Start your road trip in San Francisco, one of the most pet-friendly cities in the U.S. While its most recognizable landmark, The Golden Gate Bridge, doesn’t allow pups, you can bring Fido to nearby Baker Beach to play off leash and enjoy the incredible bridge views. Continue your sightseeing tour at Golden Gate Park, which has four off-leash areas and is one of the city’s most popular gathering spots for canines. Before heading south, visit Le Marcel bakery for a barker’s dozen of all-natural pastries and a coffee for the road. If you decide to spend the night in The Golden City, stay with your pup at The Cartwright Hotel, part of the Best Western Premier Collection.

Bordered to the east by the Santa Lucia Mountains and the west by the Pacific Ocean, the two-lane Pacific Coast Highway in Big Sur is known for winding turns, seaside cliffs and views of the often misty coastline. Go beachcombing for sand dollars with your leashed pup at the aptly named Sand Dollar Beach or stop for a picnic at Andrew Molera State Park. If you’d prefer a hot meal, dine on the dog-friendly patio at Big Sur Roadhouse instead. Sleep under the stars with a dramatic ocean view while camping in your own tent with your pup at Kirk Creek Campground, or go glamping at the luxurious Alila Ventana Big Sur - Adults Only’s Redwood and Canyon Glampsites. Your dog can join you for breakfast in the morning at the resort’s The Sur House restaurant before you hit the road.

No PCH road trip with Fido is complete without a visit to Carmel-by-the-Sea. This quaint seaside town owes a debt of gratitude to the late actress and animal lover, Doris Day, for leaving the area with a legacy of pet friendliness. Dogs are permitted to join their humans at most stores (like the uber dog-friendly Carmel Plaza), restaurants and art galleries in the area, and you’ll want to visit them all. Rent a bike with a pup-friendly sidecar at Mad Dogs & Englishmen for an excursion off Highway 1 to experience Scenic Road in Carmel or the famed 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach on two wheels. Be sure to make reservations to dine next to a fire pit on the lush garden patio at The Forge. Your dog can browse the restaurant’s Canine Cuisine menu and nosh on dishes like Plain Ol’ Kibble or The Good Dog (an 8-ounce grilled steak). At the end of the day, splurge for a stay at Cypress Inn, widely hailed as the most pet-friendly hotel in the country. Your pooch will thank you.

If you can convince Fido to leave Carmel and continue down the coast, make time to check out Santa Barbara. You can't leave wine country without a tasting tour, and Golden Limo Santa Barbara has you and your pooch covered. Enjoy a private tour in a limo as you visit pet-friendly wineries for tastings and sip complimentary champagne during the ride. Afterward, play in the Pacific with your pup at Arroyo Burro Beach Park, or stay dry and take in first-class coastal views with a cliffside walk on the Santa Barbara City College Trails. Be sure to stop to smell the roses at Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens, a pet-friendly garden that has several trails for you and Fido to explore. Then, rest your weary paws at the charming Hummingbird Cottage after a fun-filled day in Santa Barbara.

Known around the world for its beautiful beaches, SoCal vibes and as an enclave for the rich and famous, Malibu boasts one of the most visited stretches of the PCH. Head to Leo Carrillo State Park & Beach to experience the surf and sand with Fido. Leashed dogs are welcome on the beach north of Lifeguard Tower 3, at the campground and at all day-use areas. If you haven’t had enough of those dog-friendly Malibu beaches, head to Point Mugu State Park which features five miles of ocean shoreline with rocky bluffs, beaches and sand dunes.

Break for lunch on the patio at John’s Garden for healthy sandwiches, salads and fruit smoothies, and keep your eyes peeled for stars getting their health food fix at this celeb hotspot. After the meal, work off those calories with a hike at Solstice Canyon, which offers breathtaking ocean views. If you decide to stay overnight (and, let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to stay in the ‘Bu?), book this Luxe Zen Retreat, where you can enjoy your morning coffee overlooking the Pacific while petting your pup.

Long Beach is home to the only off-leash dog beach in Los Angeles County, Rosie’s Dog Beach, which makes it a great pitstop to explore with Fido. After you’ve worked up an appetite playing in the sand and surf, head to The Attic, just 15 minutes by foot from the beach. While you chow down on Southern cuisine with a SoCal twist, treat Fido to some bacon, sausage or chicken from the restaurant’s dog menu. If you’re traveling with a small pooch, stay on The Queen Mary, a 1930s luxury cruise ship that has been docked at the port of Queensway Bay since 1967 and converted to a pet-friendly hotel. The ship is reportedly haunted, so maybe you’ll be visited by one of its ghosts. For more supernatural fun, bring your canine companion along on a Haunted Happenings Tour, a Paranormal Investigation, or a Paranormal Ship Walk. If you’re traveling with a big dog, need more space, or don’t want to run into any ghosts, book a room at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach instead.

Located on a mile-long stretch of sand between Seapoint Avenue and 21st Street, Huntington Dog Beach is a canine lover’s paradise. Orange County's only off-leash dog beach, nicknamed Surf City USA, is a fun spot for dogs who want to learn how to ride a wave with Good Kharma Surf Instruction or just romp in the sand. Huntington Beach is also one of the most pet-friendly beach towns in the U.S., so there’s a lot to do if you want to extend your stay. Grab a bite to eat at the Park Bench Cafe, located just a few miles from the beach in Huntington Beach Central Park. Its Canine Cuisine menu has offered fine treats to four-legged diners in its Doggie Dining Section since 1993. Then stop at Best Friend Dog Park to let your furry friend run off leash for a bit so he doesn’t get a tummy ache after his meal. In the afternoon, check into the Kimpton Shorebreak Resort, which offers cushy amenities for Fido including plush beds, water bowls and waste bags. Dogs are even welcome to join you at the nightly wine reception and by the fire pits while you roast complimentary s’mores.

Fido’s road trip along the PCH ends in dog-loving San Diego. Cruise into town in time for lunch at Fred’s Mexican Cafe in Old Town, where pups can feast on sliced carne asada from the dog menu. Walk off your meal with a trip through the past with your leashed perro at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, and learn what life was like as San Diego transitioned from a Mexican pueblo to an American settlement in the 1820s-1870s. You can also try a kayak or SUP excursion at Aqua Adventures, which is ideally situated between The Original Dog Beach and Fiesta Island Off-Leash Dog Park. When night falls, embark on an informative and spooky walking tour with San Diego Ghosts. End your epic PCH road trip with a stay at Ocean Villa Inn, located just steps away from The Original Dog Beach.