Summer vacay in dog-friendly Los Angeles
Los Angeles is one of the most well-known and recognisable cities in the world. Famous for its beaches, palm trees and Hollywood it has year round warm weather and seems to stretch on forever….
LA was also the first stop on our travels, with Beatle doing a whopping fifteen hours in cargo from Melbourne (Australia), to get there. While we thought she might be a bit out of sorts or needing some time to recover from the long trip, the little champion was ready to start exploring right away. So here is a summary of all the things we were able to do with her during our time in LA. I've also added a list of things that we didn't get time to do, or were too far for us to get to without a car, but are dog friendly and might be worth checking out if you have more time.
THINGS TO DO
La Brea Park
La Brea Park is a really cool park located between Miracle Mile and The Grove. It has lots of grassy areas to explore and is close to a number of museums. Aside from the big lawns, gardens, and a few sculptures, its big drawcard is that it has a number of tar pits (fenced off), including the main attraction - the largest tar pit with mammoth statues!
There is also a large museum in the park - and while dogs can't go inside, there is a still a lot to see from outside. If you're interested in anything prehistoric or fossil related this is a great place to spend some time with your dog. However, as the tar pits constantly change (you'll see signs of new ones popping up in different parts of the park), its important to keep you dog on lead - as no one wants them to end up in hot tar! For a map of the attractions in the park click here
The Grove
The Grove is a large, outdoor shopping complex with a great selection of stores and places to eat, some of which are dog friendly (and whoop, whoop, some even have free treats!). However it’s more than just shops, as in its centre is a small lake and large grassy area that often hosts different events and has plenty of spots to sit. It's especially nice on a hot day to find some shade and share a hotdog or pretzel with your dog while you do some good people watching and decide what shops to visit next! The Grove is really dog friendly and you'll see a lot of well behaved pooches here living their best lives.
The Farmers Market is at one end of The Grove and there is mixed information about its dog friendliness. While technically I don't think they area supposed to go around the fresh food stalls, we saw quite a few dogs walking through the alleys and shopping in non-food related stores.
However, just outside of the Market is a store your doggo will definitely love, the Dog Bakery! This cute shop has sooo many delish looking goodies that you might even be tempted to try one yourself We ended up splurging on a six pack of assorted treats for Beatle.
Feeling hungry ourselves, we then headed to Du Pars next door for brunch and had a great table outside where Beatle could keep a close eye on her goodie box.
You can find more information about The Grove here
Chilling at The Grove
Miracle Mile Area
Miracle Mile is a main street in the Wilshire area that can be fun to explore with your dog. It has lots of grassy areas and is close to some of the main museums. While dogs not allowed to go inside any of the museums, the outside spaces are quite interesting and include, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, the Peterson Automotive Museum (super interesting building that is great for a photo op) and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, which often has sculptures outside.
You'll also find the very cool ‘Urban Light’ monument there which is a must see (both day and night), and just around the corner is the interesting 'Levitating Mass' sculpture.
Rodeo Drive
Rodeo Drive is one of the most famous streets in the world! Full of luxury stores, expensive cars and great people watching it’s well worth a wander. If you're lucky enough to have deep pockets you might even splurge on a little Gucci for your poochie… Interestingly, Rodeo is just one of a few streets that make up the 'Golden Triangle', and its easy to walk around them all. They include lots of high end stores and restaurants and we really enjoyed exploring this area with Beatle.
The footpaths are also a good size, are nice and flat and there are lots of great photo ops - including the 'Walk of Style' area that includes the ‘Rodeo Drive’ signpost, sculptures (including the very pretty 'Life is Beautiful' piece), some very flashy and fancy luxury store fronts and plenty of places you'll likely recognise from movies or TV.
Classic Rodeo Drive
The pretty ‘Life is Beautiful’ sculpture
At the Santa Monica Blvd end of Rodeo is the famous Beverly Hills sign which is a must have pic and is located in a 1.9 mile park if you want to extend your walk. And fun fact, in Beverly Hills all the fire hydrants are painted gold….
The famous Beverly Hills sign
Nearby Rodeo is the Beverly Hills Civic Centre, which has Spanish style architecture and beautiful grounds you can walk through. Located nearby is the more sombre, but visually interesting Beverly Hills 9/11 Memorial that includes a piece of the World Trade Centre that is quite moving to see.
Great architecture at the Civic Centre
If you are planning on visiting the Rodeo area my tip here is to get here early, before the big crowds and heat of the day so you can take your time to look around and get lots of crowd free snaps.
OTHER THINGS TO DO
Visit Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood Boulevard is one of those places that you kind of want to visit, but might not always live up to expectations… On one hand it has some iconic attractions to see and sniff out around it such as the Walk of Fame, the Capitol Records Building and the Chinese Theatre (where the Oscars are held). But on the other, it can be a bit dingy at times, with lots of people hawking products and dressed up characters trying to take photos with you. But I think if you went early in the day, you might get a couple of hours of relative peace, to take some cool snaps and move on before it gets too hectic (or hot).
You’ll also find the Hollywood and Highland Mall here, which is a large outdoor mall with shops and eateries - many of which have outdoor seating. As a bonus, you can also head to the higher levels to get a view of the 'Hollywood' sign.
My tip if you want to visit this area is to go early in the day so that you you can have a couple of hours of relative peace to explore, get some good photos and then move on before it gets too hectic.
Santa Monica - Downtown and the Pier
As the main shopping area is mostly outdoors and very pedestrian friendly it’s a great place to walk and window shop with your dog.
If you're looking for a greener space, then head towards the beach and you'll come across the scenic Palisades Park and Santa Monica Bluffs that have great ocean views and plenty of shady spots to sit for a while.
