Things to Do Blog
Over the past 10 years, DogTrekker’s team of veteran writers and editors have crafted more than 2,500 stories about all of the things you can do with your dog in California. Happy DogTrekking! Remember to travel lightly and always Leave Only Paw Prints®!
Folsom: Gateway to Gold Country
Folsom offers 56 miles of paved trails, an off-leash dog park and easy access to Gold Country wine tasting and Apple Hill farms. Dog-friendly hotels, sidewalk dining on Sutter Street and Folsom Lake make it an ideal weekend base.
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Gourmet chow-downs with your pup
Napa Valley's dog-friendly dining scene goes well beyond picnic tables. Michelin-starred Bouchon, farm-to-fork Farmstead and Japanese-inspired Morimoto all welcome diners with leashed companions at their outdoor patios.
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Dog-friendly dining and events in Pleasanton and Danville
Pleasanton and Danville in the East Bay welcome dogs at street fairs, pooch parades and dozens of patio restaurants. From wine tasting at Garre Winery to browsing pet boutiques, these towns know how to treat four-legged visitors.
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Explore the Santa Clara Valley wine trail
The Santa Clara Valley, better known as Silicon Valley, is one of California oldest wine regions with 34 family-owned wineries near Gilroy. A Wine Trail pass lets you taste all year, and Kirigin Cellars even hosts AKC events.
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Pumpkins patches and wine, oh my!
October is the perfect time to visit the Suisun Valley between Vacaville and Davis. Vineyards blaze with fall color, pumpkin patches are in full swing, and dog-friendly wineries welcome you and your pup for tastings and bocce.
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Can you Suisun? if you haven’t, go soon!
Solano County's Suisun Valley is a wine country hidden gem just off Interstate 80 near Vacaville. With vineyards dating to the 1880s and a growing roster of dog-friendly tasting rooms, it's well worth pulling off the highway to explore.
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Down a lazy river with rover
Russian River Adventures in Healdsburg outfits dog-friendly float trips using ultra-stable SOAR canoes on an 8.5-mile stretch of the Russian River. Pack a picnic, bring your pup and drift through swimming holes and sandy beaches all day long.
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Wag tails for Oakland!
Oakland pairs urban pleasures like Jack London Square dining and ale and wine trails with easy access to open-space preserves full of redwoods and ridgeline views. Dog-friendly hotels, breweries, and seasonal events make it a tail-wagging destination.
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Rev up in Redding
Redding is your gateway to the Shasta Cascade region, starting with a stroll across the stunning Sundial Bridge and 19 miles of Sacramento River trails. Walk across Shasta Dam, enjoy dog-friendly patio dining, and stay at welcoming local hotels.
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There are many ways to camp
Not a tent person? California glamping has you covered, from safari-style canvas tents at Inn Town Campground in Nevada City to Airstreams at AutoCamp near Yosemite, the Russian River, and Santa Barbara. Many welcome dogs.
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There’s always something dog-centric going on in Oakland
Oakland's Jack London Square is a dog-friendly hub of shops, restaurants, and events on the waterfront. Add in a packed calendar of dog-centric happenings, from Bark at the Park with the A's to adoption fairs and street festivals.
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One dog-friendly Mendocino drive: Highway 128
Highway 128 winds from Cloverdale through the Anderson Valley wine country to the Mendocino Coast. Along the way, dog-friendly wineries like Navarro, Toulouse, and Husch welcome pups with treats, water bowls, and shaded picnic spots.
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Arch in from the west (Mariposa County, west entrance)
Highway 140 through Mariposa County leads to Yosemite's west entrance with plenty of dog-friendly fun along the way. Wineries, bakeries, riverside trails and lodging from rustic Yosemite Bug to the riverside View Lodge make this route worth savoring.
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Journey to Wawona (Madera County, south entrance)
The Highway 41 corridor from Oakhurst to Yosemite's south entrance is full of dog-friendly stops. Bass Lake resorts, the quirky town of Coarsegold, a steam train in Fish Camp and the luxury Tenaya Lodge all welcome four-legged travelers.
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All wine, no whine at these Lake County wineries
Lake County is one of California's fastest-growing wine regions, with over 30 wineries welcoming dogs at their tasting rooms and picnic areas. Sample sauvignon blancs, petit sirahs and big reds while your pup relaxes beside you.
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Discover Mendocino’s inland empire
Skip the crowded coast and head inland through Mendocino County, where redwood groves, family-owned wineries, and quirky roadside stops like the Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree await. Small towns along Highway 101 warmly welcome travelers with pets.
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Lots to do on dog-friendly Cannery Row
Monterey's Cannery Row is a dog-friendly destination packed with waterfront restaurants, wine tasting rooms, shops, and pet-welcoming hotels. Stroll the historic mile of coastline and soak in the seaside atmosphere with your pup.
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What’s cookin’ in Calaveras County
Calaveras County's hip town of Murphys draws wine lovers and their dogs to 25-plus tasting rooms along Main Street. Beyond the annual Grape Stomp, the stunning Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway offers dramatic High Sierra views and great hiking.
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Big reds and good times in Amador County
Amador County is wine country heaven for dog owners, with more than 20 wineries welcoming four-legged visitors. Beyond the annual Barbera Festival, Sutter Creek and Jackson offer charming B&Bs, dog-friendly vacation rentals and Main Street tasting rooms to explore.
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Make Apple Hill a dog-friendly tradition
El Dorado County's Apple Hill region has over 50 family-owned farms, ranches and wineries that welcome leashed dogs. Visit in fall for fresh cider, pie and u-pick orchards, or anytime for wine tasting with scenic vineyard views.
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Go coast crazy with your dog along Highway 1
Highway 1 along the California coast offers far more than stunning views. From dog-friendly beaches in San Luis Obispo County to redwood forests and wineries in Santa Cruz, there are endless reasons to explore with your pup.
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Visit a family-friendly winery
Sonoma County wineries like Paradise Ridge, Cline Cellars and Larson Family Winery offer much more than tastings. Kids can explore sculpture gardens, visit a California mission museum and play with pygmy goats while parents sip and dogs tag along.
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El dorado county
El Dorado County is classic Gold Country, with the historic Cary House Hotel in Placerville, dog-friendly wineries along the Adventure Loop and living history events at Marshall Gold Discovery State Park where the Gold Rush began.
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Dog-friendly Calaveras County: Wine, caves and Gold Rush towns
Calaveras County blends Gold Rush history with wine tasting and outdoor adventure. Walk your dog through Murphys' 25-plus tasting rooms, hike near New Melones Lake or watch humans stomp grapes at the annual street fair in this Sierra foothills getaway.
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