Like most people I know, I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I also enjoy spending time with my Portuguese Water Dog, Abby. Naturally, then, I love finding out-of-the-ordinary opportunities in the Bay Area for people and dogs to have fun together. Here are a few local activities we’ve sampled that you might enjoy.
Taking the Train
My nephew Jay is three-and-a-half years old. Most of our time together is spent on the floor of his room setting up train tracks for all his colorful cars to go chugging around. Abby usually stays home when I go visiting, since Jay’s family’s cat isn’t too fond of canine guests.
So I was excited to learn about Berkeley’s Redwood Valley Railway. Imagine riding a family- and Fido-friendly, scaled-down steam train through the redwoods. Believe me, it’s even more fun than it sounds.
I called ahead to confirm that dogs could ride. The friendly voice on the other end said, “Why yes, they can. Tickets are $2 per person and children 2 years old and under ride free. We don’t ask, but we consider all dogs under 2 – so they ride for free as well.” Sweet deal.
I arranged to pick up Jay, then called Michele, a good friend with a new puppy, to see if she wanted to join us. We rendezvoused at the station and as we were purchasing our tickets, the returning train pulled in. I was happy to see a family group that included both Grandma and a miniature poodle, all smiles as they disembarked.
Soon the conductor yelled “All Aboard” and it was our turn to set off into the woods. Michele held her puppy, Sophie, who was perfectly relaxed as we chugged along. Jay was wide-eyed when the train whistle blew, and busily chattered away as we passed various scaled-down buildings and other structures. It felt like we had shrunk down and were riding on one of his train sets at home.
I kept a very strong grip on Abby as she eagerly took in all the smells and sounds. It would be easy for your dog to disembark at an unsafe time, so be sure to maintain strong control over your dog throughout the trip.
The train ride is around 12 minutes long. Once just wasn’t enough for us. We went around another two times and are looking forward to doing it all again. The Redwood Valley Railway is open year round.
Having a Ball(game)
It’s great hanging out on the couch watching your favorite team on the big screen TV, but it’s sure not as fun as being at the ballpark. Last year, Abby and I attended the Oakland A’s one canine-friendly game of the season.
Pre-registration is required and is limited to 500 dogs. I bought our tickets well in advance, got us both decked out in team attire, and showed up early on the day of the game to present proof of license and up-to-date vaccinations. All dogs got a goodie bag and were assigned their very own seats in a special section of the park from which to keep tabs on the game, other dogs, and the hot dog vendor. The canines in our crowd ranged from the tiny to the very large and were all well-behaved throughout the day.
Although no fly balls came our way, I loved basking in the sun and watching the A’s play with my best pal by my side. Abby and I are looking forward to this year’s dog-friendly game on August 2. Tickets are $15 for dog and handler and $9 for each additional person. If you’re a Giants fan, their Dog Days is on August 11 this year; tickets are $52 for dog and handler and $25 for each additional person. Other baseball teams offer similar events. Go to www.mlb.com and click on your team’s site for more details.
Scaring Up Some Fun
For something completely different, there’s an easy two-hour walking tour around the Haight in San Francisco that welcomes dogs (www.thehauntedhaight.com). I don’t want to give away too many details, but a fun little goodie bag filled with treats, a guidebook, and a map of the tour are included in the $20 price. Dogs are free.
Our guide provided some interesting facts and spooky tales as we meandered the route. He mentioned that dogs can sometimes detect ghosts, so I watched Abby closely for signs of ESP. As far as I could tell, the only thing she reacted to was another dog that walked past our tour group. But come to think of it, all my pictures came out blurry. Was it bad lighting or… something else?
Abby and I found the evening fun and entertaining and we’ll more than likely walk the route again on our own. Who knows, maybe next time we’ll see some ghosts.
Be sure to mention that you’re bringing a dog when you pre-register. Who knows, maybe Fido will get a goodie, too. The tour season runs from January 5 to September 2. Note: The tour is not recommended for children under 13 years of age.
As always, when taking part in activities like these, practice responsible pet ownership. Keep your dog leashed and under control at all times, be sensitive to other paying patrons, and thank the businesses that support bringing Fido along.
I hope these ideas inspire you to go out and discover some dog-friendly adventures close to home. Let me know what you discover. Abby and I are always looking for something new to experience together.
Liz Cherene and Abby are always seeking out new adventures. When they’re not out playing in the Bay Area, Liz works as a telecommunications application engineer. Contact her at adventuringabby@yahoo.com.
We’re compiling a list of dog-friendly urban events and adventures for the Bay Woof website. Email tina@baywoof.com to let us know of your favorite discoveries. – Ed.
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