The hands-down, No. 1 place to play in waves and sand in California is Carmel Beach, a powder-white, city-managed, mile-long strand on the outskirts of Carmel-by-the Sea, the chic vacation village on the Monterey Peninsula. DogTrekkers come from around the country to share their good fortune here. A trio of tips:
• Go early in the morning to meet local dogs and their people.
• Avoid lunchtime, when tourists unaware of the strand’s off-leash status unload picnic fare that can prove tempting to loose-running pups who know a snack when they see one.
• Don’t forget pick-up bags (dispensers provided at beach entry points sometimes run dry)—and please, don’t leave them on the sand to be encountered and disposed of (or not) by others.
You might also like this story about where else to chase waves with your off-leash pup.