When one mention’s the city of Carmel images of a white pristine beach, the adorable shops/galleries, the amazing restaurants come to mind. For years now, the city of Carmel has become a haven for all of those wonderful things and for their love of dogs. Carmel frankly, has gone to the dogs! It is easy to understand why Carmel has been named one of the top US Dog Friendly places by dogfriendly.com.
Carmel itself has over 4,000 residents and 870 dogs. Seeing a dog and its owner walk around the city together has become very commonplace. Carmel dog owners take their dogs with them almost everywhere with in Carmel as most places welcome their pooches with open arms.
Carmel has also become known as a Dog Town Destination. Carmel was named one of the top 10 travel destinations by Conde Naste in 2006 and this coupled with it being tremendously dog friendly, you’ve got a recipe for a pooches storybook village. Carmel hosts over 2 million visitors a year.
Many people ask how the love affair for dogs started in Carmel. Few have speculated that it may have been our own Doris Day that currently resides in Carmel Valley. Before she made this haven her home, she would visit with her dogs from Los Angeles on many occasions with her Hollywood friends. Time after time, the hotels and restaurants noticed the importance of these pooches to their companions and felt that both needed to be graciously served.
As I have lived on the Monterey Peninsula for now almost over 15 years, I’ve come to love the Carmel area and its affinity for the pooches. My dog Morgan and I have enjoyed many days in Carmel. I felt that it be befitting to give her synopsis of what she would feel would be her perfect day in Carmel. Yes, she cannot speak, but I feel that if she could… this is what she would say…
A Day in the Life of a Dog in Carmel
Carmel. I love it. There are so many things for me to do here and I feel so welcome by everyone that I meet. As there are so many things to do in one day for me here, I have separated my list of favorite spots for dogs by times of the day.
Sunrise – Noon
First things first, I have to tell you about the beach. This is the first place I would go in the morning to watch the sunrise. Yes, it is early, but it is just amazing. There I’ll find some friends and we run and play together all in perfect harmony. We even can run off leash as Carmel Beach is one of the only pet friendly beaches on the Central Coast that allows me to run free. This mile long beach is just pristine. White endless sand for me to run in and sometimes I even tread lightly to the water (I’m a Rhodesian Ridgeback and don’t really like to get wet). A lot of my friends jump in the water and fetch balls. This could go on all day, yet a dog has to rest. The next place I would go would be to one of my favorite coffee shops. They are just a short walk up from the beach in downtown Carmel. One is the Carmel Valley Roasting Company and the other is Caffee Cardinale. Heidi loves to stop for a cup of coffee and I enjoy the dog treats they may have on hand. Just a little treat keeps me going. They both have water bowls outside that help thirst my quench after running and panting on Carmel Beach. Now, we start our window shopping and walking. If Heidi wants breakfast, our favorite spot is at Katy’s Café. Per what I hear, they have the most amazing breakfast and I can hang out with her too.
After breakfast, it is back to walking. By now, most of the beautiful boutiques, galleries and stores are now open. There are hitching posts all over Carmel-by-the Sea and she hooks me up so she can shop and I hang outside and dog watch. Quite a few of the shopkeepers keep a hidden stash of dog treats behind the counter and sometimes I get lucky. Usually there are water dishes to be found outside their doors, so I never get parched while she shops. Oh, there is also a water bowl outside Tiffany & Co. Heidi says she wishes she could shop their daily, but at least I get to drink their water.
If you happen to be walking around the city of Carmel and see the Carmel Dog Calendar, you must buy one. The City of Carmel commissioned this 2007 Calendar by hosting a Carmel Dog Casting Call while looking for the most photogenic local pups. On October 14th, more that 400 pooches showed up for their chance for fame. They were judge on charm, face and first impression. The city was kind enough to donate half of the $10 fee as well as $1 for each calendar sold to the local chapter of the SPCA. We love the SPCA here as they have done amazing things for all animals. If you would like a calendar, please go to www.carmeldogcalendar.com. There will be another calendar in 2008 and hopefully years to come.
