dog-friendliest beaches on the planet. Canines run wild and free (one of the few leash-free beaches in California) along the sand for miles. Fodor’s and others have named Carmel the pet friendliest city in the USA for good reason. Otherwise known as doggie heaven. White sand, blue skies and waves, who could woof for anything more?

http://celiasue.com/2014/07/08/summer-fun-in-doggie-heaven/

6. Pebble Beach

After enjoying the surf and sand, canines in the know and their hoomans can watch the sunset, listen to bagpipes, and eat tasty gourmet treats on the patio fire pit area of the Inn at Spanish Bay at Pebble Beach.

http://celiasue.com/2014/07/08/summer-fun-in-doggie-heaven/

7. Pacific Grove

Asilomar Coastal Trail is where friendly furry four-leggeds sniff and explore, along Sunset Drive. There is a wooden boardwalk and bridge and lots of off leash fun to be had at Spanish Bay Beach, right after the State Beach.

http://www.coastalcaninemag.com/issues/spring2011/ccdwasilomar.html

8. Mendocino

Speaking of dog friendly coastal paradises, where else but Mendo can a dog do everything (and more) of what a dog’s gotta do? Van Damme State Beach and Noyo Beach are the hippiest and happiest places for pooches. Where else on earth can canines paddle a canoe, go kayaking, tiptoe through the tulips for free at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, get a few licks of an ice cream cone (also free), go shopping, dining and camping, all within a few miles?

http://www.mendocinofun.com/pet-friendly/

9. San Diego

Dog beach baby is where the nouveau ripe and famous go for a little R&R (rough and rambunctious), zoomies. This is the best melting spot for hot dogs of all sizes, shapes, colors, and breeds.

https://oceanbeachsandiego.com/attractions/beaches/dog-beach

10. Morro Bay

North of the Rock, at North Point Beach, canines can frolic off leash on a two-mile stretch of sand. At the Morro Bay Visitors Center (which keeps changing location), Cici had a selfie taken with a surf board.

http://www.visitsanluisobispocounty.com/blog/794/dog-friendly-beaches-abound-in-slo-county

Beach baby bungalows

11. Pismo Beach

Four paws in the sand. Do not wish to work on your tan or hate the feel of the pebbles beneath your paws? Take your hooman out for a sunset stroll along the pier. Roam the bluffs above Shell Beach at Dinosaur Caves Park.

http://www.visitsanluisobispocounty.com/blog/794/dog-friendly-beaches-abound-in-slo-county

http://celiasue.com/2013/05/02/slo-has-gone-to-the-dogs/

12. Bodega Bay

Schoolhouse Beach, Goat Rock Beach and the other state beaches are a dog’s best bet for sun and surf. Some of the campgrounds are dog friendly and others are not. The freshest fish and chips on the planet can be had at the Boat House where furry pals can party on the patio.

http://celiasue.com/2009/05/26/the-birds-fly-over-jenner/

 13. Dillon Beach

Marin county’s off leash private beach allows hoomans to call their dogs who play nice and friendly with others from the tide line to the water.

 Dillon Beach Resort – Beach

Longisland pet friendly

No, there should not be a space between long and island… as a Queens born and raised gal, we say longisland as one word…longyland…

I have written about NYC (the city aka Manhattan) pet friendly but that is not the same as the island and queens… so am going to write here about the choices of places that are pet friendly in my home neck of the woods.

Now when I think of LI, it is mostly Nassau county, there is also Suffolk and other counties, it is a BIG place most people do not know when they think of NYC.  Or they might have heard of Fire Island. There are also a lot of historic places, like Teddy Roosevelt and FDR lived.

 

There are a bunch of pet friendly hotels, cannot recommend any until we choose one, or a few and go and stay in them but for now…

http://www.discoverlongisland.com/visitors/lodgingresult.aspx/minor/webhotlpet

pet friendly B&B’s

this one at the Hampton’s says it is dog friendly but does not specify policy, there are a few rooms that are dog friendly and there is a charge/fee

http://www.millhouseinn.com/

pet friendly with prior notice East Hampton’s, seems the most pet friendly

http://www.bassetthouseinn.com/

a few more pet friendly B&B’s at the Hampton’s

Southampton Inn

Pet Policy:  $49.00 pet fee per night, per pet. Please never leave your pet alone. Pets must be leashed when on the property.

