A Dog’s Day Out in Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach might be exactly what people imagine when conjuring up images of the quintessential California beach town. It’s also a perfect place to spend the day exploring with your dog.
Welcome to Laguna Beach
If you’re seeking sandy beaches with turquoise waters that you can enjoy with your dog, then Laguna Beach is where you want to be. The beaches of Laguna are dog-friendly year-round, though there are restrictions on the hours they’re permitted during the summer.
Laguna is very welcoming to dogs overall, and you’ll see most locals have their own dogs in tow. Out of all our travels, it’s probably the easiest for planning a full day with our pup. From outdoor activities to grabbing a bite to eat, you can enjoy them all without worrying about what you’ll do with your dog in between stops. And if you want to stay overnight, there are plenty of accommodations, too. The biggest challenge you’ll face in Laguna is parking.
One of Laguna Beach’s many beaches
Morning Treats
Mornings spent in Laguna Beach are among my favorite things to look forward to in the summer. We typically try to go at least once in August to take advantage of the sunny skies. However, earlier in the summer, you might encounter coastal fog during California’s annual May Gray and June Gloom.
Brews and Bites
I love coffee. I love dogs. So, I’m a bit biased when it comes to my affection for coffee shops that allow me to sip and savor outside with my pup. My favorite spot to hit is Laguna Coffee Company. There is usually a line, but don’t let that deter you from giving them a try. The line moves fast, and the service is friendly.
They have a large coffee menu, as well as a more edited food menu with a few breakfast and lunch items. My current go-to order is a lavender latte and salmon bagel, but their baked goods are pretty tasty, too. We’ve eaten here many times out on their dog-friendly patio.
Laguna Beach Coffee
Get your morning caffeine fix with sun and sand.
If you’re looking for more of a view, you can always take your goodies with you across the street to the benches at Oak Street Vista Point. There are two benches there with amazing views of the ocean. There are also steps leading down to the beach if you want to enjoy your caffeine with your feet in the sand, and your dog can accompany you during certain hours depending on what time of year you visit. It’s worth noting there are a lot of steps, so if your dog isn’t great with stairs, you may want to stay at the overlook and save your beach time for one of the entrances with a ramp down.
We also enjoy stopping by Blk Dot for coffee and a quick bite to take with us. Their drink menu has an expansive list of options, though the food menu focuses mostly on a few breakfast sandwiches and bowls. It’s a local chain, with several locations at this point, and a small outdoor seating area.
Bear Coast Coffee is new-ish to Laguna (there are other locations) with a few seats outside. They offer a variety of coffee options, as well as some light food items. We’ve never eaten there, so I can’t comment on the food, but the specialty drinks are worth trying if you’re in the area.
Classic Breakfast Fare
If you’re looking for more of a sit-down option, Laguna has you covered there, but we have a few favorites we like to visit. The Cliff Restaurant lives up to its name, with seating outside overlooking the ocean. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so you’re not limited to a morning visit. We’ve only visited during breakfast, but I’m sure dining at sunset would be stunning.
Do expect a wait, though, as the scenery makes them a popular place for anyone visiting the area. They don’t take reservations, but you can often add your name to a waitlist via their Yelp listing. If your dog isn’t great with crowds, keep in mind there is a lot of activity because it gets packed.
Less chaotic, but without the view, is Zinc Café and Market — another small local chain. They’re open until 4pm and offer a pretty large menu covering breakfast and lunch items, including healthy-leaning and vegetarian options. Their shaded patio is a nice retreat to enjoy with your dog.
The Heidelberg Cafe & Bistro is only a little over a block away from Laguna Coffee Company. They specialize in breakfast and brunch fare, with a lovely little outdoor patio facing the main street for people-watching and ocean breezes. They usually have some interesting coffee options under the Barista Specials, in addition to $4 mimosas! Hours run until 2pm weekdays and 3pm on weekends.
Just across the street from Heidelberg, The Pantry is another breakfast and brunch option with a large patio. Much like the others, it can get busy. The Pantry is located next to Sapphire, which is another dog-friendly option for brunch, lunch, and dinner. The two restaurants occupy the same address, and the shared entrance is under The Old Pottery Place sign. The Pantry is to the right and closes at 3:30pm, while Sapphire is to the left and is open into the evening. Both are great options for getting food with your dog.
Outdoor Adventures
As much as we love our caffeinated beverages and good food, our main reason to visit Laguna Beach is to enjoy time outdoors. It really is one of the most scenic oceanside places in California - and I say that having many places I think are jaw-droppingly stunning out here. With a variety of dog-friendly parks, trails, and beaches, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Dogs must be on a leash.
Beach Bliss
Most towns have a single beach or beach area for your dog, which is what makes Laguna so special. Dogs are allowed on Laguna Beach beaches during regular beach hours from September 11th through June 14th. Once summer hits, dogs are only allowed on the beaches before 9am and after 6pm. If you’re not sure, there are signs at all beach entrances listing the current rules.
As I mentioned earlier, many of the beach entrances require stairs to access them. Our dog can no longer manage stairs due to his age and hip issues, and these are often not stairs for the faint of heart, so we opt to only take him to the ones with ramp access.
Stairs to the sand
One of the many staircases dotting Laguna’s shores.
