Day Trips With Dogs Southern California – San Diego’s outdoor lifestyle and pet-friendly environment make it the perfect place to spend quality time with your four-legged friend. Tourists and locals alike have great outdoor and sometimes indoor entertainment options.
The area is pet-friendly and dog owners do not have to leave their dogs at home when vacationing here. Here are some dog-friendly activities to consider in San Diego, California.
Day Trips With Dogs Southern California
San Diego may have the best dog-friendly beaches in the US. You’ll find many that don’t require a leash, including the aptly named Dog Beach in Ocean Beach, the premier dog beach in the San Diego area. Here, your furry friend can play on a leash all year round.
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The other two free beaches are North Shore, located next to the Hotel Del Coronado at the north end of popular Coronado Beach, and Dog Beach in Del Mar at the mouth of the river.
Other dog-friendly beaches worth noting include Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Cardiff State Beach, Imperial Beach, and La Jolla Beach. These are off-leash beaches where dogs are allowed at certain times of the day.
You might also see some dogs swinging on surfboards (with life jackets of course). Dog surfing competitions are organized throughout the year.
Fiesta Island, located in Mission Bay, is a great place to take your dog as they can run around most of the island. Here you’ll find a dog-friendly beach with wave-free bay waters and large sand dunes for furry friends more interested in leisurely walks than swimming.
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Fiesta Island has a large dog park where your best friend has a large area with picnic tables where dogs are also welcome. Here you can spend a relaxing day, but remember that there are no bathrooms.
Tip: Avoid the gated areas here, as Fiesta Island is also home to the San Diego Youth Aquatic Center.
You’ll find great hiking trails all over San Diego, but some trails are better than others for four-legged friends. Remember to take the dog’s bowls with you to clean up messes with water from dog and human hydration. Here are three easy and popular places.
You’ll find a network of trails in this pet-friendly waterfront park. Pet owners also love the lovely views. Be sure to keep your dog on a leash as the hike here has a significant descent and there are bound to be other dogs around.
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The moderately long trails here are ideal for dogs of all ages who love to sniff and discover new things. Los Peñasquitos is also a good walk with a four-legged friend on hot days, as the canyon is not too hot and there is enough shade to rest. They are probably playing in the stream.
You can use protection from several access points. It runs roughly between Rancho Peñasquitos and Mira Mesa.
Here’s another easy way to keep people and dogs on a leash at all times. You can find the lagoon on the coast between Carlsbad and Encinitas. About 2 miles long, the trail runs along the north side of the lagoon and offers nature lovers a variety of discoveries, such as marshes, where birds and the creatures that live in them nest.
If your dog doesn’t like swimming, he might feel the wind on his face during a boat trip around Mission Bay. Seaforth Boat Rentals is pet friendly and even provides life jackets for your best friend.
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Here you can rent motor boats, sailboats, fishing boats, kayaks, paddle boats and much more. Aqua Adventures is another company that also offers Pet Friendly Rentals. It is not uncommon to see small dogs on paddle boards with their owners.
In addition to being one of San Diego’s most popular attractions, Balboa Park is one of the largest parks in the country, and it’s also a great place to take your dog. It offers many areas for pet-friendly activities on 1000 acres.
You will find many open spaces, gardens, walking trails and museums. Net Point Off-Leash Dog Park is a designated off-leash dog area and one of San Diego’s most popular dog parks. Find it south of El Prado/Laurel Street and east of Balboa Drive.
Our top Balboa Park restaurants are pet-friendly, including Panama 66 with a large patio (delicious made-to-order sandwiches and craft beers) and Prado (table service salads, pastas and tacos).
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Make sure your pets are on a leash in Balboa Park when they are not in marked areas. And no, they are not allowed in museums.
San Diego is dog-friendly even in outlying historic areas like Old Town San Diego, considered the birthplace of California. Dogs are not allowed in the buildings, but you still get a sense of what life was like in Mexico between 1821 and 1872 and the early American era.
You can admire the restored adobe buildings (from the outside) and walk through the historic square with green areas for walking. Here you will also find live entertainment.
Markets like San Diego’s Old Town Market have some outdoor food stores to explore, and your dog can join you for Mexican food at Fred’s Mexican Cafe, which even offers a dog-friendly menu.
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If you need to visit the parks to let your pet run free, the San Diego Dog Run is the solution. Your pet will love the freedom these leashes give them. Play fetch and do what your four-legged friend wants.
Consider taking your dog to popular spots like the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA Dog Park, Encinias Park, and Doyle Community Park. Here is the full list of approved sites.
Each has its own rules, so be sure to check the requirements before you go. Some even have separate sections for small and large dogs that are completely fenced.
Scooby couldn’t believe his luck when the staff at Bell Smoken’ BBQ handed him a bone. (We let him eat some and he took it as he had never eaten it before).
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When you’re hungry, you don’t have to leave your four-legged friends at home or at the hotel. There are many bars and restaurants in San Diego that allow dogs on leashes on sun decks, patios, or other dog-friendly areas.
Tip: Combine your surf day with a day in the sun at Ocean Beach’s dog-friendly restaurant, with over 30 pet-friendly accommodations. Some even have a happy hour where your dog is more than welcome.
When you take your four-legged friend to a restaurant or bar, be sure to bring dog treats, chew toys and water to keep him happy.
Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres, is one of the area’s most dog-friendly attractions. Enjoy a baseball game at one of the Baryard’s five viewing areas in left-center field.
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Each semi-private viewing area accommodates four people and two dogs and is available through a 10-game Flex membership. Pet amenities include a separate entrance and pet rest area, pet water bowls and umbrellas to protect your dog, and special artificial grass that stays cool to prevent paw burns.
After a long day in San Diego Pamper your dog at the Pet Boutique. Some pet stores have grooming stations that are especially useful for dog owners living abroad. Try places like Original Paw Pleasers in North Park, which has a full-service dog bakery and selection of toys and gifts, or Dexter’s Deli, a health food pet store with multiple locations.
Of course, San Diego, California has a large selection of pet-friendly hotels where pets can stay for an additional fee. Pet-friendly hotels to consider include:
You can visit my entire list of dog friendly hotels in San Diego. Be sure to check any size, weight or breed restrictions.
Big Bear Lake, Ca
The La Jolla community has just about everything you could want to spend a day with your furry friend, including dog-friendly restaurants, local parks, and more. Almost all shops in the city welcome dogs, so your dog can join you for a treat.
From personal experience, it’s an easy place to go without thinking much about it. There are even special bag dispensers and waste bins in the village area.
Yes, your dog is even welcome at San Diego area wineries, both urban and vineyard. The most popular is Eagle’s Nest Winery in Ramona, where you can sip a variety of red, white and port wines with your dog in a charming setting.
Several downtown wineries allow dogs, such as Orfila’s tasting room in Oceanside, but you can also bring them to the winery’s tasting room in Escondido.
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A good rule of thumb is to call the winery in advance, as many allow pets but do not state so on their website.
If you’re looking for a new place for your dog in San Diego, try the Embarcadero.
