Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa

You’re sure to have a Beach Boys sound track playing in your head as you and your pup cavort on aptly named Dog Beach, the leash-free segment of 3.5-mile-long Huntington Beach, centerpiece of the city of the same name (also known as Surf City USA). Surf culture rules in this SoCal mecca for more than 8 million annual visitors—and sometimes, especially during the annual Surf City Surf Dog competition (Sept. 24 this year), it seems like there are that many dogs, too! more »

Where to stay? Is it really possible to find a beautiful place near the beach for you and your pooch? In Surf City USA, absolutely. For years, many hotels in Huntington Beach have been on the leading edge of dog-friendly accommodations. Though Marilyn and I have not opted for a staycation yet, I can’t say we're not tempted. And the good news is, in most cases, we’d be staying right next to the ocean on one of the most beautiful beaches in California.

Recently, the city introduced “the HB Collection,” four premier oceanfront resorts in the heart of Huntington Beach that have joined forces with more than 1,400 guest rooms, all within a half-mile and walking distance to downtown shopping, local artisanal restaurants and the historic Pier. And guess what? They are all pet-friendly. more »

Even in November and December, you’ll find yourself humming a Beach Boys tune as you stroll the sands of aptly named Dog Beach, a leash-free segment of a longer strand in Huntington Beach, aka “Surf City USA.” You’ll find a flip-flop casual welcome almost anywhere you go in this quintessential Orange County beach town just 35 miles south of Los Angeles on the Pacific Coast Highway. more »