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/pet-friendly-hotels-hamptons-new-york-56276.html

found another but it only allows 30 pound and under dogs and charges $100 fee, pet tolerant not dog welcoming

http://www.theinnatfoxhollow.com/pet-friendly-hotel-long-island.aspx

here are some near the wineries but do not specify which are pet friendly or not so you will have to find out

http://www.liwines.com/?cat=3

As a kid, we loved going to Jones Beach or Far Rockaway beach… are they pet friendly?  We also liked to visit Rocky Point, way way way out on LongIsland… is it pet friendly? How about Fire Island?

no pets allowed at Jones Beach, bah humbug

http://www.nysparks.com/parks/10/

Rocky Point, N.Y.

This Long Island town allows dogs on its beaches, within certain limits: They must be kept on a leash and are allowed to frolic in the waves only during the mornings and evenings in the summer. (Any time is fine in the winter.) Over time, the area has become more dog-friendly

http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/slideshows/ten-best-places-to-live-for-pet-lovers/2

other dog friendly beaches on LI

 

 Eugene Nickerson Beach Dog Run | Long Island 
The lesser-known alternative to the more popular Jones Beach and Robert Moses Beach, Lido Beach comes out on top for its privacy and dog-friendly policies. An enclosed dog park with separate areas for big and small dogs gives dogs of all sizes some room to roam. While dogs are not allowed on the beach, except on leash during the months of September through March, the dog run is an opportunity for socializing between your dog and some new furry friends.
How to get there: Take the LIRR to Island Park. Take a waiting taxi the 10 minute ride to Long Beach.

 Montauk Beaches | Long Island
With no leash laws in site, dogs are the masters of their domain on Montauk’s beaches. Before 9am and after 6pm, let your pooch parade around spots like Gin Beach and Hither Hills State Park. Enjoy a splash through beautiful Block Island Sound, favored by surfers for the consistent waves. Parks and beaches in Montauk are open from sunrise to sunset for your exploring pleasure.
How to get there: Take the LIRR or the Hampton Jitney to Montauk. Beaches will be about a 10 minute walk or bike ride.

http://offmetro.com/ny/2011/08/02/dog-friendly-beaches-nyc/

other pet friendly beaches on LI

http://www.longisland.com/pet-friendly-beaches.html

21 dog friendly beaches on LI

http://www.hikewithyourdog.com/Articles/21LongIslandBeaches.html

best doggie day trips

Fire Island

Barrett Beach, one of the narrowest parts of Fire Island, is one of the few beaches in New York that welcomes your puppy. Take a special charter ferry from Patchogue, Long Island and pay approximately $5.25 for your dog to ride the ferry. Take the easy stroll from the dock to the ocean-side beach, or head to the picnic area where you may kick back and enjoy a snack with Fido. To get some shade, follow the forest trail along the short boardwalk. Dogs must be on a leash no longer than six feet.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/top-lists/best-places-to-take-a-doggy-day-trip-near-new-york/

loved to go ice skating and shopping at Roosevelt Field… is it pet friendly?

Roosevelt Field Mall
630 Old Country Road
Garden City, NY 11530
516 742-8000

only small dogs in strollers or contained dogs or service dogs are allowed in this mall

is Lake Success shopping center pet friendly???

here is a list of pet friendly stores on LI

http://www.longisland.com/pet-friendly-stores.html

pet friendly wineries

http://www.longislandwineryreviews.com/wineries/pet-friendly/

http://bottle-of-white.com/2011/08/01/wine-tasting-with-your-4-legged-friend/

pet friendly dining

Some pet friendly restaurants

http://www.longisland.com/pet-friendly-restaurants.html

pet friendly parks

http://www.longisland.com/parks/?at_id=723

LI pet friendly dog parks

http://www.lidog.org/li_dogparks.htm

http://long-island.newsday.com/recreation/parks/dog-friendly-parks-and-beaches-1.1267051

 

 

Upstate in the Adirondack Mountains where I went to camp as a teenager, at Camp Somerhill, near Lake George, in Warrensburg, there is a camping place with a swimming beach for dogs, called Daggett Lake. There is also hiking and vacation rentals that are pet friendly.

http://www.daggettlake.com/

Santa barbara pet friendly

Summertime travel is on the move… Are you considering traveling with your pet this summer?  Perhaps you’d enjoy visiting Santa Barbara.