Lunch Time
This is amazing. There are over 43 restaurants that are dog friendly in Carmel. Below I will name just a few from this long list (Heidi’s personal Favorites):
- Forge in the Forest (They have a “Dog Pound” Menu)
- Grasings
- Le Coq Dor
- Hog’s Breath Inn
- Nico Ristorante
- Giovanni Bistro
- Da Biovanni
- Jack London’s
- Porta Bella’s (They serve me water in a champagne bucket!)
- Casanova’s
- Cypress Inn (Their tea daily from 1-4pm is wonderful )
Please keep these restaurants listed above in mind for dinner too!
There is a gallery called “Blue Dog” that even I can go into. They have all these neat paintings of a blue dog. Entertaining I must say!
If you happen to walk by the Cottage of Sweets on the main street (Ocean Avenue), maybe pick up your pooch some of their “dog mix”.
Oh, don’t forget the great dog shops. I can saunter in with you and show you first-hand which toy or treat I would like. The best are Diggigy Dog and Mackie’s Parlour.
When you stop by Mackie’s Parlour, located at the Carmel Plaza, make sure I get to relax by the Fountain of Woof. It is a special drinking fountain made only for dogs. Wonderful.
If we happen to be outside of the one square mile radius of what is called Carmel-by-the- Sea and ventured into other areas of Carmel, there are other wonderful places that also welcome me.
The Gallery Restaurant At The Lodge at Pebble Beach
- Overlooks the 1st tee at Pebble Beach
- Serves Breakfast and Lunch
Corkscrew Caf é in Carmel Valley
The Crossroads Shopping Village in Carmel (Highway 1 at Rio Road) is very pet friendly (www.crossroadsshopping.com). You’ll enjoy walking through their almost one acre of gardens. Heidi’s favorite restaurants here include:
- R.G. Burgers (Great burgers and shakes)
- Rio Grill
- Chiante Ristorante
While you browsing the shops at The Crossroads, stop in and say hello (woof!) to European Jewelers (www.european-jeweler.com). Adriana manufactures custom 14K gold and sterling silver paw-print jewelry by taking a mold of a precious paw print. They are just amazing.
The Barnyard Shopping Village (www.thebarnyard.com) is also a favorite place to browse and dine. The favorite’s here that Heidi likes to take me to are:
- Allegro Gourmet Pizzeria
- From Scratch Restaurant
- HOLA! Mexican Restaurant
- Lugano Swiss Bistro (They have a doggie menu for me! Great fondue)
- Robata Grill
(oh, there is also a Carmel Valley Roasting Co. there too!).
You’ll enjoy free parking at both The Cross Roads Shopping Village and The Barnyard Shopping Village.
Late Afternoon
Now back to Carmel-by-the-Sea.
There are so many other things to do and see. Almost too many to list here. There is a great gallery called “Blue Dog” that even I can go into. They have all these neat paintings of a blue dog. Entertaining I must say!
There is a wonderful lady in town that will take you on a two-hour walking tour of Carmel though hidden courtyards, gardens, alleys, fairytale cottages while giving you all of the abundant history of the area. She even brings her pooch Squirt with her (he helps her lead the walks) he’s an Airedale. These walks are pet friendly and lots of fun. You can reach her at Carmel Walks (www.carmelwalks.com).
Now would be the time for me to possibly run off with Heidi to other locations in the area that are dog friendly and wonderful places to go. As far as beaches go, I’ve already mentioned the city beach in Carmel, but not yet mentioned other beaches in the area:
- Carmel River State Beach - have to wear a leash
- Monterey State Beach - have to wear a leash
- Asilomar State Beach - in Pacific Grove, yes.. a leash
As far as parks go, there are also many many choices that I can go. My favorite in Carmel is the:
Here I can run free off leash (like the city beach at Carmel), but I have to be in voice control at all times. You can find it across from the historic Carmel Mission (off of Rio Road and Hwy 1).
