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Dog Day Afternoons

Description:

It's a plain fact: San Diego loves dogs. This is an area with, count 'em, three specifically designated dog beaches, numerous leash-free parks, and any number of restaurants and cafes that happily allow canine companions to accompany human diners at patio seating. There are numerous pet-friendly hotels in every price range from budget to luxury, some even have a special room service menu, luxury beds, and toy-and treat filled welcome amenities just for the four-legged guests .
And visitors with dogs love San Diego. For human and canine alike, there are trails to hike, waters to swim, waves to surf, and hills to climb.
San Diego is a great place to bring a dog on vacation, so here?s a sample 2 day itinerary that will give the travelin' dog a taste of just what the city has to offer.

Author: Wendy

Day 1 - San Diego

1)Start the morning with a hearty breakfast at Café 222, one of downtown’s most popular spots for breakfast. Your dog is welcome to join you on the outdoor patio. 2) Next stop is 1200 acre Balboa Park, with one of the best fenced off-leash dog play and exercise areas in the city. This dog park, officially called Nate’s Point, is located at the east end of Laurel St. and Balboa Dr., at the foot of the Cabrillo Bridge. It is completely fenced, with a water fountain for both dogs and people, and shaded areas. (Another dog park, somewhat smaller and not fenced, is located in the Morley Field Sports Complex on the far eastern side of the park, across Florida Canyon and Florida Dr. The dog park is just west of the Tennis Courts.) After Fido has run off some steam, put him back on his leash and explore the rest of Balboa Park. From Nate’s Point, walk east over the bridge to most of the attractions, although there are some very nice walking paths in the park’s western side as well. The visitor’s center is located in the center of the park in the House of Hopitality. You can pick up a self-guided audio tour there if you wish. There are museums (sorry, Fido isn’t allowed inside), cultural venues, walking trails, gardens, such as the Inez Grant Parker Rose Garden, and restaurants. 3)By now you’re ready for lunch, and a great choice is the Prado Restaurant, where your dog can enjoy the patio with you. 4)After a morning in the park, head over to fun and funky Ocean Beach, where you’ll catch some rays at Dog Beach, located at the very north end of the beach. After a good romp in the sand and surf, you can take Fido up the street to the Ocean Beach Dog Wash at 4933 Voltaire St. for a do-it-yourself wash in their big deep tubs. 5) Hungry or thirsty yet? A good choice is Shades Oceanfront Bistro, a casual eatery across the street from the beach where your dog can hang with you on the patio. 6) Of course, you want to catch the sun setting into the Pacific Ocean and maybe see the fabled green flash. In the Ocean Beach/Point Loma area, the best place to do so is the aptly named Sunset Cliffs. Follow Sunset Cliffs drive out of downtown Ocean Beach to the ocean, and there are a number of small parking lots along the ocean side of the street. These fill up fast, but there is also street parking available. Another option is to follow Sunset Cliffs Drive to the end, where you’ll find beautiful and somewhat rugged Sunset Cliffs Park tucked between Point Loma Nazarene University and the ocean cliffs, with lots of trails for you and your dog to walk/run on. Although technically dogs are supposed to be leashed here, most people allow well-behaved dogs to run free. 8)Heading back to downtown San Diego, your hotel is the hip and luxurious Hotel Solamar, centrally located at the quieter edge of the Gaslamp Quarter, the hub of San Diego nightlife. For pre-dinner cocktails and appetizers, you and Fido can enjoy “wine hour” in the lobby living room. 9)Another option for cocktails is Magnet at the W Hotel. Your dog is welcome either at the outdoor patio or the indoor lobby bar. 10) Although you’re probably not, Fido is now ready to snooze for the night. Bring him back to your room at Hotel Solamar, and then enjoy your dinner at JSix, adjacent to the Hotel. 11)For nightlife, the Gaslamp Quarter is where it’s all happening. Most of the nightclubs and music venues are geared towards the dressed-to-the-nines 20- and 30-somethings, especially on weekends, but 12) Patrick’s is a more casual, funky blues bar popular with all ages.

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Hotel Solamar

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+1 619 233 5227 (Gaslamp Quarter Association)

Ocean Beach Dog Beach

Location:

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Foot of Voltaire St. Ocean Beach
San Diego, CA 92107

Cafe 222

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Location:

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222 Island Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101

Phone:

1 619 236 9902

Sunset Cliffs

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expert pick

Location:

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Located along Sunset Cliffs Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92106

Phone:

Location:

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5083 Santa Monica Avenue
San Diego, CA 92107

Phone:

1 619 222 0501

Day 2 - Coronado, San Diego

For the morning’s activity, we’re heading to Mission Trails Regional Park. There are miles of trails through all different habitats for you to enjoy with your dog, who is welcome in the park but must be kept leashed. 2) Next, we head to Coronado Island, which is technically an isthmus, not an island. Lunch is at the very dog-friendly Rhinoceros Café & Grill 3)Then, it’s another afternoon at the beach . There are 2 options here. The north end of Coronado Municipal Beach, which borders the Navy base is a leash-free dog beach. Although smaller than Ocean Beach Dog Beach, it seems to attract a better behaved group of dogs and owners who are more conscientious about picking up after their pets. There is a water fountain and dog washing station (although the hose is not always present) at the entrance to the beach. There’s a dog wash at Wag‘n’ Tails at 945 Orange Ave, as well. 4)The other option is surfing lessons for both you and your dog at the Coronado Surfing Academy, in conjunction with the Loews Coronado Bay Resort. The Loews is extremely pet friendly and is a great lodging option if you prefer to be at a more secluded and beach-centered location, rather than in downtown San Diego. 5) Before leaving Coronado, grab some ice cream at Mootime Creamery. 6)Dinner is at the Parkhouse Eatery in University Heights, which has a pet friendly patio. 7)The evening’s entertainment is low-key evening under the stars. Fiesta Island, part of Mission Bay Park is leash-free, and a wonderful place to build a fire in one of the many beachside fire pits (you can buy firewood at most supermarkets) and enjoy a warm evening. SeaWorld , across a narrow arm of water from Fiesta Island has a fireworks display nightly during spring and summer nights, and Fiesta Island is the perfect place to watch it from.

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