by Kerry Michael Wood

Created on: February 13, 2009   Last Updated: February 23, 2009

It would be difficult to come up with a more dog-friendly area than the townships on Monterey Bay, California. The first one that always springs to mind is quaint, beautiful, touristy Carmel-by-the-Sea. First-time visitors will want to stroll the upscale shops, restaurants and art galleries. It may be the only town its size in America that lacks a men's barbershop (although Roy Rogers would squeeze you in at his beauty salon if you called ahead). It's also the only town its size the features enough art galleries to fill one whole yellow page. Shop owners often have water bowls out front and biscuit treats for any four-footers who want to browse their interiors.

If you and Bowser are weary of window shopping and it's the right time of day or evening, find your way to the Cypress Inn on Lincoln near 7th.. I can't give you an address because Carmel-by-the-Sea has no street numbers; residents pick up their mail at the post office. Partly owned by animal activist Doris Day, the Cypress doesn't just welcome canines. Every time I have stopped into Terry's Lounge and counted the legs of the patrons, I have come up with at least as may dog legs as human ones. I'm not sure whether or not there is still a scheduled dog happy hour in the bar once a week or a canine tea time, but the fact that such were (or still are) long-standing traditions proves that here dogs are not merely tolerated but specially treated.

Once you have rested, chatted, and quaffed, you can continue down hill from the Cypress Inn to beautiful Carmel Beach where dogs run unleashed on gleaming white sand from the fringes of Pebble Beach Golf Links to the north to the mouth of the Carmel River to the south.

Another day you might want to stroll the streets of Pacific Grove and finish with a walk on Asilomar State Beach, which is flatter than Carmel's beach, artfully strewn with of kelp for doggie to sniff, and featuring some interesting rock formations. Leashes are required on the state beach (though the law is rarely enforced). If doggie wants to do her own thing, head south toward Spanish Bay Golf Links and Resort and watch for a pole topped by an orange metal oblong plate. Pass that pole and you are on public beach property and your dog may swim, chase birds, or do some surfing.

The city of Monterey has its own expanse of beaches as well 18 miles of ocean view walking trail beginning in Pacific Grove and wending generally north to Castroville, land of artichokes. You may see sea otters frolicking and spouts

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