Carmel-by-the-Sea earns international recognition for its food, art and (more recently) the density of outstanding wine tasting rooms.
But it seems proudest of its dog friendliness, which comes trumpeted on the city’s tourism webpage.
“Rated the #1 Dog Friendly Town in America, Carmel-by-the-Sea is truly a world-class pet friendly destination that caters to four-legged companions,” Visit Carmel-by-the-Sea’s website reads. “Hotels, shops and restaurants roll out the red carpet and the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea offers many places—beaches, trails, and tourist attractions — where dogs can frolic.”
This distinction is merited. This, after all, is a hamlet with seemingly as many — more? — dogs than people, and the sorts of shops that would read like dog fan fiction in any other corner of the world.
There’s high end accessory boutique Diggidy Dog and luxury dog product hub The Dog House. There’s grooming salon Signature Paw Spa and daycare/dog fitness gym Carmel Canine Sports Center.
There’s The Raw Connection, primarily an all-natural pet store that also furnishes nutritional advice and dog-related wellness consultations.
Plus dog-walking, pet-sitting, and overnight caring Carmel Pet Care, and dozens of businesses where shopkeepers supply dog biscuits at the counter and offer water dishes at the door.
But all that said, the #1 reason Carmel-by-the-Sea is a full-blown doggie destination is Carmel Beach. Full stop.
Which is why it leads the list of the area’s greatest open spaces, then we can move east from there.
Feature photo by Mark C. Anderson
Ocean Avenue and Scenic
A few fun dog stats: Dog-friendly workplaces are growing, with around 7% of U.S. businesses now offering pet-friendly policies, which have been shown to reduce stress and improve morale. Some 500,000 service dogs are trained to assist people with disabilities, providing support to individuals with visual impairments, PTSD, and other conditions. Rescues are on the rise, as around 44% of dogs are adopted from animal shelters or rescue groups. But there is no stat that can really capture the sheer joy of being on Carmel Beach with your dog. You’ll be met by every breed of pup, all gently required to be on voice command, though Rufus, Athena and Charlie Boi would be forgiven if they’re not so responsive once struck with the wow of this convergence of white sand, wave and dog enthusiast. If off-leash romping is your #1 pal’s #1 thing, this place is off the charts.
700 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley
(831) 372-3196
This natural wonder, in its 3,464-acres-of-public-rec-area glory, is voted Best Park for Hiking by locals on a perennial—and perhaps everlasting—basis. Its dog-friendliness figures in mightily, as do its wide range of easy and flat meadows and shaded oak woodlands, which pair with steep rises through chaparral and seasonal waterfalls to astounding valley views. Water stations and dog-friendly picnic areas make it easy to spend the whole chunks of happy days here, while the park’s abundant wildlife ups the excitement. Carmel River, Garzas Creek, a redwood canyon and a smattering of historic buildings do too. A rare breed, indeed.
Kimball Avenue and Noche Buena Avenue, Seaside
This sanctuary is awesome in a self-evident way: It enjoys a dynamic and rich collection of oak and pine trees, curving paths, a supplemental small dog area, picnic tables, benches and the coup de grace, an elegantly arranged dog burial ground with cute-overload remembrances. But the city’s first off-leash playground awesomeness expands with a bonus bit of context: It used to be a scrappy untended patch of public land that was transformed into a 1.7-acre wonderland entirely by volunteer residents, who often gather for group work days and sweep the paths daily. It’s an awesome community of dog lovers who exude the credo Bark less. Wag more.
Toro Creek Road, Marina
(831) 582-2200
The former Army base has marched through an inspired reimagination, playing home to Cal State Monterey Bay and Monterey Bay Football Club, among other things, and one of the most adored elements of its repurposing is its vast network of hiking and biking trails. We’re talking thousands and thousands of acres of rolling hills, coastal scrub, pocket canyons, oak woodlands and abandoned military buildings, accessible by former Army roads and dirt single tracks. Check out the Bureau of Land Management’s interactive map before you go, because it’s that massive a place, with 86 miles of trails weaving through it. While there you can tap a little history on the facility’s past life, which ran 1917-1994 and trained 1.5 million American troops, including the area’s own Clint Eastwood.