One of our favorite beaches to visit is Crescent Bay Beach. It’s a smaller beach, and it can get busy, but it offers a protected area where you can walk the coastline with your dog. It has rocks and cliffs surrounding it, which give it a hidden cove feel. In the early morning, we have often been one of only a few parties walking around. And the evenings have offered some incredible sunsets with smaller crowds. There are at least two entrances. One is a staircase off Circle Way, and the other is a ramp that leads to the sand from Barranca Street off Cliff Drive. There are also restrooms near the ramp entrance.
The beaches at Montage Laguna Beach are our other favorite (not-so-hidden) gems. Montage is a dog-friendly hotel, which extends to the public pathway behind the hotel grounds and its beaches during the already mentioned hours and summer restrictions. Christmas Cove sits at the northernmost point in relation to the other beaches below Montage. It has a long ramp down to the water, so no stairs are required. It tends to be less busy, partly due to being more exposed to wind. As with any beach, riptides can sometimes develop, so always use caution when visiting.
Parks to Explore
If you park at Treasure Island Park on the south end of Montage, which offers several benches to soak up the ocean views, you can then take the path north through the extensive Montage property. The walkway is a wide, paved route that winds along the ocean bluffs. It’s hard not to stop every few feet to take in your surroundings with the ocean on one side and the perfectly manicured gardens on the other. Not far from the park, there is a ramp you can take down to Treasure Island Beach.
A view of of one of the beaches from the Montage pathway
On the other side of the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) from Treasure Island Park is Lang Park, a small park with restrooms, lots of greenery, some courts, a playground, and views of the ocean. Dogs are permitted as long as they are on a leash. It’s a nice spot to enjoy being outside for a bit without worrying about paws on hot pavement or sand.
The Laguna Beach Dog Park is not far from town on Laguna Canyon Road. The park has the distinction of being the first dog park in Orange Country. There are separate areas for big and small dogs, two water fountains, and picnic benches for their human counterparts. The park is open daily from 6am to dusk and closed on Wednesdays. The park may shut down depending on weather conditions.
View looking north from Crescent Bay Point Park
On the outskirts of town, the Crescent Bay Point Park is a small but incredibly beautiful spot to go with your dog. I especially love it at sunset. The Park overlooks Crescent Bay Beach to the south and cliffs to the north, and provides multiple photo opps from every direction. There is a grassy area for you and your pup to stretch out on if you want to simply rest in the sun for a bit. I’ve seen someone here with their pet pigs on more than one occasion!
Scenic Trails
Despite being welcoming to dogs for other activities, most trails in the Laguna Beach area do not allow dogs. This is mainly for the protection of wildlife and surrounding environment. However, it can keep your dog safe, too. It is very easy for your pup to overheat given the lack of shade on many of the open trails and the temperatures during the day.
If you do decide to hike with your dog on the approved trails, be sure to keep the above in mind and bring plenty of water for you both. Don’t underestimate the heat and time required to hike back out.
Crystal Cove paved trail view overlooking the ocean
Crystal Cove State Park does not allow dogs on the beach or backcountry trails, but they are allowed on the paved bluff trails path that follows the PCH on the ocean side. The entire path is a little over 3 miles, though you can decide to turn back at any point. If you start at the Beachcomber parking lot, you will pass the famous Crystal Cove Shake Shack. I have never driven by when there hasn’t been a line of cars, so walking up to it is a much easier proposition than waiting for a spot to open up. The view is great, but you should expect to wait a long time to place your order if the lot is packed. If you luck out and hit it a slow time, then it’s probably worth stopping at least once for the experience.
Mountain view from the trails at Top of the World
Top of the World is in Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park and offers up the kind of views you might think of for a place called “Top of the World.” There is a parking lot at Alta Laguna Park for easier parking. You can access the Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park by heading left from the park's entrance and heading to Top of the World. This is the shorter route, and the one I’d recommend if you are bringing your dog. Then you can gauge how far you want to venture beyond the top. From here, you can take West Ridge Trail, which is one of the very few trails in the park that dogs are permitted to be on. It’s listed as an easy 2.5 miles and be aware you’ll be sharing the trail with horses and bikers. The OC Parks trail map does a good job of breaking down which trails permit the above, and you’ll notice dogs aren’t on many of them. Park hours are 7am to sunset daily, though weather conditions may impact which trails are open.
Evening Delights
So, you’ve had your caffeine fix, you’ve been out in the sun, and your dog is ready to take a nap at your feet. In our house, that can only mean it’s time to shift gears and relax over food and drinks. Since I mentioned Sapphire and The Cliff earlier, I’ll just add a few more spots for consideration.
The Laguna Beer Company is open until 9pm most nights, and 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays. For Laguna, that’s actually getting kind of late. In addition to the rotating beer selection, they have sandwiches, pizza, and some kid-friendly items. Casual and lively.
Want something a little fancier? Mozambique’s upstairs patio is dog-friendly. Bonus, you get fantastic views of the ocean sunset from up there.
Hennessey’s Tavern is a local pub chain offering up traditional pub fare. There is a small outdoor patio area to enjoy a pint with your pup.
One thing to note, some restaurants that previously allowed dogs have since revised their pet policies in recent years, either restricting when they are allowed based on crowded times or eliminating the option completely. It’s always advisable to call ahead and confirm they are still permitting dogs before making plans to visit.
Have you visited Laguna Beach recently? Share your thoughts in the comments!