Below are some pet friendly venues, wineries, and beaches to explore.  Cici and I have NOT visited these pet frendly hotels.  If you go, please let us know.

Santa Barbara County offers miles and miles of beautiful beaches. But enjoying the outdoors in Santa Barbara means more than sand and surf. Santa Barbara is also home to some 50 public parks and picnic areas. Santa Barbara is located between Los Angeles to the south (about two hours) and Solvang to north (about an hour).

Santa Barbara is about 95 miles north of Los Angeles, California. The area is known for its beautiful beaches and its breathtaking views from Santa Ynez Valley, where many a grape has been turned into a enjoyable wine. Stearns Wharf is just one of the popular places to take a pet, and there are several pet-friendly hotels and motels where you can unwind.

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/santa-barbara-pet-friendly-motels-hotels-30726.html

There are farmers markets, tons of shops, and last time we went, a Fatburger (one of my favorite places to have a turkey burger). Oh no, I just googled and it appears that Fatburger’s is closed there and also in Palm Springs, and Las Vegas. But LA Fatburger’s appear to be open since there is a recent press release on their website that Meryl Streep ate a Fatburger.

https://www.fatburger.com/WhatsNew/WhatsNew.aspx

Almost all restaurants with outdoor seating will allow well-behaved pets on a leash. Just ask.

Read more: http://www.discover-santa-barbara.com/pet-friendly-motels.html#ixzz1wqnSUbBq
If you and your dog are visiting Santa Barbara and want to venture beyond the lovely beach at the Four Seasons Biltmore, here are some great options:

Arroyo Burro Beach Park, 2981 Cliff Drive: On and off leash.  Locals call it Hendry’s Beach, and dogs call it heaven.  Self-service dog washing stations available.

Read more: http://www.johnnyjet.com/2012/05/santa-barbara-dog-parks-and-dog-friendly-trails/#ixzz1wqguSNFa

Fess Parker Hotel

http://www.fessparkersantabarbarahotel.com/about-the-resort/pet-friendly.cfm

there is a $25 per night non-refundable fee for pet rooms

http://www.fessparkersantabarbarahotel.com/pdfs/2011_PET_MENU.pdf

guest dining, room service menu and patio outdoor dining

All sizes welcome

senior rates/discounts

Discover the  Santa Barbara Wine Country

There are dog-friendly beaches a short drive away.

Located on the California Central Coast, Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort is 90 miles north of Los Angeles and 360 miles south of San Francisco. Encircled by the Santa Ynez Mountains and directly across from the Pacific Ocean, this impressive Santa Barbara beach resort is a 24-acre paradise

http://www.santabarbara.com/lodging/pet_friendly/

Off-Leash Areas

Dogs are not allowed on Santa Barbara city beaches, with or without a leash. But they can cavort off-leash east of the slough at Arroyo Burro Beach. Dogs also run and play leash-free at the Douglas Family Preserve, a fabulous open space on the tree-studded bluffs above Arroyo Burro. Or stroll on-leash toward the west to enjoy more scenic views.

For a list of county park off-leash dog areas, visit www.countyofsb.org/parks. .

http://www.santabarbaraca.com/visitor-info/pet-friendly/

dog friendly places, parks, beaches in santa barbara

http://dogpacsb.org/friendly.html

pet friendly wineries

Santa Barbara County

Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard

1500 Alamo Pintado Road

Solvang, Calif. 93463

(805) 688-3032

Lincourt Vineyards

1711 Alamo Pintado Road

Solvang, California 93463

(805) 688-8554

Douglas Family Preserve

2981 Cliff Dr.

Santa Barbara, Calif.

(805) 687-3714

Four Seasons Biltmore

1260 Channel Drive

Santa Barbara, Calif. 93108

(805) 969-2261

http://www.roadandtravel.com/pettravel/2008/pet-friendly-california.htm

http://casadelmar.com/santa-barbara-pet-friendly-hotel.asp

Casa Del Mar

Pet charge is $15/nt for each pet.

