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With the warm summer months upon us, you are probably looking to get out of your house and go on some adventures, and if you are anything like me, you want to take your four legged friend along. There are plenty of options for you and your furry friend in Sonoma County, from the beaches of Bodega Bay, to wineries, hiking trails, and more!
Beaches
My favorite Bodega Bay beaches to take my dog are Portuguese Beach or Schoolhouse Beach. These beaches are both dog friendly, have restrooms, and are great for watching the sunset! Located right in the middle of the Sonoma Coastline, you'll be hard pressed to find nicer beaches. If you would like to let your dog off leash at the beach, Check out Dillon beach, which is even closer than Bodega Bay! It costs $10, but your pup will get much more out of it than the cost, and can make some new friends while they are there! There is also Goat Rock Beach, Duncan's Landing, Carmet Beach, and many more! Farther from home, you can check out Jenner driving up north on the 1, or you can take your pup to the Russian River, where there are lots of small beaches, and your pup can go for a swim in the river! Traveling south, I like to take Highway 1 down to Point Reyes, in Marin County, Where there are some fantastic beaches and hiking trails to explore with your dog. My personal favorites are South Beach and Kehoe Beach, both a bit of a drive, but the seclusion and scenery are totally worth it. You can also stop at the shipwreck on the way there for a good photo-op, it is right behind a little corner store when you drive into Point Reyes.
Wineries
Since we are in wine country, it only makes sense that we would want to visit some local wineries! Luckily, there are a few dog friendly wineries you can bring your pup to while you enjoy some awesome local wine! Kunde Family Winery in Kenwood hosts dog hikes around their property a few times a year, and the event raises money for an awesome animal rescue called Dogwood Animal Rescue. They were recently voted Sonoma County's best local non-profit by the Press Democrat. Mutt Lynch Winery is probably the most dog friendly winery around, with wines dedicated to dogs, which raise money for animal rescue groups, and regularly hold pet friendly events, like Yappy Hour. Larson Family Winery, West Wines, Lambert Bridge Winery, and Sbragia Family Winery are also dog friendly. The Russian River Brewing Company in Windsor is also dog friendly, and pups can enjoy hanging out on the patio and grassy area while you enjoy award winning beer.
Hiking and Dog Parks
Sonoma County offers some of the best hiking trails in the country, and many are dog friendly! Dogs are allowed at all Sonoma County Regional Parks, including Taylor Mountain, Helen Putnam Regional Park, Mt. Hood, as well as many others! You can also take your pup for a hike along the coast! Check out trails at Doran Regional Park, Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail, Stillwater Cove Regional Park, Gualala Point Regional Park, and more! Spring Lake and Riverfront Regional Park are also favorites for dog walkers. For a walk in the woods, check out Armstrong Woods! For off leash dog parks, check out Robert's Lake Dog Park in Rohnert Park, conveniently located right off the 101. In Santa Rosa you can check out A Place To Play on West 3rd Avenue. In Rincon Valley, you can check out the Rincon Valley Community Park which has an acre fenced in for your dogs to play off leash.
Dining
If you are in Bodega Bay, check out The Dog House! You can get a hot dog or burger, and they will give your pup something special just for them! In Healdsburg, you can check out Barndiva, which has an awesome patio garden area where your pup will get all the treats their heart desires. At the Hopmonk Tavern in Sebastapool or Sonoma, you can check out the beer garden where your pup more than welcome! You can get a puppachino from Starbucks, and non salted puppy burgers from In N Out as well! You can enjoy a meal outside in the patio area at Big Daddy's Diner in Rohnert Park (who has the best burgers around in my opinion), as well as Betty's Fish and Chips, which is just two doors down from our family owned pet boutique, Pawsarotti's, which has all the treats, toys, and high quality food that your pup could ever want!
Accomodations for Traveling with a Pet
If you are visiting from out of town with your pup, you will need to find a pet friendly place to stay! Luckily, there are plenty of options. In Guernville, you can check out the Dawn Ranch Resort, where there are pet friendly cabins available for only $40 a night! The Flamingo Conference Resort and Spa offers pet friendly rooms for an additional fee, and so does the Doubletree by Hilton in Rohnert Park Farther north, check out Russian River Getaways, which has all sorts of pet friendly accommodations!