Vacationing with your pet on the Coast is a delight for both owners and pets. Your pet will be as stimulated as you by the sights, sounds and smells of this coastal paradise. And there’s no lack of activities to embark upon.

There are many choices for Pet-Friendly Lodging.

Outdoor Activities

Dogs may accompany you while sport 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.

Take a stroll through the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, 18220 N. Hwy 1, Fort Bragg, 707-964-4352 or take in the sights at Point Cabrillo Light Station, 45300 Point Cabrillo Dr., Mendocino, 707-937-6124.

You can paddle up Big River in a canoe from Catch a Canoe & Bicycles, Too, located at Highway 1 & Comptche-Ukiah Rd, Mendocino, 707-937-0273.

Your dog can accompany you for a stroll along these beaches; however, pets must be on a leash at all times.

• Big River Beach, N. Big River Road, Mendocino
• Portuguese Beach, Mendocino Headlands, Mendocino
• Van Damme State Beach, Highway 1, Mendocino
• Caspar Beach, 14441 Point Cabrillo Dr., Caspar
• MacKerricher State Park, Highway 1, Fort Bragg

Thanks to the efforts of a Fort Bragg dog-lovers group, your dog can enjoy an off-leash experience at Noyo Beach. Off Highway 1, take North Harbor Drive, follow it all the way to the end and park below the Noyo Bridge. The dogs need to be on a leash in the parking lot, but once on the sand they are allowed to be off-leash. Pomo Bluffs Park offers spectacular views with outlook points for walking with your leashed pet. Located on Todd’s Point off Highway 1, take Ocean View Drive to Cliff Way. There is also a new off-leash dog park in Fort Bragg at Willow and Lincoln Streets. Take Maple Street east from Highway One (Main Street) until it ends at the dog park on Lincoln St.

In addition to beaches, State Parks are abundant in this area. State Park policy — the leash must be no longer than 6 feet, and in most cases, dogs are allowed in campgrounds, but not on park trails. Areas include: Mendocino Headlands State Park, Off Heeser Drive in Mendocino, and Pomo Bluffs Park in Fort Bragg.

Shopping

Even shopping is a viable activity, due to the large number of pet-friendly stores in the Mendocino Village, as well as along Main and Franklin streets in Fort Bragg. Be sure to ask permission to enter with your pet, and in some stores, owners prefer that you carry your pet. (It keeps curious noses out of low-lying merchandise!)

Of course, don’t forget to stop at the pet supply shops 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.

Dog Sitting

If you find an activity that is not pet-friendly, there are some unique businesses that supply dog sitting:

At Last Farm Dog Day Camp, a loving, safe, protected environment for your dog to spend the day while you enjoy the North Coast, 11209 Gurley Lane, 707-937-2935.

Coast Grooming, a doggie retreat, plus grooming and boutique. 16620 N. Hwy 1, Fort Bragg, 707-964-1046.

Covington Creek Kennels, 30303 Highway 20, Fort Bragg, 707-964-6109.

Emergency Veterinary Care

If your pet becomes ill or has an accident, there are a number of vets in Fort Bragg and Mendocino. If you have an after-hours emergency, call Covington Creek Veterinary Clinic (30303 Highway 20, Fort Bragg) at 707-964-6109, or Karen Novak at Mendocino Village Veterinary (Howard Street behind Mendoza’s) at 707-937-0300. In conjunction with some other vets in the area, they have a common after-hours answering service that routes the emergency calls to the on-call vet in the group.

Restaurants & Coffee Shops

Although there are many opportunities in the area for a picnic with your pet, sometimes you’re just in need of a hot meal. There are a variety of choices in both setting and cuisine.

Cafe One, 753 N Main Street, Fort Bragg
Cowlick’s Handmade Ice Cream, Fort Bragg
Frankie’s Pizza & Ice Cream, Ukiah St., Mendocino
Home Style Cafe, 790 S. Main Street, Fort Bragg
Laurel Deli, 401 N Main Street, Fort Bragg
Mendocino Cookie Company, Main St., Fort Bragg
Nemo’s Fish Market, 2410 N Harbor Dr., Fort Bragg
Piaci Pub & Pizzeria, 120 W. Redwood Avenue, Fort Bragg
Lu’s Kitchen, 45013 Ukiah Street Mendocino
Mendo Burgers, 10483 Lansing Street, Mendocino
Mendocino Cafe, 10451 Lansing Street, Mendocino
Mendocino Hotel, 45080 Main Street, Mendocino
Moody’s Organic Coffee Bar, 10450 Lansing Street, Mendocino
Moosse Cafe, 390 Kasten, Mendocino
Patterson’s Pub, 10485 Lansing, Mendocino
Ravens’ Restaurant, Coast Highway and Comptche-Ukiah Road, Mendocino