“Continental-Plus” breakfast, and an evening wine & cheese available from 5 to 7 pm daily

offers a variety of in room spa treatments

 

Walk to the Santa Barbara Harbor for sunset cruises, charter fishing and sailing, or Santa Barbara whale-watching. The historic Santa Barbara Stearns Wharf, the Santa Barbara Dolphin Fountain, and the Santa Barbara Sunday Arts & Crafts Show along the Santa Barbara Cabrilloo Boulevard are just steps away. A convenient Santa Barbara city shuttle bus departs every fifteen minutes, taking you uptown for Santa Barbara shopping, the Santa Barbara Art Museum, or to visit the famous Santa Barbara Zoo.

http://casadelmar.com/santa-barbara-winery.asp

Canary Hotel

The Canary Hotel welcomes visitors and their pooches with treats, dog beds in the hotel rooms, dog toys, shampoo and conditioner bottles and a flying disc for outdoor fun. Visitors should expect to pay a flat fee that fee covers the duration of the entire stay if they wish to bring their pets along. Canary Hotel 31 W. Carrillo St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 884-0300 canarysantabarbara.com

holiday tips for the road

If you are going to the Rapture today, have a great time…

Cici and I had fun driving around for two years… these are a few things that kept us safe and sane. With Memorial Day weekend coming up, these tips are helpful for holidays and can also be good for summer travel with your pooches.

l.  Comfy and cozy and restrained. I had Cici all set up in the back seat with her own blankets and bedding, toys and bones to chew on. Familiar stuff. She could stretch out and snooze while I drove. Or gnaw on bones. Whatever she felt like doing was ok with me because she was out of the way. No coming up into the front of the car or sitting beside me. I did not strap her in but now have a harness for her that attaches to the seat belt which I will use when/if we go on another road trip.  We have been invited back east in June, not sure yet if we will go.

2.  Speaking dog language. I sing songs to her, making them up as I go along. She has learned that when I sing the beach song that means we are going to the beach and she perks up. Or when I sing the doggie park song, she’ll be ready to play with doggie pals. One of the sweetest sounds is the yum yum song, meaning we’re gonna go eat some food. Salivation.

3. Give me a potty break. I take frequent breaks/stops along the way to our destinations and often times intentionally stop at places I know that she will enjoy, if possible. Beaches, dog parks, pet friendly wineries as well as shopping malls and pet stores. When we have the time to do this, it definitely breaks up the monotony of the road and makes the traveling easier and more fun.

4.  Time and traffic. We usually were not in a rush to get anywhere, so our time schedule was flexible. If we had to be somewhere at a certain time, I’d leave more than enough time to get there. When traveling on a holiday weekend, go a day or two ahead if you can or a day or two later to avoid the rush hour traffic.  Same with summer travel. Be aware of times when traffic gets jammed up and take a different route, if possible.

5. Unexpected things will always happen so prepare and expect an adventure. Bring car oil, gas can, a flashlight, a spare tire, camping gear, water, extra dog food and treats, towels, pillows, clothing, extra cash or credit card and other items you might need (shampoo, scissors, bandages, ointments and creams and oils) just in case.

6.  Maps and driving directions. Keep in glove compartment. I am not always good about this. I know the general direction or city/place and then get there and not know where to go and have to search online or on my computer. Keep phone numbers and addresses handy, too.  If you have a cell phone/I-phone, probably makes this easier. I have yet to succumb to the 21st century on this one but if you are traveling alone, especially in desolate areas such as the desert, having a cell phone is a good idea. Hopefully, there is a connection/dial tone when you need to use it.

7.  Be a good guest. Bring your best manners with you. And pet waste bags. If renting a car, cover the seats with sheets and keep your pooch in a crate or harnessed to a dog bed in the back seat. Let the fur fly somewhere else than in the rental car or you might have to pay a hefty fee. Also, be sure of the rental car company’s pet policy before you get to the rental counter. At the pet friendly inn, hotel, motel, B&B or campground, find out ahead of time their do’s and don’ts, nearby places to visit including restaurants where you can take your pooch and fun dog friendly activities in the area.

8.  Be considerate. Not everyone loves dogs and some people are afraid of dogs. And they don’t have to nor do some like pit bulls and other big dogs. And they do not have to either. Of course, rude comments, aggressive behavior and insults are not acceptable and discrimination is unwarranted. But if your dog is well behaved, does not run up to strangers, knock babies over, lick kid’s ice cream cones,  bark or yap incessantly, share fur and drool everywhere or jump up on tables, people and furniture, a better time will be had for all. Make sure your fur baby is a good ambassador for the breed and species.

