Day Trip to Carmel

Destination
On Valentine's Day weekend, we were looking for something to do that was fun and romantic...with the dog. Although I had never been down to the Monterey Peninsula, I had always thought Carmel sounded like an idyllic place on the coast. It's also well-known that it's one of the most dog-friendly cities in the country. The Carmel city website even has a dog-friendly page with a lot of good recommendations and information. So, with Clark in the backseat, we headed down south on Highway 1 - a drive worth doing even if you don't have a destination.

Recreation
One of the goals of the day was to get Clark some time on the beach since he always seems to love frolicking in the waves. Although we had also intended to stroll around downtown Carmel and have lunch at an outdoor cafe, we were foiled to some extent, an experience that has left me with a few words of caution to those unfamiliar with Carmel. I would recommend investigating to find out whether there is a golf tournament at nearby Pebble Beach before you embark on your trip, something that we didn't do. As a result, we ended up fighting the crowds in Carmel for parking near downtown and weren't able to successfully park and find an outside restaurant for lunch. Instead, we ended up grabbing deli sandwiches from a nearby Safeway and eating them on the beach (which ended up being perhaps more fun and far less expensive).

The other word of caution I have is for those pet owners who have dogs that can difficult around other dogs. As a high-energy hunting breed, Clark has the instinct to hunt small animals, such as squirrels, but this also includes small dogs. He also can have issues getting along with large dogs who are hyper and overly curious. So, walking around Carmel turned into a precarious adventure to avoid the many other dogs also strolling around the town so as not to turn them into potential snacks for Clark. I imagine this wouldn't be an issue for most dog owners, but I wanted to have full disclosure for those who have dogs with similar temperments to Clark. All in all, I think it is great that there are so many dogs out and about in Carmel. Living in a place where dogs aren't always welcome, it is nice to see the universal love of animals in this unique town.

After grabbing sandwiches, we took the short drive down to Carmel River State Beach, right off Highway 1. The section we went to has parking available in a large turnout on the side of the highway. Even during the weekend, there seemed to be plenty of parking. This beach is also known as Monastery Beach, indicated by the sign at the roadway. This sign also indicates that dogs are welcome as long as they are leashed - good news for us!

Clark was instantly curious as soon as he stepped out of the car. After enjoying our sandwiches on the beach, Clark went for several runs into the ocean. With the water as cold as it was, he would only dare to go chest-deep, but he still got a great workout and had a blast. Our extendable leash comes in handy on these beach trips in case we don't want to run into the cold water with him (although you can almost never avoid being dragged in anyway). Lucky for us, the beach was almost deserted and Clark could frolic in the water without concerns about other dogs. Some beaches that are open to dogs can be so packed with them that it is hard to let Clark have a carefree good time. This beach ended up being perfect for this purpose. Plus, it's a beautiful beach with great scenery for the humans!

Overall, I would highly recommend our plan of taking a picnic lunch to the beach if you have a more solitary dog like Clark. If your dog is social and well-behaved, then you couldn't ask for a more accommodating place than Carmel. We met one woman in downtown who, while making friends with Clark, told us about taking her dogs into the various shops around the town. When she hesitated to bring her canine companion in, the shopkeeper even insisted! If you're looking for a place to visit where your dog will be universally accepted and loved, then Carmel can't be beat. Just check the golf schedule first!


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North Tahoe

Destination
Although it was a work trip organized by my co-workers, I still managed to fit Clark into the mix. We headed off to Tahoe for the weekend, mostly with the intention of skiing, although I was interested in finding some dog friendly hiking trails as well. I bought a great waterproof jacket for Clark just for the occasion (which he tries his best to get off at every opportunity!). Although the drive from the South Bay is at least four hours, Clark loves taking trips in the car, so I knew it wouldn't be a problem.

Accommodation
The group of us rented two cabins in North Tahoe, one of which was dog friendly. We found the cabins online through Agate Bay Realty. They have handy dog symbols on the website under the amenities section for each cabin, which makes finding a rental that works very easy. Our group stayed in the Dillow house in Carnelian Bay, which was cozy and unique. There was even a small twin bed in our room for Clark to sleep on! There is a pet deposit, but as long as your dog is well-behaved, there is no problem getting the deposit back. Our cabin was also close to the resort where we skied, Northstar, so it was easy to leave Clark for a few hours in the cabin while we hit the slopes.

Recreation
Even though I was eager to try skiing for the first time, I also wanted to make sure Clark had the chance to have some fun. He enjoyed rolling around in the snow near the cabin and searching for squirrels and other small animals, his favorite occupation. For all I know with Clark's rescue dog past, this could have been his first time in the snow, but he seemed to take to it quickly.

Wanting him to get some good weekend exercise, I sought out a dog friendly trail for Sunday. By happenstance, I drove by what looked like a great trail on the way from the ski resort to the cabin. Right off of Highway 267, or North Shore Road, is a small parking lot and a trail across the highway which leads up to a great trail that overlooks Lake Tahoe. Since I found the trail simply by driving by it and spotting several hikers with their dogs on the trail, I still don't know the exact name, but I can pinpoint it within the Lake Tahoe Basin National Forest off Highway 267. Check out the map below for its location. If you want to plan ahead, Pets Love Tahoe has a great list of Lake Tahoe dog friendly hikes.

The hike up to the top, about 2 miles, was great. Although there was a lot of snow on the ground, and the occasional ice, we were careful to keep our footing. Clark seemed made for this type of terrain, easily navigating the snow and pulling the rest of us along. At the top, we enjoyed the amazing view of the lake and scarfed down some welcome snacks. Packing for Clark for a small hike is easy-just water and a treat and he's happy! He was all smiles at the top, enjoying the crisp air and the exercise. And, his jacket proved its worth and kept him snug and dry.

Overall, it was a great trip for humans and dog alike! You couldn't ask for a more beautiful winter setting or a more convenient combination of dog friendly and human friendly activities.


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