Best Dog Friendly Vacations California – Looking for a dog-friendly Santa Cruz guide that’s just as great for your pup? Then look no further. Because I put together this guide to the best things to do in Santa Cruz with your dog. This is based on my many visits to Central Coast beach towns with our fur baby. From dog-friendly Santa Cruz beaches to hiking trails and dog-friendly hotels to restaurants. This guide to the best dog-friendly places in Santa Cruz covers it all!
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Best Dog Friendly Vacations California
Santa Cruz, a beautiful coastal city in Northern California, is famous for its waterfront. Like Coney Island near Manhattan. It’s a perfect overnight stop on your trip from San Francisco to Carmel. (another dog-friendly spot on the Central Coast)
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However, there are plenty of other quiet coastal towns to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the waterfront. Unfortunately, most dog parents don’t want to take any chances other than the obvious. When you finish reading this post. You have Santa Cruz at the top. From our list of weekend trips from San Francisco with dogs. I guarantee it!
In this dog-friendly Santa Cruz guide, I’ll feature hiking trails, parks, beaches, and other fun dog-friendly activities. And Santa Cruz puppy friendly restaurants are more fun than busy ones for you and your pup. Waterfront Since it’s only 1.5 hours south of San Francisco, it’s a great day trip with your dog. Also, it’s a great place to visit in California in the winter.
For more ideas on things to do in Santa Cruz with kids, here’s a great post. About things to do in Santa Cruz by my blogger friend Harmony.
Planning a vacation to Santa Cruz with your dog? Get the FAQ Where can I take my Santa Cruz dog?
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Santa Cruz is very dog friendly. There are many dog friendly beaches. Lots of dog-friendly restaurants busy downtown, dog-friendly Redwood Park lots of nice dog-friendly walking trails and train rides. You and your dog will have lots of fun together in Santa Cruz. Especially after reading my advice.
Dogs (or other pets) are not allowed on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk or nearby beaches. But the seaside promenade is the busiest and most touristy part of this beautiful beach town. Leave the sidewalks that have tons of dog-friendly activities Read this guide and discover a million fun places for dogs in Santa Cruz. It’s more fun than spending the day on the busy boardwalk.
The drive to Santa Cruz can take anywhere from 40 minutes to 1.5 hours. It depends on where you live in the Bay Area. I recommend driving a coastal route like Highway 1 or the Cabrilla Highway to enjoy the beautiful California coastal life with cool stops along the way!
Santa Cruz has a warm climate throughout the year. So it is better to visit anytime. (Except in winter, as it can rain.) I recommend visiting in the spring to enjoy the wildflowers while hiking and to watch the migration of gray whales at the tip.
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The beaches of northern and central California are always cold and windy. Dress in layers or at least bring a jacket! Bring a surfboard if you are a surfer. Because Santa Cruz is our surfing capital!
When to visit Santa Cruz with a puppy I recommend staying downtown for easy access to restaurants and other amenities. I recommend staying at the Pacific Blue Inn on Pacific Avenue, which is within walking distance of downtown. This super dog-friendly hotel in Santa Cruz is just $50 per pet for your entire stay!
They serve a complimentary continental breakfast each morning. And dogs are allowed in the breakfast area in addition to free Wi-Fi, they have free parking. If you’re looking for something smart and close to town while visiting Santa Cruz with your dog, definitely consider the Pacific Blue Inn!
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Santa Cruz has some of the nicest dog-friendly beaches on California’s Central Coast. This includes off-leash beaches. The beach is south of Cabrillo Highway (Highway 1) or the boardwalk, but it gets crowded mostly on weekends.
If you’re looking for a quiet, uncrowded beach, head to Greyhound Rock Beach, a 17-minute drive north of Bonny Dune. Follow the paved path past the parking lot toward Blue Water.
Visible parking can be quite crowded. But during our trip a few years ago, the path to the beach was unusually empty. This turned out to be a good thing as we were treated to an empty beach and a breathtaking view of the foaming waves crashing against the rocks as we made our way down to the pure white sand below.
Another popular beach with Santa Cruz locals is Lighthouse Field State Beach, where locals and their kids enjoy the sand and water. Although the beach looks like this, this beach is public. And dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.
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The beach can get crowded during the day, so come early to enjoy some quiet time. When the beach is too crazy for you and your pup? Walk along the path with railings and floors around it. Sit and relax in the spacious park in front of the lighthouse or lighthouse overlooking the beach. The lighthouse is home to the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. Next door is a small cafe that serves delicious fish tacos.
Santa Cruz is one of the surfing capitals of California. And you can see many surfers catching waves as you walk along the boardwalk overlooking the ocean. There is a small shrine. On the railing dedicated to surfers who died on the last big wave.
Seabright State Beach, located on East Cliff Dr. Seabright Ave., is a dog-friendly beach in Santa Cruz. It is easily accessible from the Santa Cruz Pier via a paved path starting from Aldo’s Harbor Restaurant.
It is home to the Walton Lighthouse which is at the end of the beach! This beach is very popular with dog parents. However, dogs must be on a leash at all times as this is a public beach. On a clear day, the other side of the beach offers a wonderful view of the Santa Cruz Dam.
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Unlike the redwood country to the north, Mendocino has no redwood preserves where dogs are allowed. Santa Cruz jumped much to his surprise. There are many places. The closest to us was Henry Cowell State Park. There is a $10 entry fee for cars, and you will be given a map at the entrance with all the dog trails in the forest well marked.
Because it’s an ecological sanctuary for the wildlife that calls the redwoods home. And there are many paths that horses/riders follow. Therefore, dogs cannot enter this route. This is because they are considered natural predators. The most popular trail for dogs is the paved path (pipeline road) that cuts through the redwoods and leads to nearby Redwood Park. The tree is 277 feet tall and nearly 1,500 years old!
This state park preserves a 40-acre forest that contains some of the world’s tallest trees, including coast redwoods and trees taller than Muir Woods National Monument near San Francisco. We were surprised to learn that the tallest redwoods (379 feet) are taller than the Statue of Liberty (305 feet) and have a unique growth habit: they regenerate themselves.
Along the way, follow Santa Cruz’s dog-friendly hiking trails We saw several trees lying on the ground. It has branches that grow vertically upwards from the trunk of the prostate towards the sun. Our dog-friendly Santa Cruz hikes are only 40 minutes long, but if you have more time, explore further inland with other plant ecosystems while you’re on the Central Coast!
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Looking for a dog-friendly redwood hike in the Bay Area? For inspiration, read my list of dog-friendly redwood gardens!
A fun and unique activity that Santa Cruz offers is undoubtedly a dog-friendly steam train ride. There are two trips to choose from. Both trains depart from Roaring Camp Railroad Station in Felton. Dogs travel free on both routes.
Crawling camp + climbing a large tree (eg