9.  Accidents may happen. Bring your vet’s phone number, medical records, ID tags, photos of your pet and other info with you, just in case. Also any medications and a pet first aid kit (like the green one we suggested).

10.  One is the loneliest number. Dogs do not like to be left alone in a hotel room, strange places or even in the familiar confines of your car. Do not ever leave your four legged friend unattended in a parked vehicle. On warm days, the temperature in your vehicle is unbearable, 120 degrees, even with the windows slightly open. In addition, your pet could be taken away by unscrupulous pet thieves looking to make a quick buck.

11.  Does your Dog Have a License? If you and your dog are going to share the driving, be sure that they have their Pet’s Driver’s License. Kidding but Cici does now have her Pet Driver’s License, with all her ID listed on it plus a photo of her on it. Between this, her collar ID tag, microchip registered, she is all set to get up and go. Cannot wait for someone to ask for my driver’s license, I will definitely show them hers.

http://www.mypetdmv.com/

http://youcantmakeitup.blogspot.com/2006/04/50-animals-driving.html

Now it’s time to take a Blog Hop road trip catching dogs with Life with Dogs and Two Cavalier Dogs online, here be the code

happy tails to you, when we meet some day in Carmel…

simply,  the best country inns in Carmel…

Vagabond’s House Inn is located at:
4th and Dolores
P.O. Box 2747
Carmel, California 93921 USA
Phone: 831.624.7738
Toll Free: 800.262.1262

http://www.vagabondshouseinn.com/room_twenty.html

A modern 2-room suite with a queen bed, couch, writing desk, and a fireplace. Plus, a refrigerator, coffee maker and dining table. The luxurious bathroom has a full shower and separate tub, plus Elemis bath amenities. Best of all, this is street level making it easy to take your dog in and outside.

Superb service, doggie amenities include a portable doggie bed, toy, treats, bowl and scarf… cici chewed up the squeaky toy within the first hour… she loves to take all of the stuffing out.

breakfast, eggs, yogurt, cereal, toast, coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, delivered to your door in the morning, plus tasty wine and cheese in the afternoon…  there is also sherry in the room…

the weather was really hot, hot hot… and the room we stayed in was nice and cool, with icy water in the fridge… fluffy robes, very modern furniture, and QUIET… everywhere else in Carmel has been noisy…  you could live here, it’s a real home away from home…  internet works really well and so does the tv…

took cici for a long walk down ocean avenue, the major street in town, and one woman was watering her plants but would not give cici any water. then another shop owner had a dish filled with dog treats outside, cici grabbed as many treats as she could.

http://www.therawconnection.com/index.php

we walked into town to visit the Fountain of woof at Carmel Plaza, Cici drank a little bit and seemed to want to take a bath in the fountain… we also tried to visit Blue Dog art gallery but they were closed. And she just LOVED (Hot) Diggidy Dog, a fun pet store, cici wanted to eat all of the treats they had in the store, which are quite a few. They also had doggie goggles, panties, costumes for Halloween, fresh baked goodies, freeze dried treats, and all kinds of doggie toys.

only in Carmel is there Carmel Canines, a mobile salon and health spa for pooches and Chateau le Paws, which offers dogs manicures and pedicures for th beloved four legged furry creatures.

Svendsgaard’s Inn
Corner of 4th & San Carlos Street
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921

European ambience, 35 guest rooms and suites, half of them are pet friendly, some rooms have fireplaces and spa tubs, and kitchens. there is onsite parking which is important in Carmel.  there is coffee, tea, hot chocolate and cookies available in the lobby in the afternoon and a nice cold breakfast delivered to your room by 8 am consisting of juice, cereal, bagel, coffee cake, and yogurt …

http://www.innsbythesea.com/svendsgaard/

Below is Peaches the pit bull registering with Paige (or getting treats from the fun barking treat jar the inn has in the lobby)…

Hofsas house

this is a family owned, operated and oriented inn… with artistic murals in keeping with the Carmel community. There are 38 rooms, 1/2 are pet friendly 19 rooms…  we stayed in a room on third floor with an ocean view and its own patio. Dogs are allowed by the pool with their owner. Carrie has managed the inn for the past eight years. She has a five year old lab named Cajun. there are family suites suitable for six people. there is a meeting room available for 25-30 people for business retreats, women’s groups, knitting groups, sewing groups, quilting groups. the meeting room has a fireplace and full kitchen, can be set up theatre or conference style.   there is a sense of what Bavarians call Gemutlichkeit…

when you book a room at the Hofsas House from October 15 to April 2009, tell them the incentive code is cici and you will receive 15% off excluding holidays and special events.

