Perhaps your dog wants to broaden his horizons, keep up with the culture, and enjoy some activities that aren’t available in many places. So if your dog loves to travel, simply visit Mendocino County, just 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 beautiful, scenic hour-and-a-half drive north, visiting dog-friendly wineries along the way. Most wineries have herbs and shrubs to explore and smell. Some even offer dog treats. Navarro and others allow dogs in the tasting room.
The Maccallum House Inn in Mendocino offers winery tours, and chauffeured limousines and dogs are allowed to pass, if you book as a private party… Ask for Jim Davis and tell him you found out about the tour from the author (in this article).
Here are the 12 best dog-friendly activities you can do in Mendocino
to. Tiptoe through the botanical gardens
Among tulips and other flowers (more than 150 species), Fido will enjoy a nice walk with you to the beach. Good manners dogs
On leashes are always welcome and admission is free.
2. Beach fun (Noyo port or private beach)… Most of the beaches are dog friendly and dogs must be on a leash.
Dogs love to splash and paddle in the ocean. The coast in Mendocino County has plenty of places to swim.
Big River Beach, N.B. Big River Rd., Mendocino
Portuguese Beach, Mendocino Headlands, Mendocino
Van Dam State Beach, Highway 1, Mendocino
Caspar Beach, 14441 Point Cabrillo Dr., Caspar
MacKerricher State Park, Highway 1, Fort Bragg
And for an extended stay, you can also camp with Fido.
California State Parks Camping Reservations: 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 isn’t difficult. The most famous state parks are MacKerricher (Fort Bragg), Russian Gulch (Mendocino), and Van Damme (Little River).
3. Take a walk.
Jughandle State Reserve features a two-and-a-half-mile self-guided nature trail called the Ecological Staircase. This trail begins with the ocean, winding inland up a series of five ancient terraces formed by waves, glaciers, and tectonic activity. Each terrace was raised from the sea about 100,000 years after the previous one. The lowest terrace is prairie, followed by a pine forest, then a redwood forest, and finally a dwarf forest with knee-high trees that are decades old. The path features an astonishing diversity of trees, with the various terrace environments varying widely.
Three miles south of Fort Bragg. Turn west on Highway 1 at the well-marked parking area. 707-937-5804
4. Get a free ice cream cone to die for at Cowlick Ice Cream
You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream. And Fido might also enjoy a sweet vanilla cone on a sunny day.
5. Walk through the shops in Mendocino and buy some dog perfume.
After all the rolling, licking, and splashing in the water, mud, and sand, you might want to grab some dog scent from Fido. Mendocino has many interesting gift shops and places where fortune-tellers like Sally Mac like to shop.
There are several pet supply stores such as 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 in a dog-friendly hostel Such as the 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 TV series Murder She Wrote was filmed). The most pet friendly accommodations can be found at these lodges. Standford Inn, MacCallum House, Cottages at Little River Cove, and Little River Inn offer a dog gift basket including bowls, treats, and a dog bed.
More information can be found at
7. eat together
The Stanford Inn is an authentic, pet-friendly zenlike inn. You can even dine with the well-behaved Fido during the day.
Well-behaved dogs are welcome in the lobby but not in the dining room. If you’d like breakfast or dinner served in the lobby, they’ll be happy to host you…
8. Play catch or Frisbee at the Fort Bragg dog park.
Fort Bragg has McDoggie Park, a dog park where non-aggressive, friendly dogs play. McDoggies at Willow and Lincoln Streets. Take Maple Street east from Highway One (Main Street) until it ends at the dog park on Lincoln Street.
9. Go canoeing with your dog
Paddle 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 ride the Skunk Train with the holders, if they can fit it inside your wallet; chew chew… chew chew…
11. May Fido accompany you while you go 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 walk in the area.
And if you’re looking for a hot meal, there’s a variety of restaurants where Fido can sit beside you outside.
Cafe One, 753 N Main Street, Fort Bragg
Home Style Cafe, 790 S. Main Street, Fort Bragg
Laurel Deli, 401 N Main Street, Fort Bragg
Mendocino Cookie Company, Main Street, Fort Bragg
Nemo Fish Market, 2410 N Harbor Dr. Fort Bragg
Piaci Pub & Pizzeria, 120 W. Redwood Avenue, Fort Bragg
Lu’s Kitchen, 45013 Ukiah Mendocino Street
Mindo Burgers, 10483 Lansing Street, Mendocino
Mendocino Café, 10451 Lansing Street, Mendocino
Mendocino Hotel, 45080 Main Street, Mendocino
Moody’s Organic Coffee Bar, 10450 Lansing Street, Mendocino
Moose Cafe, 390 Castin, Mendocino