Santa Monica Pier is also dog friendly (on leash) and we would have definitely visited here with Beatle if we hadn't been there before. While it has plenty of outdoor places to grab a snack or souvenir and lots of photo ops, also make sure you walk right to the end for some great views. For more info about the Pier and its dog policy visit SantaMonicaPier.org
Venice Beach Area
Unfortunately as big and tempting as the beach is, dogs are not allowed on it and can only visit certain designated areas such as Rosie's Dog Beach - but the good news is that dogs are allowed on the Venice Beach Boardwalk! While you’re exploring this eclectic area, don't forget to get a pic of the famous 'Venice Beach' sign (turn at Windward Ave) or check out the Muscle Beach Gym area…
Dogs can also join you to also explore the paved promenade of Ocean Avenue in Venice / Abbot Kinney Boulevard which has lots of outdoor space and is full of boutiques, cafes and galleries.
Another area worth visiting in Venice, are the famous man made canals and connecting bridges, which take you through an area that is full of pretty waterfront homes. This area is very pedestrian friendly and would be perfect for a relaxing walk.
For a g good overview of the main attractions in Venice see this map
See the Hollywood Sign at Lake Hollywood Park
Even though the Hollywood sign is huge, it can be difficult to get a good photo of it! If you’re looking for a spot that you can see the sign, as well as exercise your dog then head to Lake Hollywood Park. There you’ll find a dog park that also has street parking and offers some great views of the Hollywood Sign. There is also the option to walk further uphill (via the road) for some different angles. The park is located at 3160 Canyon Lake Drive..
Rosie's Dog Beach
One of the most well known off leash dog beaches in LA. We really wanted to visit but didn't have a car on this trip, but it looks like a great place to let your best bud dip their paws in the North Pacific. More info around the exact location and regulations for Rosie’s can be found here
In terms of other dog-friendly beaches, there is a part of Huntington Beach that is dog friendly, as well as Leo Carrillo State Beach in Malibu - if you're staying or travelling that way.
Hike Runyon Canyon
Runyon Canyon Park is one of the most popular hiking destinations for dog lovers in LA and one of the main entrances is less than 2 miles from Hollywood Boulevard. There are a range of different trails spanning this huge 130 acre park, from more moderate to strenuous. As the much of the walking is uphill, you’ll also get some amazing views back across Hollywood and right across LA on a clear day. I hear it’s often full of celebs getting some exercise so you never know who you might run in to! As this is an open canyon, head out early (before the day heats up) take plenty of water and be prepared to let your dog rest as needed. The address to reach the entrance mentioned is 2000 N Fuller Avenue.
Griffith Park
Want to see the Hollywood sign with your best bud, then head to Griffith Park. This arge urban park has some dog friendly friendly trails. While dogs are not allowed in the Observatory building, they are allowed to go on the outside stairs and join you to see the views from the roof! To get here you will need to drive / Uber to Canyon Drive.
SHOP AND EAT
While there are many non-food related shops in LA that allow dogs inside, we found it was best to ask before entering (but overwhelmingly got waved in).
In terms of large malls, Westfield Century City is dog friendly (and even has a pet relief station). The Beverly Centre may be pet friendly (their website doesn’t say specifically), but every time we visit we see smaller dogs in there shopping with their people.
Because Los Angeles has warmer temperatures year round there are plenty of places with outdoor seating that will happily welcome dogs - and many places will also offer a bowl of water. In the US you also get large glasses of water when dining, so if you do carry your own water bowl you’ll be able to fill it easily.Rosie's Dog Beach
SLEEP
Los Angeles can be an expensive city to stay in, but the good news is that you have plenty of choice as there are so many dog friendly hotels and other accommodation options. For this visit we stayed at the Kimpton Hotel Wilshire as it was easy walking distance to some of the attractions we were interested in and doesn't have a size limit or charge a pet fee. They also have a beautiful rooftop pool, deck and bar. I'm not sure of the official rules, but it was pretty quiet when we stayed, so Beatle was allowed on the roof to take in the beautiful views and sunset (and nap on a lounger while we had a sneaky cocktail or three). If you want to check it out click here
Beats loves a good rooftop bar
Last time we were in LA (Beatle wasn't with us) we stayed at the Viceroy Santa Monica. It’s a beautiful hotel in a great location with gorgeous rooms and an amazing pool / outdoor area that is dog friendly (with a fee per stay). While the fee isn’t cheap for a short stay, if you're in town for a few days and enjoy getting all the perks of having a VIPET it was a great spot. Or you can book through our friends at Romingo to get the pet fee waived. See more about the Viceroy pet policy here
GETTING AROUND
Los Angeles has limited public transport options, so your best bet is to have your own vehicle or rely on car shares to get around. Uber has a ‘pet friendly’ option when booking and it’s only a small amount more than a regular car. While we walked as much as we could, LA is very spread out, so out options to walk between attractions is limited.
There are also high numbers of unhoused people in LA at the moment and so there are parts of the city you might want to avoid if walking alone or at night. It can be a good idea to check with your accommodation provider for specific information about the area you are staying in and ask their advice about the closest place to take your dog out for at night.
IN SUMMARY
Los Angeles is a huge city that is very dog-friendly and has a number of things that you can see or do to have a memorable visit with your best friend. You'll find plenty of places you can explore (for free) with your dog, from well known streets and attractions to large parks for more adventurous walks.
There are obviously some really famous attractions (including theme parks) that you would have to see without your best bud, so consider ways to break up your days. For example, take your dog out early while it’s cool and then let them rest while you go out during the the hotter parts of the day.
Also be aware that in LA the days can start off cool and then the temperatures can rise rapidly, so always carry water and have a back up plan for if your dog starts to get too hot.