Perhaps your dog would like to expand horizons, catch up on culture, and enjoy some activities that are not available in many places. So if your dog loves to travel, you should simply visit Mendocino County, a few hours north of San Francisco. Horizon Air has added flights from Las Vegas to Santa Rosa, California. You and your dog can take a pleasant hour and a half drive north and visit the dog-friendly wineries along the way. Most wineries have grass and bushes to explore and smell. Some even offer doggie treats. Navarro and others allow dogs in the tasting room.
The Maccallum House Inn in Mendocino offers winery tours, chauffeured limos, and accompanying dogs, if you book as a private party … Ask for Jim Davis and tell him you heard about the tour from the author (from this article).
Here are the top 12 things to do for dogs in Mendocino
l. On tiptoe through the botanical gardens
Among the tulips and other flowers, (more than 150 varieties), Fido will enjoy a pleasant walk with you to the beach. Polite dogs
on leash are always welcome and enjoy free admission.
two. Frolicking on the beach (Puerto de Noyo or a private beach) … most beaches allow dogs and dogs must be leashed.
Dogs love to splash and paddle in the ocean. And the Mendocino County coastline has a plethora of places to swim.
Big River Beach, N. Big River Road, Mendocino
Portuguese Beach, Mendocino Headlands, Mendocino
Van Damme State Beach, Highway 1, Mendocino
Playa Caspar, 14441 Point Cabrillo Dr., Caspar
MacKerricher State Park, Highway 1, Fort Bragg
And for an extended stay, you can also camp with Fido.
Reservations for camping in California state parks: 1-800-444-PARK (7275)
With nearly 100 miles of shoreline and dozens of state and private campgrounds, finding a place to camp on the Mendocino Coast is not difficult. The most popular state parks are MacKerricher (Fort Bragg) and Russian Gulch (Mendocino) and Van Damme (Little River).
3. Go for a walk.
Jughandle State Reserve features a 2½-mile self-guided nature trail called the Ecological Staircase. Beginning at the ocean, this trail heads inland through a series of five ancient terraces formed by waves, glaciers, and tectonic activity. Each terrace was raised from the sea some 100,000 years after the previous one was raised. The lowest terrace is the meadow, followed by a pine forest, then a redwood forest, and finally a pygmy forest with knee-length trees that are decades old. The trail features an astonishing variety of trees, as the ecologies of the different terraces vary widely.
Three miles south of Fort Bragg. Turn west on Highway One toward the well-marked parking area. 707-937-5804
Four. Get a free ice cream cone for your stray dog at Cowlick’s Ice Cream
You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream. And Fido can also enjoy a sweet vanilla cone for kids on a sunny day.
5. Stroll through the Mendocino stores and shop for a perfume for dogs.
After so much rolling, licking, and splashing in the water, mud, and sand, you might want to get some Fido doggy perfume. Mendocino has many nice gift shops and places where Furshionists prefer to shop, like Sallie Mac.
And there are numerous pet supply stores like Paws for Cats & Dogs, 338 N. Main St., Fort Bragg, 707-964-3322, Fort Bragg Feed & Pet, 880 Stewart St., Fort Bragg, 707-964-3333 and Evergreen Barn Pet Grocery, 477 Evergreen St., Mendocino, 707-937-3300.
6. Stay at a dog friendly inn such as Agate Cove Inn, Little River Inn, MacCallum House Inn, Cottages at Little River Cove, Stanford Inn, Sea Foam Lodge, Dehaven B&B, and Blair House (where the television series Murder She Wrote was filmed). The most pet-friendly accommodation can be found in these inns. Standford Inn, MacCallum House, Cottages at Little River Cove and Little River Inn offer a gift basket for dogs that includes bowls, treats and a dog bed.
You can find more information at
http://www.mendocinofun.com
7. Dine together
The Stanford Inn is an original Zenlike pet-friendly inn. You can even dine with well-mannered Fido during the day.
Well-behaved dogs are welcome in the lobby, but not in the dining room. If you would like breakfast or dinner served in the lobby, they will be happy to assist you …
8. Play catch or frisbee at the Fort Bragg Dog Park.
Fort Bragg has McDoggie Park, a dedicated dog park, where non-aggressive and friendly pooches play. McDoggies is on Willow and Lincoln streets. Take Maple Street east from Highway One (Main Street) until it ends at the dog park on Lincoln St.
9. Go kayaking with your dog
You can paddle out to the Big River in a canoe from Catch a Canoe & Bicycles, Too, located at Highway 1 & Comptche-Ukiah Rd, Mendocino, 707-937-0273.
10. Small dogs can take the Skunk train with their owners, if they fit in your bag; chew chew … chew chew …
11. Fido can join you during sport fishing and whale watching with All Aboard Adventures, North Harbor Dr., Fort Bragg, 707-964-1881 or Anchor Charter Boats, PO Box 103, Fort Bragg, 707-964-4550.
12. There are many places for you and Fido to have a puppy picnic in the area.
And if you’re looking for a hot meal, there are a variety of restaurant options where Fido can sit next to you outside.
Cafe Uno, 753 N Main Street, Fort Bragg
Home Style Café, 790 S. Main Street, Fort Bragg
Laurel Deli, 401 N Main Street, Fort Bragg
Mendocino Cookie Company, Main St., Fort Bragg
Nemo’s Fish Market, 2410 N Harbor Dr., Fort Bragg
Piaci Pub and Pizzeria, 120 W. Redwood Avenue, Fort Bragg
Lu’s Kitchen, 45013 Ukiah Street Mendocino
Mendo Burgers, 10483 Lansing Street, Mendocino
Mendocino Café, 10451 Lansing Street, Mendocino
Mendocino Hotel, 45080 Main Street, Mendocino
Moody’s Organic Cafe, 10450 Lansing Street, Mendocino
Moosse Café, 390 Kasten, Mendocino