A Dog-Friendly Trip to Morro Bay, California

On our April 2025 road trip from Colorado to California, we visited my cousin in Morro Bay. Of course, I loved getting to see my cousin, but I was also excited for Maya and Piper to meet my cousin's dog, Brooklyn! (I'm not sure how the family tree works with dogs, but we'll just say they're cousins, too).

I should also mention that this day was Adam's birthday and Easter, and that we spent the morning frantically searching all of Solvang for Adam's keys, because without them, we couldn't re-mount the box, pick up the dogs from boarding, and continue the trip! It was an exciting day.

Once we got ourselves together, we made our way up to Morro Bay, a pretty short drive from Solvang.

Jody Giannini Family Dog Park

We wanted the dog cousins to get to know each other at a neutral spot, so we met up at Jody Giannini Family Dog Park, inside Del Mar Park.

The dog park doesn't have a dedicated parking lot, but you can use the Del Mar Park parking lot off of Ironwood Ave, or you can grab a spot off Panorama Dr (where it intersects with Island St). However, because we were there on a beautiful Easter day, the park was bustling. We parked at my cousin's house and walked through the neighborhood and then Del Mar Park to get to the dog park.

The dog park is fenced, with separate areas for big and small dogs, and a good variety of shady spots and open grassy areas.

Maya, Piper, and Brooklyn got along really well, which was what we were hoping for. The park had something for everyone: shade for Maya to cool off, grass for Piper to roll in, and lots of space for Brooklyn to run. We even got to meet my cousin's friend and his dogs, who happened to be stopping by.

Lost Isle Adventures: A Dog-Friendly Tiki Boat Cruise

After the park, we hung out at my cousin's house before our big activity for the day: a dog-friendly sunset tiki boat tour to celebrate Adam's birthday – something relaxing and fun after our frantic, stressful morning. 

We did end up having fun, but relaxing still wasn't in the cards for us. A few hours before our scheduled tour time, my cousin decided to call ahead, just to check what time we needed to arrive (and thank goodness she did). 

It turned out, the folks at Lost Isle Adventures had been trying to call me all day to let me know that the sunset tour I bought tickets for was cancelled! *But,* if we got to the harbor right away, we could make it just in time for the last tour of the day. Without missing a beat, we packed the dogs up in the cars and made it to the harbor just in time. 

The folks at Lost Isle were very accommodating and went out of their way to make sure we had a good experience. They could have easily told us we missed our chance to reschedule, or that this was my fault for giving them the wrong phone number (probably true), but instead, they met us with patience and empathy and got us on a boat.

Possibly because of rescheduling, the boat was full and every seat was occupied. The tour allowed dogs, even medium to large ones like Maya, Piper, and Brooklyn, but they didn't have a ton of personal space (neither did we, for that matter). 

Luckily for us, the other boat passengers were friendly and weren't put off by being in close quarters with the dogs. Special shout-out to the very polite girls who gave the pups lots of pets and attention.

Of course, I have to give a lot of credit to Maya, Piper, and Brooklyn for being great sports and staying calm during a very weird experience. Maya didn't love the sound of the motor at first, but she eventually settled in. It definitely helped that the ride was pretty smooth. 

As we started the tour, we got tiki drinks from the on-ship bartender, and Adam even got a complimentary birthday shot (half a cup) of tequila. 

While we cruised around the bay, we saw wildlife like otters and either sea lions or seals (I don't think I ever got an answer as to which one is which). Since the dogs weren't up on the seats, they didn't get a chance to look at the animals, but I think they would have been pretty interested, so maybe that was for the best.

Although it didn't exactly go as expected, we had a fun time on our tiki boat tour, and I appreciated the folks at Lost Isle making sure we had a good time. 

Lost Isle Adventures boat tours are definitely dog-friendly, but I'd offer these considerations:

• Hopefully, this goes without saying, but this is an activity that involves proximity to strangers (and possibly other dogs). If your dog isn't friendly, this isn't a good activity.
• Even with every seat on the boat full, we did have space for three 50 to 70-pound dogs, but not a lot. On a less crowded tour, your dog might have more room, and maybe even a seat, but be prepared for them to need to settle on the floor. If you have a smaller dog, they could definitely sit comfortably in your lap.
• To really make sure you have plenty of space, you can book a private tour. I can imagine this being a good option if you have a group, especially one with dogs. 
• Make sure you give them the right phone number so they can call you if the schedule changes!  

The Galley

By the time we were done with our boat tour, we were ready for an early dinner. Luckily for us, Lost Isle is right next to a few great dinner options. Adam requested seafood, since we were on the water. Of course, Morro Bay has quite a few seafood options, but since it was a special day, we decided on the Galley.

We were able to get a table outside right away, and the dogs were given water in the fanciest water bowls I think I've seen at a restaurant. After the excitement of the park and the boat ride, the dogs were more than happy to relax while we ate dinner. 

The food was excellent, and we really made our ocean-side time count with oysters, scallops, and seafood pasta. 

Walk to Tidelands Park

After dinner, we walked south from the Galley, along the Embarcadero. 

Walking along the Embarcadero is great, with plenty of places along the water where you can stop for views of Morro Rock. We didn't do any shopping, but if you're in the market for souvenirs or sweets, this is the place to do it.

Eventually, the harbor-side walkway ended (I believe around Mariner Park), and we took the sidewalk along the Embarcadero to Tidelands Park. 

Tidelands Park was grassy and beautiful, and I'm sure it would be nice at any time, but if you can go at sunset, do it. It was truly magical, ending the day sitting in the grass with our dogs, looking out over the water, while everything glowed gold around us.

Reflections 

Bring your dog with you to Morro Bay. They have dog-friendly parks, beaches, restaurants, hiking, and even boat tours. 

I'm so glad that we got the chance to make a stop here with Maya and Piper, especially since we got to have much overdue family time with our (human and dog) cousins.