Downturn, crash, recession – whatever you call it, the current state of the economy doesn’t inspire serious splurging. A lot of us are tightening our belts, postponing big-ticket fun until the outlook improves. According to the pundits and polls, exotic vacations are on the slide.
One upside of this trend is more travel with our dogs. Instead of dropping them off at a boarding facility and jetting away, we’re more likely these days to strap them into the car and zoom down the road. Lucky thing there are so many delightful destinations within a couple of hours of the Bay Area where humans with canines are more than welcome.
Below are a few great trips that will get you out with your dogs to enjoy a stunning spring day. If you decide to make a weekend of it, so be it. We’ve included some pet-friendly lodging suggestions.
The text is excerpted from the newly revised 6th edition of The Dog Lover’s Companion to California, Maria Goodavage’s indispensible guide to enjoying the Golden State with your Golden Retriever – or any other canine companion. For more information about these and plenty of other dog-friendly destinations, get your own copy at a local bookstore or via www.dogloverscompanion.com.
Pet policies are never set in stone, so it’s a good idea to call or check websites in advance to confirm that the rules mentioned here for parks, restaurants, and lodging establishments are still in force.
Now go on, hit the road with Rover. Enjoying some time off with your best four-legged friends can help ease the stress of this crazy economy!
Destination #1: Palo Alto, Santa Clara County
Outdoor Recreation: Arastradero Nature Preserve
With 613 acres of rolling savanna grassland and broadleaf evergreen forest, this is one of the more peaceful and attractive parks in the area. Dogs dig it, but they have to be leashed. It’s a good rule, because mountain lions, rattlesnakes, poison oak, and coyotes can be part of the scene here… There are 6.25 miles of hiking trails. Jake Dog enjoys the hilly 2.8-mile Acorn Trail when he’s in the mood to pant. Bring plenty of water; it can get toasty here.
Directions: From I-280, exit at Page Mill Road and go south. Turn right (west) on Arastradero Road (Refuge Road on some maps) and drive into the parking lot.
Food: Spalti Restorante, 417 California Ave., 650-326-2530
Is your dog tired of being nearly trod upon when dining with you at sidewalk tables? If she’s had one too many close calls with a fast-moving pair of Skechers, and if you enjoy delectable Northern Italian cuisine in an upmarket setting, come here for a relaxing, wonderful meal; the white-cloth-covered tables are set up in a roomy front entry alcove so you’re off the sidewalk and have plenty of space around you…
Destination #2: Felton/Bonnie Doon, Santa Cruz County
Outdoor Recreation: Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Dogs are actually allowed on three trails here! This is a huge deal because state parks are not exactly known for their dog-friendliness. The main section of the park is 1,750 acres, and it’s filled with things dogs love best: trees. Big trees. Redwoods. The largest is 250 fee tall and 16 feet wide… Dogs are permitted on Graham Hill Trail, Meadow Trail, and Pipeline Road. They can also dine with you at the picnic areas and camp at the 100-plus campsites.
Directions: From Felton, take Graham Hill Road southeast about two miles to the park. The entrance is on the right.
Food: Rocky’s Café, 6560 Highway 9, Felton, 831-335-4637
This charming, funky café is located in a quaint old house set among the redwoods. The café has been around since 1972 – ancient history in these parts. It’s named after the beloved old dog of the café’s original (and current!) owners, George and Diane. Dogs are most welcome here. There’s usually water on the wraparound veranda, where dogs can join their people for a meal. And inside the café is a wall of customers’ dog photos. The food is standard tasty breakfast and lunch fare, very reasonably priced.
Lodging: Redwood Croft Bed & Breakfast, Bonnie Doon, 831-458-1939 (address provided when you make reservations)
Stay in this beautiful country home with your dog and you’ll feel as if you’ve gone to Grandma’s – only Grandma is very hip, with a good eye for arts, antiques, and hot tubs… You can soak while your dog sniffs around the place, and you won’t have to worry about her wandering off. The house has big decks all around it, and it’s sunny, even though it’s surrounded by redwoods.
Destination #3: Crockett, Contra Costa County
Outdoor Recreation: Crockett Hills Regional Park
This 2,000-acre beauty gets less paw traffic than many of the other East Bay Regional Park District lands, but it’s probably because it’s relatively new and word hasn’t gotten out yet among the canine crowd. Crockett Hills is excellent for well-behaved dogs who enjoy running around the great outdoors naked (without a leash). From shade-giving eucalyptus groves and oak woodland to rolling grasslands to rippling riverfront, the park has something for every dog’s taste… Several miles of trails – mostly fire roads, actually, run through the park… Jake likes to visit the staging area, where there’s an old barn and a picnic area.
Directions: From northbound Hwy 80, take the Port Costa/Crockett exit (Exit 27), turn left on Pomona Street, drive a few blocks, and go right on Crockett Boulevard, then turn right at the staging area.
Food: The Dead Fish, 20050 San Pablo Ave, Crockett; 510-787-3323
The name alone is a draw for dogs. Jake has rolled in many a dead fish at the beach, and so have some of his best friends. But those dead fish stink. The dead fish at The Dead Fish don’t… The doggy dining area is top notch. Dogs are welcome to join you at the attractive large covered patio that overlooks the Carquinez Strait and the Carquinez Bridge. Dogs get a bowl of water if they’re thirsty.
Destination #4: Inverness, Marin County
Outdoor Recreation: Kehoe Beach
This is our favorite of the Point Reyes National Seashore beaches that allow dogs, since it’s both the most beautiful and the least accessible. The only parking is at roadside. You take a half-mile cinder path through wildflower sand thistle, with marsh on one side and hill on the other… In such a paradise of shore life, the leash rule makes sense. The chief reasons for leashing dogs (or banning them altogether) at the Point Reyes National Seashore beaches are the harbor seals that haul out onto the beaches. They’re in no position to get away fast from a charging dog.
Directions: From Inverness, follow Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to the fork. Bear right on Pierce Point Road and go about four miles; park beside the road where you see the sign and walk about a half mile to the beach.
Food: Inverness Store, 12784 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard; 415-669-1041
Lots of dogs visit this little grocery store, which has been around for more than 80 years. The folks here are kind to doggies and welcome them to munch a lunch at the picnic table at the dike here. They even invite dogs and their people to bring a blanket and make a real picnic.
Lodging: Rosemary Cottages
The two gorgeous cottages that share this spacious, wooded property are the kind of places you and your dog will not leave easily. The Fir Tree Inn and The Rosemary Cottage are set in a secluded spot, each with a wall of windows looking out at the stunning forest scenery of the Point Reyes National Seashore… Inside, the cottages are cozy and beautifully crafted, with full kitchens and many homey details. Snuggle up near the wood-burning stove on chilly evenings after a day of whale-watching and dog-walking at nearby beaches. Hearth-type dogs love it here.
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