My favorite in Monterey is:
* Jack’s Peak Park
At this park you’ll find about 4,500 acres of beautiful space. . Almost 8.5 miles of hiking trails wind through cathedral-like forests and to breathtaking ridge top vistas. The Skyline Self-Guided Nature Trail which features fossils from the Miocene epoch traverses the summit of Jacks Peak. Brochures describing features along the trail are available at the entrance station. Visitors can also enjoy other passive activities including nature study, photography or relaxation. Just $3 or $4 to get in. Yes, I have to be on leash but I don’t mind!!
Local Dog Parks
- Lynn “Rip” Van Winkle Open Space (Pacific Grove)
This is about 2,200 feet long and 400 feet wide. Located between Sunset Drive and Forest Lodge Road along Congress Avenue. The terrain is rugged, wild and heavily forested. I can run here off leash as long as I am in voice control.
- “No Name” Dog Park (Marina)
- It is an Ex-baseball field that is now all grass. It is enclosed by a chain link fence. Heidi has to bring water with her, as there is not water there available. It is a dedicated dog run. It is on Schoonover Drive. To find it, exit Highway 1 at Reservation Road and take that to Imjin Rd. Take a right onto Imjin and then left onto Abrams Dr. and then left on Schoonover. Dog Park is on the right hand side.
- George Washington Park (Pacific Grove)
Dogs may run leashless from sunrise to 9am and from 4pm to sunset. The leashless portion is within the area of Short, Melrose, Alder, and Pine Street.
Favorite Dog Leisurely Coastal Walk
- Monterey Bay Coastal Trail
Heidi wanted to make sure that I also mention the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail. It is this wonderful trail (yes, I have to be on a leash) that runs 18 miles along the coast from Pacific Grove all of the way up to Castroville. Don’t miss it! Amazing views of the ocean.
Late PM
After a long day of eating, shopping, browsing and running it is now time to retire. What we would usually do is go back to the Beach in Carmel and watch the sunset with my buddies again. Whew, now I’m exhausted. As we live here on the Monterey Peninsula, we’d go home and I would simply fall asleep. Heidi wanted me to make sure and mention all of the great places to stay the night with your pampered pooch if you are indeed traveling and on holiday.
There are over 21 different hotels, B&B’s and Inns in the Carmel area that take pooches. Just too many to list here. You can either stay in an adorable B&B like the Vagabond’s house in Carmel or one of the cute cottages at Carmel River Inn or the Historical Cypress Inn or the breathtaking Lodge at Pebble Beach.
I’d like to touch briefly on the Cypress Inn. As mentioned earlier, Doris Day is currently co-owner of the Cypress Inn with Dennis LeVett. Being a animal lover for years, she welcomes dogs to her beautiful recently renovated inn. The inn is located in the heart of downtown Carmel. When you check in with your pooch he/she is given a little ‘treat’ and you’ll notice all of the other pooches casually walking around the inn. A favorite spot is seen in their lobby, living room or outdoor courtyard having tea or in Terry’s lounge enjoying soothing Jazz. At high tea (1-4) the pooches can have their own tea (iced Evian) and doggie scones (biscuits). Clearly, a wonderful spot for locals and tourists alike. Upon slumber time, I’ve heard that you’ll even have your own dog bed waiting for you in the room. If you do want to go back out on the town, feel free at the Cypress Inn can recommend pet sitters for us pooches!
Here is a partial list of places to stay the night:
- Carmel River Inn
- Carmel Tradewinds Inn
- Casa De Carmel
- Coachman’s Inn
- Cypress Inn
- Forest Lodge
- Hofsas House
- Lamplighter Inn
- Monte Verde Inn
- The Lodge at Pebble Beach
- Vagabond’s House Inn
We hope you have enjoyed my version of A Day in the Life of a Dog in Carmel. I just love living on the Monterey Peninsula and we hope you enjoy it as well.
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