Cooper and I love a road trip. There is something about the sense of freedom you get when you pack up the car and take off to the unknown. We recently embarked to Central California for an adventure. Our first stop was Morro Bay. Read on to find out more about our dog-friendly vacation with tips to plan your own.
Where to Stay on Your Dog-Friendly Vacation to Morro Bay
I picked the Harbor House Inn for our stay. Factors in my decision included location, price and customer reviews. Harbor House Inn is just two blocks from the harbor and a 10-minute walk to the middle of the Embarcadero, the waterfront downtown area. Their pet fee is a reasonable $25 per night and parking is free. They score a 9.0 (wonderful) on Expedia. Finally, the price per night was right.
We arrived and found the front desk staff to be warm and welcoming. The room was basic but large and clean. All rooms either have a balcony or patio. We were facing the rock, but only had a partial view because of some very tall trees. It is not only close to the Embarcadero, but also to several restaurants and shops along Main Street. A convenience store is right next door. All in all, I was satisfied with our choice.
Other dog-friendly hotels featured on Expedia with ratings of 8.0 and above include the Bayfront Inn at the Waterfront, the La Serena Inn, the Rockview Inn and Suites and the Inn at Morro Bay.
Where to Eat on Your Dog-Friendly Trip
If you crave oysters, you will not be disappointed. Morro Bay is known for their Pacific Gold and Grassy Bar oysters. On our trip, I sampled the two. Tognazzini’s Dockside Restaurant serve their oysters both raw and barbequed. I ordered both and added their clam chowder in a bread bowl. Yummy! At the Galley, I started with oysters followed by a crisp Caesar salad and local Rockfish. The fish is prepared “naked” with several sauces on the side. Everything was fantastic. Rose’s Landing Bar & Grill was out of oysters, but their clams and linguine hit the spot. I was tempted by the all-you-can-eat crab which looked delectable.
For breakfast, you must go to Top Dog Coffee Bar. Their motto is “Coffee with a Cause” as a portion of profits from their company, Rescue Me Coffee, aids local shelters. They love dogs! In addition to roasting their own coffee, they serve delicious breakfast and lunch items. They have a pretty back patio, but pups are welcome inside the café too.
As for which restaurants are dog friendly, if it has a patio, dogs are most likely welcome. We even found a dog-friendly wine bar, Stax, with a nice variety of wines and decadent carrot cake. If you’re not into seafood, don’t worry. There are plenty of other offerings to choose from like pizza, burgers, pasta and steaks.
Morro Bay has a Dog Beach!
Just seven minutes from the hotel is Toro Creek Dog Beach. This off-leash beach is perfect for a walk along the ocean or for lounging on the sand with a book. Parking is along Highway 1. This is a pack it in/pack it out location, so make sure to take your trash and doggy poop with you. There are trash bags tied to a fence at the entrance of the beach for disposal. Cooper met many friendly pooches and humans. One even gave him a treat.
Take a Dog-Friendly Tiki Cruise
For something fun and different, book a Tiki Boat Cruise from Lost Isle Adventures. Select the 45-minute daytime tour or the 60-minute sunset cruise. Both are dog friendly and feature colorful and tasty tiki-themed drinks onboard. Kick back as the captain narrates the history of Morro Bay and takes you to the best locations to see the sea lions and adorable otters. Cooper and I had a blast!
Cruise Up the Central Coast
Morro Bay is close to many landmarks and places to explore and is the perfect starting place for a cruise up the coast. We headed to Cambria for lunch and a little shopping. What a super cute town! Lunch was on the gorgeous patio at Robin’s Restaurant where I relished the Salmon BLT and their Hot Fudge Sundae. There are no calories on vacation!
Next, we hit Moonstone Beach also in Cambria. While dogs are not allowed on the beach, they are permitted on the boardwalk running along the coast. The views are magnificent! Cooper and I enjoyed getting our steps in here.
We got back on the road and headed to the Elephant Seal Vista Point. We saw so many! A docent was on hand to share interesting facts about these amazing (although smelly) creatures. On the way back, we caught a glimpse of Hearst Castle. If you are traveling without your pups, then be sure to take a tour of this luxurious property.
A quick drive through San Simeon, and then we headed back. On our next trip, we plan to check out the hiking trails there.
What to Bring on Your Dog-Friendly Vacation to Morro Bay
The weather in Morro Bay is a little unpredictable, but the one thing you can count on is fog! Pack layers as it can be warm during the day, but chilly at night. Don’t forget a sweater for your pup if they are prone to get cold like Coop.
We brought a beach chair and a couple of beach towels to keep in the car for our stops at the beach. Our hotel did have beach items available for rent.
I did not see too many “dog menus” at the restaurants, but I had plenty of snacks on hand to keep Cooper happy. We also brought our own doggy water bottle with us to the restaurants. This one on Amazon is ideal for travel (no compensation here – I just really like the bottle).
I am sure this is just the tip of the rock (get it?) of dog-friendly things to do in Morro Bay.
We would love to hear about your experience in Morro Bay in the comment section below.
For another dog-friendly road trip idea, click here.