|
CALIFORNIA
HAS
GONE
TO
THE
DOGS
Article
courtesy
of
the
California
Travel
and
Tourism
Commission
|
|
|
It’s
no
surprise
that
California
has
gone
to
the
dogs.
After
all,
if
the
Golden
State
had
a
temperament,
it
would
be
characteristic
of
Fido
-
warm,
welcoming,
good
natured
and
eager
to
have
a
good
time.
But
rolling
out
the
California
welcome
mat
for
four-legged
friends
is
also
a
wise
business
decision.
According
to
the
Travel
Industry
Association
of
America,
Fido,
as
well
as
Fluffy,
are
popular
travel
companions,
with
14
percent
of
all
U.S.
adults
(that’s
29.1
million)
traveling
with
a
pet
on
a
trip
of
50
miles
or
more,
one-way,
in
the
last
three
years.
“Catering
to
travelers
with
pets
makes
sense,”
said
Executive
Director
Caroline
Beteta
of
the
California
Travel
and
Tourism
Commission
(CTTC).
“Especially
since
half
of
the
U.S.
population
are
pet
owners.
In
addition
to
offering
pet-friendly
lodging,
California
regions
offer
activities,
parks,
as
well
as
critical
care
centers
all
designed
to
keep
traveling
pets
happy,
healthy
and
safe.”
Dogs
visiting
Carmel
on
the
Central
Coast
Region
are
well
treated
because
many
of
the
city’s
hotels,
shops
and
galleries
welcome
canines
with
dog
biscuits
and
special
doggie
menus
at
outside
restaurants.
The
recently
renovated
Carmel
Plaza
shopping
center
even
boasts
the
“Fountain
of
Woof,”
a
designated
“dogs
only”
drinking
fountain.
At
the
Cypress
Inn,
co-owned
by
legendary
film
star
Doris
Day,
man’s
best
friend
is
the
guest
of
honor
with
doggie
blankets
and
evening
turndown
service
and
treats.
At
the
Carmel
River
Inn,
pets
are
accepted
in
all
of
the
property’s
cozy
cottages.
The
Forge
in
the
Forest,
a
favorite
restaurant
among
local
residents,
offers
the
Dog
Pound
menu.
At
Porta
Bella
waiters
bring
pups
water
in
a
champagne
bucket.
Carmel
has
its
own
city-sponsored
dog
calendar,
and
visitors
can
walk
their
dogs
unleashed
at
Carmel
Beach.
Last
year,
more
than
300
dogs
showed
up
for
the
casting
call
at
Carmel
Beach,
lining
up
for
nearly
a
quarter
mile.
The
Cambria
Pines
Lodge
in
Cambria,
just
six
miles
south
of
Hearst
Castle,
is
perfect
for
pets
with
its
26
acres
that
feature
gardens,
native
plant
pathway
and
outdoor
fire
pit
gazebos.
Dog
Fancy
Magazine
named
San
Diego,
part
of
the
San
Diego
County
Region,
the
2007
winner
of
DogTownUSA
for
its
myriad
of
dog-friendly
activities,
restaurants
and
businesses,
as
well
as
its
dog
parks,
critical-care
facilities,
pro-dog
legislation
and
vet-pet
ratio.
Loews
Coronado
Bay
Resort
and
Spa
in
Coronado
extends
its
hospitality
to
family
pets
with
the
Su’ruff
Camp,
where
man’s
best
friend
dons
board
shorts
for
surfing
lessons
with
the
Coronado
Surfing
Academy
at
the
local
dog
beach.
In
Del
Mar
and
Carlsbad,
Dexter’s
Deli
offers
a
health
food
store
for
dogs
and
cats,
specializing
in
natural
and
raw
food
diets.
Tag
for
Dogs
and
Cats,
located
in
Hillcrest,
is
a
high-end
pet
accessory
emporium.
Viceroy
Palm
Springs
in
Palm
Springs,
part
of
the
Desert
Region,
has
been
updated
to
reflect
the
Hollywood
Regency
style
popular
during
the
desert’s
original
glamour
era,
and
welcomes
four-legged
friends
at
its
villas.
Dogs
are
treated
like
royalty
and
receive
a
personalized
take-home
dog
dish,
freshly
baked
dog
biscuits
and
a
personalized
“welcome”
card
from
the
general
manger.
Four
luxury-cooling
pools,
dotted
around
the
property,
allow
pooches
to
recline
and
relax.
Also
in
Palm
Springs,
the
plush
Hotel
Zoso
welcomes
dogs
with
a
Pampered
Pooch
Package
that
includes
a
“shag
bag”
upon
arrival
with
treats
and
discounts
at
nearby
pet
retailers,
such
as
Chilly
Dog
Collars,
In
the
Doghouse,
Bones-n-Scones
and
the
Cold
Nose
Warm
Heart.
Special
doggie
“Yappy
Hours”
are
held
at
the
property
Fridays
from
4
to
5
p.m.
In
the
Inland
Empire
Region,
Big
Bear
Lake
is
considered
one
of
the
most
dog-friendly
destinations
in
the
country.
Most
of
the
lodging
properties
in
this
alpine
town
welcome
pets
with
dogs
and
cats
being
the
most
common
guests,
including
the
Timberline
Lodge
just
steps
away
from
Big
Bear’s
Village.
