VENICE BEACH, CA & GREATER LA DOG-FRIENDLY TRAVEL GUIDE

VENICE BEACH, CA & GREATER LA DOG-FRIENDLY TRAVEL GUIDE

With September's arrival, we’re bracing ourselves for the falling leaves and dropping temperatures of autumn... But no matter the time of year, there’s a place where you have plenty of time to enjoy a final sun-kissed summer getaway with your adventure buddy!

On the west coast of The US of A, there’s an ocean-view desert city dotted with palm trees and superstar wannabes... where you can surf stellar waves, hike hella mountain trails, and bump into your favorite Instagram influencer all within the same day! It is the land of movie magic, no worries, and The Dude.

Right on, man! LA is calling.

Venice Beach and Greater Los Angeles are home to major surf/skate culture, world class dining, big Hollywood studios and even bigger Hollywood stars. But the best parts of LA are the plentiful scenic outdoor activities you can explore with your pup all year long. It is the perfect place to go when you want big city buzz with a slower surftown vibe, and let’s not forget, the eternal sunshine of the SoCal sky. With good weather guaranteed, who isn’t California dreamin’?

Image courtesy of LA Food

Where to Stay with Your Pup

From Dogtown to Tinseltown, Los Angeles has a plethora of options for design-forward pet-friendly hotels and rentals. Whether you want to be in the heart of the DTLA art scene, in West Hollywood near the world renowned shopping, dining and iconic comedy and music venues, or chillin’ Westside style peering out your hotel window at the serene Pacific Ocean. No matter the vibe or the ‘side’, you’ll have a rad home away from home for your LA stay with your pup.

Image courtesy of Venice V Hotel

Venice V Hotel

Shore Hotel

Freehand DTLA

Andaz West Hollywood

Where to Eat & Drink with Your Pup

Los Angeles is a major food hub for humans and their four-legged dates. If you can dream of a cuisine, LA will have it. From the mouth-watering flavors of the thriving pan-Asian scene to the trendy European-style cafes where you are bound to bump into Haley Bieber sipping her Urth blended matcha boba tea… LA has literally infinite delicious dining options, many of which have dog-friendly outdoor seating. Duh.

 

Gjelina pizza - Image courtesy of the delicious life

Gjelina - Venice

The Rose Café - Venice

Del Frisco’s Grille - Santa Monica

Ollo - Malibu

Urth Caffé - Melrose (our favorite location)

La Bohème - West Hollywood

Things to Do with Your Pup 

No trip with your pup to Best Coast is complete without taking a hike and hitting the beach. The most popular hike in Los Angeles is by far Runyon Canyon. Open every day from sunrise to sunset, Runyon leads you to a panoramic view of nearly all of LA, including an amazing view of the Hollywood Sign at the peak of your hike. Runyon also features an off-leash dog park, which is a great opportunity to set your pup loose! Keep in mind, Runyon is a celeb hiking hotspot... you never know who you might be hiking next to.

While exploring Venice with your canine buddy on-leash, take a walk down Abbot Kinney and visit the Venice sign. The sign leads to the Venice Boardwalk, where you can walk with your pup all the way to the Santa Monica Pier, anytime Monday through Friday—there are limited hours during weekends and holidays.

It’s also important to note, your pup is not allowed on the beaches or bike paths in most of LA. The closest—and only—dog beaches in LA are Rosie’s and Huntington Dog Beach. They are the best spots to get in some much needed SoCal beach time with your pup, and trust us they are worth the drive. Fido will be thrilled to run free in the sand and take a splash with new Cali friends!

If you want to get a big dose of pop culture and Hollywood history, take a stroll with your pup along Hollywood Boulevard and its nearby streets to see the stars on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. Oh and don’t forget to stop by TCL—formerly known as Grauman’s—Chinese Theatre to check out the collection of celebrity handprints and footprints. There you and your pup can visit handprints of the likes of Marilyn Monroe and paw-prints of famous dog actors, like Lassie!

Don’t forget to bring water for yourself and your pup to stay hydrated on your LA expeditions. The bright weather is awesome, but sunshine all the time makes it super hot and dry in ‘Hell A’...

Runyon Canyon - Image courtesy of Travel & Leisure

Take a stroll around Venice

Venice Dog Park

Rosie’s Dog Beach - Long Beach

Huntington Dog Beach

Hike Runyon Canyon

Hike Malibu

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Things to Do Without Your Pup

Venice and Greater Los Angeles have countless activities for you to do, and naturally a number of them will not allow Fido to follow along. It’s a must to plan ahead and book your pup for daycare with one of LA’s amazing doggie daycare facilities, so you can venture out and explore LA’s many human-only musings. From catching gnarly waves to gazing at fine art while sipping on a fine local rosé. And from watching a movie to literally touring the set of one. LA has tons of dope activities for the two-leggeds in the pack to enjoy.

Image courtesy of Kapowui

Bike, rollerblade, skateboard and more in Venice

Book a surf lesson with the pros at Kapowui

Work-out at Muscle Beach

Services for Your Pup

Ride the ferris wheel at Pacific Park

Take a wine tour of Malibu Wines

Gaze at world-famous artworks at The Broad

Catch a movie - Iconic Hollywood Cinemas

Take a studio tour at Warner Bros

Services for Your Pup

When the time comes for Fido to have a little TLC, or if you have adventures planned where pups can’t roam, here are the top spots--from Hollywood to the westside--for all your LA pup care needs. 

Image courtesy of Cowbelly

Lincoln Bark - Doggy Daycare in Santa Monica

Kriser’s Natural Pet - Dog Supplies, Grooming, and Daycare in Venice

The Dog Bakery - Doggie Treats, Cookies and Cakes at Multiple LA Locations

Healthy Spot - Dog Supplies, Grooming, and Daycare in West Hollywood

VCA Marina Bay Cities Animal Hospital - Venice Beach Daytime Hospital

VCA West LA Animal Hospital - 24/7 Urgent Care on the Westside

MASH - Metropolitan Animal Specialty Hospital - 24/7 Urgent Care in Hollywood

Image courtesy of The Betsy

At Roverlund, we know a righteous destination for pup adventures when we see it… Venice Beach and Greater LA are definitely A1. We’re super stoked for you and Fido to taste all that LA and her surrounding surf coast has to offer. With some of the best weather in the world year-round, and it’s time for you and Fido to soak up the sun!

So pack up your Out-of-Office Carry-All and zip your pooch in their matching Out-of-Office Pet Carrier, and jet over to the City of Angels for your own endless summer!

P.S. It’s not a trip to La La Land without blowing up the gram… so remember to tag @roverlund in all of your Angeleno pics. Later!

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