http://www.cabbi.com/inn/Hofsas%20House/

Once upon a time, Dawn and her dog, met Diane and her dog. They became fast friends and a few years ago, acquired the Happy Landing Inn in Carmel. This adorable and quaint inn is a few steps away from the dog friendly Carmel beach. The inn is like a touch of Solvang in Carmel.  There are seven rooms and all of them are pet friendly. Ours was compact and tidy with a view of the garden in the courtyard. Breakfast was served at our door and consisted of fresh juice and fruit salad and hot quiche and chocolate chip muffin with hot tea (your choice of beverage), nice and yummy, it hit the right spot (not the one on the top of cici’s head) but she also received a few treats. Dawn has been in the innkeeping biz for 30 years and diane is the sales/marketing partner.

http://www.carmelhappylanding.com/

happy tails and trails… and dog friendly wineries?

A great big right back at you thank you to Olga… check out her awesome photos of the goodie bag that she won last week for the Name the Traveling Dog Panties giveaway PLUS her fun dog playing with the DoggyTug video…

http://olgathetravelingbraotherstuff.blogspot.com/2008/04/happy-tails-to-you.html

a new clue for those of you who want to enter this week’s giveaway and win… name my two cats who were brothers… and poetry is one word to search for, there are other forms, poetry is plural… the cats meow… 

Cici and I will be traveling soon… next week to Mendocino, California and then south… staying in dog friendly places…  if you know of fun places, please let us know… we are especially looking to stay in yurts, tree houses, tipis and weird, unique and unusual places that feature dark chocolate, too, and speaking of chocolate, we will be featuring some yummy chocolates again soon and if you are an innkeeper or chocolatier and want to be featured here and in other publications, please call or email me asap. 

if we get to southern Oregon any time soon, I found this… pet friendly b and b’s in southern oregon

 

http://www.lodging-world.com/petfriendlysearch.us.oregon._._.html

and can you believe it, Napa/Sonoma wineries have gone to the dawgs… more on this soon… am doing research and we hope to check these out personally…

also, did you know that there are people making dog wine, dog chocolate and dog beer?  how dry I am… hiccup…  we are NOT NOT NOT recommending that anyone give regular people beer or wine to their dogs, please don’t… it’s not good for them…

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/beer-for-dogs-next-stop-doggie-aa-230729.php

http://www.beerfordogs.com/

and dog lovers wine clubs?

http://www.hsus.org/shop/dog_lovers_wine_club.html

and wine dogs…

http://www.winedogs.com/t-about.aspx

 

and dog wine labels?

http://www.critterwines.com/Dog.asp

Cici and I are looking forward to being on the road again… well, I am… not so sure about her… once we hit the beach though, she will be a very happy camper… 

     

Dog friendly beaches… from Oregon to California…

ok, getting back on topic, traveling with my dog this past summer…We loved Ashland, as mentioned in my post about Silly Rabbit way back when. Medford was ok. The drive from Ashland to Brookings was very scenic, although the temperature was hot hot hot. 

We found a nice lake in Ashland near Dagoba. The folks there were gracious, gave us a few samples and directed us to a place to cool off. Cici jumped right in the water and splashed her little heart out while I watched. There was not a good place for me to be in the shade and the water was too muddy for my taste but refreshing for my dog who had been in the hot car. Splish splash.

Just north of Medford, in Grants Pass, we stopped at Cary’s, known for its English Toffee. Delish !  We received a warm welcome and free samples. They had just been featured on Rachael Ray’s TV show.  The deep dark chocolate toffee is fantastic so I was a happy camper. Cici had to stay in the car, so she waited patiently and sulked. 

http://www.carysoforegon.com/dark-chocolate.html

Brookings, Oregon was just plain strange. It was a relief to get to the cool ocean breezes and Cici was anxious to meet some doggie friends on the beach. But first, we stopped in at the Travel Center at Harris Beach State Park. They have a campground with four yurts and there is a beautiful rest area (the best we have ever sniffed anywhere).  It took some convincing and asking several people for permission to visit the yurts, but we managed to view a yurt that they use for kids. The other yurts were occupied by campers. The campground was brimming full of people, too claustrophobic for my taste. Isn’t the point of camping out to get away from everything, including people? 

