East Bay Area

The Tri-Valley region, east of the San Francisco Bay Area, is a dog-friendly destination that surprises travelers with its wide-open spaces and historic town centers.

Vacaville loves your pets! Many of their attractions, retail stores and restaurants welcome your dogs with open arms. Many hotels offer special packages designed specifically to ensure your dog's stay is a great one.

Dog-loving residents of Oakland have it all: tons of bars and restaurants with dog-friendly outdoor seating, an overall welcoming attitude toward canines, and a wealth of open-space trails.

Visit Concord, California with your pup and discover scenic trails with breathtaking views, craft breweries and an affordable, diverse food scene welcoming dogs to pet-friendly patio restaurants.

Pleasant Hill in Contra Costa County has great restaurants, affordable lodging, friendly locals and close proximity to the world-class wines of Napa and Sonoma Valleys, outdoor exploration and dog-friendly things to do.

Unsure about your dog on a train? Try a small-scale starter train

Redwood Valley Railroad in Berkeley’s Tilden Regional Park. Photo by David McSpadden (CC).

Don’t know if your dog will like riding the rails? You can always try a training ride on the Tilden/Redwood Valley Railway in Berkeley’s Tilden Regional Park. It’s an authentic miniature steam train featuring more than 30 pieces of rolling stock. Call ahead if bringing a dog.

One of the East Bay Regional Park District’s three oldest parks, Tilden has been called the jewel of the system, and its recreational activities have become a happy tradition for generations of East Bay youngsters. more »

Vacaville is wine country with an affordable twist

Lagoon Valley Park.

Dreaming of a wine country getaway without the premium lodging prices of Napa Valley and Sonoma County? Here’s an insider’s tip for DogTrekkers: Base yourself in Vacaville. Close to both established and emerging wineries, this Northern California community lives up to its “Small. In a Big Way” tagline.

Find more dog-friendly things to explore in Vacaville:

• A hotel for every budget
• Fresh produce and new food trails
• Wag your way through wine country
• Parks for pups and their people

Explore Concord with free doggie visitor’s guide

“Dogs Welcome Here!” isn’t just a tagline in Concord. Pups are central to the community’s fabric, and you’ll see that in the way hotels, restaurants, breweries, bars and parks put out the welcome bowls for four-legged visitors.

In fact, this dog-friendly city just produced a dog-gone great guide to the Concord Perro Trail. Named in honor of the community’s Hispanic heritage, the free, downloadable map covers Concord’s very dog-walkable downtown plus nearby parks and open spaces.

Here are some of our favorite places to hike, eat, grab a drink and stay in Concord:

• Where to hike
• Where to eat
• Where to drink
• Where to stay

Where to drink in Concord

Pup at Epidemic Ales. Photo by Visit Concord.

Have you heard the one about the dog who walks into a bar? Bartender nods and says, “Hey dog, haven’t seen you in a while. How are things going?” Dog looks over and says, “Ruff.”

In Concord, finding a dog-friendly place for a pint isn’t “ruff” at all. Download the Concord Perro Trail map for an at-a-glance guide to all the options. Start at the Hop Grenade Tap Room on Todos Santos Plaza. more »

Where to hike in Concord

Photo by Visit Concord.

DogTrekkers tell us that hiking is their favorite activity when visiting new destinations. Happily, Concord has so many hikes that you’ll want to stay a few extra days. The trails of Briones Regional Park unfold to the west of town. Lime Ridge Open Space stretches across the southern landscape. Both Baldwin Dog Park and Newhall Park Paw Patch welcome pups within the city. Get historical with the Concord Historical Society’s self-guided walking tour. more »