At
Lake
Arrowhead,
the
Lake
Arrowhead
Resort
and
Spa
provides
doggie
blankets
and
treats.
During
the
winter
months,
many
pets
visiting
the
area
get
a
chance
to
experience
snow
for
the
first
time.
Located
in
the
San
Francisco
Bay
Area
Region,
the
Fairmont
San
Jose
in
San
Jose
offers
a
special
pet
menu,
including
its
freshly
baked
Barkaroo
Bakery
treats
approved
by
the
USDA.
Pet
amenities
also
include
a
special
pet
basket
and
mattress,
a
squeaky
rubber
toy
and
a
small
brochure
where
guests
can
take
their
dogs
for
a
“Bark
in
the
Park”
walk,
as
well
as
complimentary
use
of
the
hotel’s
HP
digital
camera
and
printer
to
turn
moments
into
memories.
In
Santa
Cruz,
Santa
Cruz
State
Parks
offer
many
trails
through
old
growth
coastal
redwood
trees,
as
well
as
scenic
state
beaches
–
all
for
pets.
The
Hilton
Santa
Cruz
in
Scotts
Valley
offers
a
special
pet
package
for
dogs
which
includes
accommodations,
special
gift
and
a
pet-lovers
newsletter.
Santa
Cruz
County
is
also
home
to
pet
massage
therapists,
animal
acupuncturists
and
chiropractors,
as
well
as
“animal
communicators”
that
can
tell
you
what
your
pet
is
thinking.
For
off-leash
parks,
extensive
beach
access
and
a
variety
of
pet-welcoming
properties,
travelers
should
also
consider
San
Mateo
County
for
their
next
vacation.
The
Hotel
Monaco
in
San
Francisco
even
offers
a
pet
goldfish
when
guests
check
in
to
provide
an
extra
touch
of
welcome,
whimsy
and
relaxation
to
their
rooms.
Beverly
Hills,
in
the
Los
Angeles
County
Region,
is
home
to
a
bevy
of
pet
services.
At
the
Avalon
Hotel
of
Beverly
Hills,
small
dogs
can
stay
in
the
luxury
Canon
Villa,
home
to
15
apartment
rentals
(2,000
square
feet
each),
many
with
private
patios,
formal
dining
rooms
and
gourmet
kitchens.
Dogs
are
almost
mandatory
when
it
comes
to
shopping,
and
The
Grove
(an
upscale,
dog-friendly
shopping
and
entertainment
center)
in
Los
Angeles,
as
well
as
Saks
Fifth
Avenue
in
Beverly
Hills
and
the
Belmont
Shore
district
of
Long
Beach
welcome
pampered
pups.
Dogs
need
high
fashion
too,
and
The
Wagging
Tail
in
Santa
Monica
provides
some
of
the
best
canine
couture
for
precious
pooches.
Pets
can
take
in
the
Hollywood
limelight
at
the
Hollywood
Walk
of
Fame
on
Hollywood
Boulevard,
where
Lassie,
Kermit
the
Frog
and
Godzilla
have
stars.
Travelers
looking
to
soak
up
that
famous
California
sunshine
can
play
on
Leo
Carrillo
State
Beach,
north
of
Malibu,
or
sniff
out
nature
in
Pacific
Palisades’
186-acre
Will
Rogers
State
Historic
Park.
Long
Beach
boasts
an
active
calendar
of
pet
events,
including
parades
and
beauty
contests.
The
Pet
Spa
&
Salon
in
West
Hollywood
offers
the
“lap
of
luxury”
with
services
ranging
from
manicures
to
oatmeal
shampoos
and
pet
massage.
Vacationing
with
your
pet
in
the
North
Coast
Region
is
a
delight
for
both
owners
and
canines.
The
sights,
sounds
and
smells
of
this
coastal
paradise,
stimulate
pets
and
there
is
no
lack
of
activities
to
“emBark”
upon.
Dogs
can
accompany
travelers
while
they
sport
fish
or
whale
watch
aboard
All
Aboard
Adventures
and
Anchor
Charter
Boats
in
Fort
Bragg.
Also
in
Fort
Bragg,
dogs
can
run
leash
free
at
Noyo
Beach,
off
Noyo
Drive
and
Highway
1.
Pet-friendly
lodging
choices
run
from
quaint
bed
and
breakfast
inns
to
vacation
homes,
and
include
Abigail’s
Bed
and
Breakfast
and
the
Sweetwater
Spa
and
Inn
in
Mendocino,
as
well
as
the
Auberge
Mendocino
and
the
Little
River
Inn
-
both
in
Little
River.
At
Tappen
Hill,
a
kennel
tucked
among
the
green
hills
of
Sebastopol,
dogs
enjoy
grassy,
lawn
play
areas,
climbing
structures,
and
tunnels
and
in-ground
swimming
pools
(one
specifically
designed
for
swim
therapy).
Yosemite-bound
visitors
traveling
with
their
pets
will
enjoy
the
Yosemite
View
Lodge
in
El
Portal
and
the
Groveland
Hotel
in
Groveland,
both
located
in
the
High
Sierra
Region,
which
offer
comfy
pet
beds
and
gourmet
dog
treats.
Two
Dogs
and
A
Cat
in
South
Lake
Tahoe,
Dog.Dog.Cat
in
the
Village
at
Northstar
and
Scraps
Dog
Bakery
in
Tahoe
City
and
Kings
Beach
provide
fashionabl |