Complete Dog and Toddler-Friendly Long Weekend Monterey Itinerary

Traveled in April 2022

Monterey has everything you need for a fun and relaxing family vacation with a dog and toddler – wildlife, hikes, beaches, and stunning coastal views. Monterey is where we go when we want a quick escape to slow down and enjoy some family time together. Although it is doable as a day trip from the Bay Area, we like staying the night to allow more flexibility for nap time. There are plenty of kid-friendly activities in Monterey, but not all of them welcome dogs. If you are like us and like to bring your dog to share the fun, here are the best dog-friendly activities in Monterey that toddlers will also enjoy. Enjoy your family time on the coast with this long weekend dog and toddler-friendly Monterey itinerary!

Long Weekend Dog and Toddler-Friendly Monterey Itinerary

When to Go

Monterey is right on the California coast, so fog is a pretty constant fixture. Usually the best bet for sunny weather is not the summer, but actually in September and early October. However, Monterey is still fully enjoyable even if it is foggy, as long as it is not too wet outside. The fog is part of the mood in Monterey, and when the sun shines through it makes it that much more beautiful. Since Monterey is so close to the Bay Area, we consider Monterey to be a year-round destination. The weather is pretty similar to what we experience in the Bay Area so it is not usually a deterrent for us. We do try to avoid Monterey when there is a festival (like the Monterey Jazz Fest, Car Week, Wine Festival, or the Concours d’Elegance car show) just because hotels are more expensive and book up quickly.

How to Get There

Monterey is a 2 hour drive south of San Francisco and 1 hour drive south of San Jose (longer with traffic). If flying to the Bay Area, the most convenient airport is the San Jose airport (airport code SJC). There is also a small airport in Monterey (airport code MRY). It is usually more expensive to fly into the Monterey airport than to San Jose. But if time is precious, then flying into Monterey may be worth the extra cost to save on driving time.

Where to Stay in Monterey (Toddler and Dog Friendly)

We love staying in Pacific Grove when we visit Monterey because it has that quaint small town feel. Pacific Grove is on the coast next to Monterey and has more inns and B&Bs. Whereas Monterey has more of the bigger hotels. Both Pacific Grove and Monterey are super dog-friendly, and both towns have many pet-friendly inns and hotels.

Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa

Before having a kid, we stayed at pet-friendly Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa and would go back. It has a great location just a short drive to Pacific Grove and the aquarium. But far enough away from the busy areas that it was a tranquil place to return to at night. The rooms are spacious and more than big enough for a family with a dog and kids. The hotel is also very dog friendly. They provide complimentary dog bowls, beds, crates, clean up bags, and leashes in case you forgot to pack anything!

Portola Hotel & Spa

For more of a splurge (or if you can find a great deal!), the Portola Hotel & Spa is another popular dog-friendly hotel in Monterey. It is in the middle of the action, just a short walk away from Old Fisherman’s Wharf and many restaurants. If you want to leave your car behind and explore on foot, this would be a great location. The on site restaurants are also dog friendly. They even offer “bark bowls” if you want your dog to join in on the feast!

Andril Fireplace Cottages

If you are lucky enough to snag a booking, the Andril Fireplace Cottages is a perfect family friendly hotel in Pacific Grove. The location near Asilomar State Park is peaceful and secluded. The property is made up of standalone cottages with enclosed private patios that are just perfect for families traveling with dogs. Some cottages even have a kitchen. So it is the perfect combo of the amenities of a home rental with the conveniences of a hotel. This hotel is also very kid-friendly. There is a large communal open lawn with toys, perfect for kiddos to burn off some energy before bedtime.

After having a kiddo, we usually prefer to stay in home rentals. This is mostly because of the convenience of having a kitchen and more space to spread out. However, many of the home rentals in Pacific Grove now seem to prefer monthly rentals. Or if they do offer by-the-night stays, they seem to be crazy expensive. I have bookmarked this newer home rental since it is newly remodeled, pet-friendly, has a great location by Lover’s Point, and is on the ground floor of the duplex.

Booking tip: because traveling with a toddler is so unpredictable, I always look for refundable bookings. That way I can book way ahead of time for my peace of mind, but also have the flexibility to cancel without losing any money if our plans should change.

Long Weekend Dog and Toddler-Friendly Monterey Itinerary at a Glance

Day	Activity	Sleep In
1	Dennis the Menace Playground in El Estero Park	Monterey or Pacific Grove
2	Monterey Bay Coastal Trail and Asilomar Trail	Monterey or Pacific Grove
3	Sea otter spotting in Moss Landing

Day 1: El Estero Park

The drive from the Bay Area takes 1-2 hours, depending on traffic and where you are driving from. After that long drive, I’m sure both your dog and kid will need to burn off some pent up energy. For your sanity, your first stop is the park! If you need a snack before play, swing by Cafe Guarani in Pacific Grove first for some empanadas to go!

The Dennis the Menace playground in El Estero Park has play structures for all ages and plenty of places to climb. Dogs are not allowed in the Dennis the Menace playground, but are allowed in the rest of the park on leash. As per usual when we visit a playground, one parent holds the dog in the periphery of the playground while the other parent follows the kiddo around. After the kiddo gets tired out at the park, it’s the dog’s turn with a walk around the lake.

Day 2: Monterey Bay Coastal Trail

Start the morning at the Red House Cafe for brunch. There are some tables outside that welcome well behaved dogs. After that yummy brunch it’s time for a walk!

The Monterey Bay Coastal Trail stretches from Castroville to Pacific Grove, but you can join the trail at any point and walk as long as you like. We usually like to park on Ocean View Blvd (past the aquarium) and walk down the Monterey Bay Coastal trail towards Lovers Point. The trail is a paved coastal trail with beautiful views so it is an easy walk. Dogs allowed on leash. Eventually the trail goes around the peninsula and connects to the Asilomar trail. If you don’t want to walk all the way to the Asilomar trail, you can also drive there. Part of the Asilomar trail has a raised boardwalk that is fun for kiddos to run on.

For lunch, grab a hefty sandwich from The Meatery and bring it back to the coast for a picnic with a view.

To warm you up after being out in the fog all day, have some clam chowder at Vivolo’s Chowder House in Pacific Grove. They have outdoor seating that is dog-friendly, or you can get take out.

Day 3: Moss Landing

We love a good bakery, and there are some good choices in Monterey. Alta Bakery and Cafe and Parker Lusseau are solid options for a good pastry and coffee to start your morning!

Dogs aren’t allowed at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, but that doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on seeing sea otters on this trip! Moss Landing is a great place to spot rafts of sea otters floating around and being cute. You can usually find the sea otters in Elkhorn Slough or the Moss Landing Harbor. Drive north up Highway 1 and turn left on Jetty Road.

To make a full day of it, you can take a detour for a redwoods hike on the way back to the Bay Area. The Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is about 30 minutes north of Moss Landing. While the Redwood Grove Loop trail is not open to dogs, the Pipeline Road is a dog-friendly trail and still gives you plenty of opportunities to see the majestic redwoods. From the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, it is a about a 40 min drive to San Jose and 1.5 hour drive to San Francisco.

As an alternative for older kiddos, a whale watching boat tour would be super exciting last morning in Monterey activity! The best part is, your dog can come along too! The Monterey Bay Whale Watch has whale watching tours that are led by marine biologists, and they welcome well-behaved dogs on their boats.

If you enjoyed this dog and toddler-friendly Monterey itinerary road trip, check out our other California road trip itineraries to Mendocino, the Central California Coast, Lake Tahoe, and sunny San Diego!