The beaches from Astoria to Brookings are havens for dog lovers and their four-legged companions, who happily swim in the ocean, dig in the sand, and nap on the beach, according to the hype. The day was cloudy and overcast but we endeavored our way down the stairs to get to the beach. Cici sniffed the entire way, licked some feet of passersby, and we made it onto the sand. The coolness was invigorating and there were a few dogs with their humans. Cici wanted to play with all of them but settled for a large dog (mixed breed). The two pups rassled and chased one another across the wet sand and into pools of water while we humans chatted. Boring. 

Afterwards, we got a bite to eat at three places, a health food place, friendly people, ok carrot juice, and an Italian place, had a sad chicken parmesanlike sandwich. The third place is not even worth mentioning, that’s how bad it was. We had high hopes for chocolate but there were no venues worth mentioning. We were going to rest our sleepy heads in Brookings but the place frankly gave us the creeps. I love small towns and thought that the rest area would be safe. It was still daylight. The motels were not dog friendly and expensive. So it was not to be for us to stay overnight. There were a lot of restless adolescents (gangs) who seemed to be looking for trouble. So spur of the moment, we decided to head south.

Driving back down the coast is extremely twisty, windy on the 101 and on top of that we had weather to contend with. Thunderstorms with litning to boot. It quickly became dark and country dark, which is the darkest dark there is. Tiny towns with no accommodations, either. No place at the inn for me and my pup.  Sure, most people plan ahead  but me and my dog were flying by the seat of our paws. When you do that, you get a mixed bag. Wonderful discoveries and odd happenings. 

If I had done some research, could woulda shoulda found out about other places. We were going to go up to Gold beach but changed our minds. Oh well, another time…

http://www.beachconnection.net/news/tlodg0606_2163.htm

http://www.goldbeach.org/

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/31772/petfriendly_lodging_for_a_beach_vacation.html

http://www.seacrestoregon.com/rooms.htm

Imagine, B&B’s that allow pets…

http://www.bbonline.com/petswelcome.html

and Pet friendly vacation rentals

http://www.petvr.com/index.php/index.html

Finally, after much prayer and supplication for somewhere to rest for the weary, we found a youth hostel in the middle of nowhere. It was full to capacity and then some but we were able to camp out near their parking lot. They locked the gates so that no one could get inside and we felt safe at last. Cici slept in the car while I grabbed my sleeping bag and got some shuteye on the ground. 

The next morning, early, they opened the gate for us ahead of time, and we were off. We flew down past Arcata and Eureka, checked out the wildlife along the way,and the city of Ferndale, revisited the Avenue of the Giants and hunkered down for the night in a Redwood Forest. If you have never been to the Giant Redwoods, go immediately. The hushed forests are enchanting and magical.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/CAPHItree.html

The next day we headed down to Garberville, revisited new friends at a friendly gas station there, had a fabulous brunch, got on the Internet at the library. G-ville is a hippie enclave town, much like Sebastopol near Santa Rosa and Bodega Bay.  We checked out the parks, they were pretty small.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garberville,_California

According to wiki, The first settlers arrived in 1853 to what was then named “Dogtown.”

We checked out the One Log House… This tiny house was made out of one log and has an eating, sleeping and living area, sort of like a train compartment, only bigger. There is also a cafe where you can get on the Internet for free there. Cici sniffed and ran around on the grass. 

http://one-loghouse.com/

After awhile, we made it to Ukiah, back to the Motel 6. But first, we made some friends at the Real Goods Solar Living Center in Hopland.  Cici enjoyed her usual run around and meet people, sniffing and licking feet every step of the way. 

http://www.solarliving.org/

Tours of the Solar Living Center allow people of all ages to learn about solar and wind power, environmentally friendly building materials, passive and active solar design in architecture, and organic gardening and permaculture. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Time. Self-Guided Tours of the Solar Living Center are always available during business hours. Stop by the office to pick up a free self-guided tour brochure.

http://www.dogfriendly.com/server/travel/guides/beach/beach.shtml

U.S. and Canada Beach Guide for Dogs

There are about 270 of 1,500 beaches nationwide permit dogs…

Top Ten Dog Friendly Beaches

http://americasbestonline.net/beachdog.htm