Ericka Liam
Dog Friendly Day Trips From San Diego – Looking for dog-friendly day trips in Southern California? Well I have a post just for you with 10 great dog-friendly vacation spots in Southern California that you can take a day trip from Los Angeles or San Diego. Read on to find the best dog-friendly places in Southern California for a quick day trip within a 2.5 hour drive (one way)!
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Dog Friendly Day Trips From San Diego
I’m a San Francisco native with a ton of blog posts dedicated to small-town dog-friendly Northern California getaways. However, there are plenty of dog-friendly vacation spots in Southern California, with sunny weather, warm beach towns (Northern California beaches are known for being cold and windy), plenty of hiking, wine tasting, and of course, delicious food Food – All dogs welcome.
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While our trips to Southern California with puppies (Barb: 2010-2021 and now Gunda) have been limited compared to our extensive Northern California excursions, we have been able to explore most of the state, Starting south of what was then Santa Barbara. On many of our winter vacations, driving to Los Angeles is a holiday tradition of ours.
In that spirit, here are 10 dog-friendly resorts in Southern California that can easily become a dog-friendly day trip from one of Southern California’s major cities. Los Angeles or San Diego, approximately 2.5 hours one-way drive (traffic permitting).
These include beach towns, small towns, wine tastings, desert resorts, and even famous national parks that you can take your dog to when you venture to Southern California. I hope this guide to dog-friendly places in Southern California that are within easy reach of Los Angeles or San Diego helps you learn more about the diversity of Southern California outside of the big cities.
A) Southern California has warm, sunny weather almost year-round, and warm waters perfect for swimming. However, summer is hot and this can be painful for you and dangerous for your puppy (especially her tender paws). So if you’re planning a day trip with your dog in Southern California between June and September, be sure to choose a beach town rather than an inland destination.
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November through March is the best time to visit inland destinations like Palm Springs, Ohio, or Joshua Tree, which are California winter vacation destinations. However, winter is California’s rainy season, so be prepared for showers and be flexible with your plans.
B) If you’re planning a day trip with your dog from Los Angeles or San Diego, it’s best to drive. You can rent a car from Los Angeles or San Diego or one of the major airports serving Southern California.
Los Angeles is very dog-friendly, but due to its location, it’s also close to some spectacular dog-friendly attractions in Southern California that you should definitely check out if you have some extra time. Another thing is that none of the beaches in Los Angeles are dog-friendly, so even more motivation to get out of Los Angeles and take a dog-friendly day trip. Here are my picks based on our many trips with Babu and Gunda over the winter break:
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Long Beach, just a 30-minute drive from Los Angeles, has the most popular dog beach in the county, viz. Rosie’s Dog Beach. Plus, Belmont Shore’s shops, shops, and restaurants are very dog-friendly.
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There are 11 dog parks in Long Beach, including Recreation Park, Eldorado Park, Uptown Dog Park, K-9 Corner Dog Park, and Bixby Dog Park. Additionally, there are tons of dog-friendly restaurants on Fourth Street, Uptown, Belmont Heights, and downtown, all of which you can check out in this dog-friendly Long Beach post!
View this Instagram post A post shared by the Rosie’s Dog Beach fan page (@rosiesdogbeach)
Malibu may be synonymous with Hollywood celebrity retreats and weddings, but it’s also popular with furry friends! Leo Carrillo State Beach is dog-friendly, and the Santa Monica Mountains have plenty of dog-friendly hiking trails to keep your pooch busy. There’s also the little-known Malibu Wine Country, where you can take your dog for a wine tasting.
I recommend stopping at Escondido Canyon Park to hike the dog-friendly Escondido Falls Trail, explore the Solstice Canyon Trail, hike the Zuma Canyon Loop Trail, or hike the Mishmoqua Trail to Mount Allen, Take a dog-friendly Malibu hike. There are plenty of dog-friendly restaurants on Highway 1 in Malibu where you can stop after a day of hiking – here’s a helpful post from Bring Fido listing them all.
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Ojai is one of the best vacation spots in Southern California and it really surprised us when we visited here in 2019 during our trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles. While there are no dog-friendly beaches in this downtown area, there are plenty of other fun dog-friendly activities to explore in this artsy Southern California city.
Explore the dog-friendly shops at Arcade Square, browse Barts Books, sip kombucha at Revel Kombucha Bar, and take your dog for a walk in Libby Park. Ojai has many dog-friendly restaurants and cafes such as Farmer and The Cook, Beacon Coffee Company, The Nest (Large Patio) Lebanon Ojai Rotie. Perfect for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
There are many dog-friendly wineries in Ojai, such as Topa Mountain Winery and Old Creek Ranch Winery, that you should check out if you are a wine lover . We loved our stay in Ojai this winter and hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Santa Barbara is often referred to as the “American Riviera” for its picturesque beaches, swaying palm trees and a year-round summer vibe that’s hard to beat. Santa Barbara is also very dog-friendly, with many dog-friendly beaches, restaurants, and other attractions. If your dog loves the ocean and sand, Santa Barbara is a truly dog-friendly day trip from Los Angeles that you should check out.
Dog Friendly Beach At Assateague Island National Seashore
We have visited Santa Barbara many times over the past 12 years and it is always great fun exploring the city with our dogs, rain or shine. Even if you only have one day in Santa Barbara, there are several beaches and dog parks you can visit.
My suggestion is to start your day at Hendry Beach (aka Arroyobro Beach County Park) next to the Douglas Family Preserve, or visit Thousand Steps Beach or the quiet Mesa Lane Beach for a walk in Shoreline Park , a walk around the Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens.
Not-to-miss attractions include the Santa Barbara Pier, Santa Barbara Rose Garden Mission, dog-friendly gardens and the County Courthouse Gardens. If that’s not all, the Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens also allow dogs, and it’s free!
Downtown Santa Barbara, La Arcada Plaza, and the Funk Zone are all great places to explore and dine with your dog. Additionally, Santa Barbara has many dog-friendly wine tastings where you can sample some of the best wines from the Santa Ynez Valley. Read my dog-friendly guide to Santa Barbara for all the details on how to plan the perfect dog-friendly day trip to Santa Barbara!
Delightful Dog Friendly Day Trips In Southern California
Solvang (which translates as Danish Sunny Fields) looks like something out of a Danish fairy tale. This unique town with a strong Scandinavian flavor often pops up in one of California’s most beautiful cities, and it’s also very dog-friendly.
We have been to Solvang twice in the past and loved everything about it. The main attractions viz. The town square is centered around Mission Drive, so you can easily cover quite a bit on a day trip from Los Angeles.
In addition to the adorable windmills and Little Mermaid fountain, another dog-friendly place in Solvang is the Hans Christian Andersen Museum, which showcases many of the Danish author’s memorable literary works. If you’re a wine lover, Wandering Dog’s Bakery and Wine Bar with outdoor seating is a must!
You can visit one of the many dog-friendly wineries outside of Solvang, taste wine in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley, and take your well-behaved pup with a stop to feed at American Ostrichland, an ostrich and emu farm These interesting birds! Read my Dog Friendly Guide to Solvang to learn more about where to take your dog on a day trip to this beautiful city.
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The green Santa Ynez Valley, part of Santa Barbara County, is home to beautiful
