Visitors of the canine kind are welcome all across Sonoma County, on dog-friendly restaurant patios, in dog-friendly hotels, and on dog-friendly beaches and hiking trails. Your four-legged, furry friend certainly loves outings as much as you do. So grab that collar and leash, and take your pooch for some fun at these Wine Country favorites.
Oakville Grocery, Healdsburg
Soak up the sun on the dog-friendly patio, and people watch on this always bustling corner. Lines are usually long at the deli counter, where staffers make big, beautiful sandwiches to order, like the fresh mozzarella layered with tomato, basil leaves and golden balsamic vinaigrette on a sour baguette; or fried Petaluma chicken with smoked bacon, remoulade, house-made dill pickles, Swiss and lettuce on a Dutch crunch roll. A bottle of superb artisanal ginger ale is a must.
124 Matheson Street, Healdsburg, 707-433-3200
Inn At Occidental, Occidental
Surrounded by a canopy of redwoods in the charming village of Occidental, this pet-friendly retreat is quiet enough to bring your dog for a vacation of his own, but still AAA Four-Diamond caliber. With 16 guest rooms and a two-bedroom cottage, the graceful clapboard mansion is larger than a typical B&B, but just as cozy, surrounded with English gardens and framed by towering redwoods. The feel in the spacious rooms is laidback, in whimsical themes like American folk art replete with a colorful collection of quilts, quirky rooster pillows, and draped four-posted beds. For breakfast, the daily changing menus showcase Sonoma-harvest ingredients, and as an extra amenity, guests enjoy free wine tasting passports good for two at many area wineries.
3657 Church Street, Occidental, 707-874-1047
Taylor Mountain Regional Park, Santa Rosa
Four miles of trails for hikers and dogs plus a three-mile network for equestrians and cyclists, is eventually being expanded to 17 miles. But already, the park joins the 820-acres of preserves that are capped by a peak soaring 1,400 feet-high for dramatic views of downtown Santa Rosa, plus Bennett Valley, Annadel State Park, the Mayacamas Mountains to the east and the whole of the Santa Rosa Plain viewable from the trails.
3820 Petaluma Hill Road, Santa Rosa, 707-539-8092
Fork Roadhouse, Sebastopol
Dogs can frolic in the restaurant’s surrounding apple orchards, viewing neighboring livestock pastures and ranch homes. They can lounge on the patio listening to live music, and roll on a grassy lawn leading from charming cottage eatery to a creek overlook. Everyone loves the seasonal food, such as pork belly fried egg tacos, or Tuscan bean breakfast in a Meyer lemon broth stew of white beans, kale and two fried eggs with Parmesan and thick griddled toast for sopping.
9890 Bodega Hwy., Sebastopol, 707-634-7575
Flamingo Conference Resort and Spa, Santa Rosa
The cheerful, family friendly place recently remodeled some rooms especially for pets, laying in hardwood floors and an exercise area conveniently accessible through private side doors right next to the collection of rooms.
2777 4th St., Santa Rosa, 707-545-8530
Garden Court Café, Glen Ellen
Furry friends are welcome at this popular local eatery, which features traditional breakfast and lunch fare made from scratch, using quality local ingredients. Try one of the seven Egg Benedict varieties, or perhaps you'd prefer an omlete or pancakes. Lunch includes delicious sandwiches, salads, and hamburgers.
13647 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, 707-935-1565
Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail, Bodega Bay
This paved trail runs along the salt marsh that’s home to wildlife, including thousands of birds migrating and nesting throughout the year. The path is easy, looping one mile through Doran Beach Regional Park and Bird Walk Coastal Access Park along Doran Park Marsh and tidal channels, over a new 110' bridge that spans Cheney Creek, and connects to the Bird Walk Park up on the levees. To access the trail, park at a 10-car space parking lot right off Hwy. 1 at the south end of town (between Smith Brothers Rd. and Doran Park Rd.), or enter through Doran Beach Park at the north end of town. Leashed dogs are welcome, so bring Fido and get the both of you into a good, heart-revving romp.
355 State Highway 1, north of the town of Bodega Bay
Willi's Seafood & Raw Bar, Healdsburg
Inside, you’ll see an extensive interior renovation, in a contemporary décor trimmed in teal, silver and wood. Outside, you’ll see pups on the patio, and their people digging into small plates like crispy pork belly rolls, grilled fish tacos, and the wonderful crispy French fries dunked in Laura Chenel goat cheese ranch dressing.
403 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-9191
Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Sonoma Wine Country, Rohnert Park
Rover will want to come over the puppy playland and off-leash fenced-in run at the Roberts Lake Dog Park right next to this golf course property. Then, the two of you can take a nice nap in your spacious hotel room.
One Doubletree Dr., Rohnert Park, 707-584-5466
BobDog Wines, Cloverdale
Prepare a picnic - and your puppy - for this dog friendly, pastoral spot where you’re invited to wander and linger. Be warned, it takes a sturdy vehicle to handle the partly gravel roads accessing Sonoma County's highest winery, soaring 2,000 feet above Alexander Valley. But your effort will be rewarded when winemaker Tim Ward and his wife Kandy Ward invite you to enjoy a hiking tour through the vines, and introductions to their miniature horses, mini-mule and winery dog. Savor Old Vine Zinfandel, Mountain Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon made from CabSau vines grafted onto Merlot trunks, and be sure to share the charcuterie with the pups.
31955 Pine Mountain Road, Cloverdale, 707-756-2471
You’d never think this high-style café used to be an old Foster’s Freeze, except that the Cal-Mex eatery still boasts the original soft serve machine and whips up tasty cones made with Straus Family Creamery milk. Park with your pup on the landscaped patio, enjoy some craft beer and wine on tap, then tuck into bites like the terrific batter-fried rockfish tacos on handmade corn tortillas made from handmade on-site masa, or glittering fresh poached calamari ceviche tumbled with sugar snap peas, spring onions, mint leaf and avocado.
935 Gravenstein Hwy., Sebastopol, 707-827-3744
Fido will feel oh-so-pampered, when he checks into his luxury room and finds his own bed, bowl, food treats, and toys politely placed out for him. Sshh, don’t tell Fido, but cats are welcome here, too, pampered with their own beds and toys.
100 Boyes Blvd., Sonoma, 707-938-9000
Underwood Bar & Bistro, Graton
Most guests don’t even know the very popular restaurant has a private patio – you have to access it through a gate on the side of the building. But it’s true - a few tables await here, and you can play some bocce while you wait for your order to arrive. Some favorite bites include flat iron steak frites in mushroom-shallot butter, crisp-skin rosemary-lemon brined roast chicken with lardons and crimini mushrooms, or rich mac-n-cheese laced with prosciutto.
9113 Graton Road, Graton, 707-823-7023
Olea Hotel, Glen Ellen
Nestled into a hillside and surrounded by oak and olive trees in the heart of Sonoma wine country, there’s plenty of lovely outdoors for everyone — from two to four legs — to hike and explore.
And the bright, cheerful retreat invites pets to enjoy a vacation of their own in selected rooms, with comfy dog beds and welcome baskets including treats, bowls, and towels.
5131 Warm Springs Road, Glen Ellen, 707-996-5131