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Dog friendly San Diego offers many, many activities for pet travelers and their furry travel buddies. And one thing to be sure you don’t miss is Fiesta Island! Located just north of downtown San Diego, it’s one of the city’s pet friendly hidden gems.
Dog Friendly San Diego From A Local’s Persective
I am the happy owner of a wonderful rescue pup, and we are always on the lookout for a new adventure. After searching for local spots where my dog could ditch his leash, I found a great one right in our own backyard! It’s Fiesta Island in San Diego, and Koa and I can’t wait to show you the dog friendly beach and trails!
Fiesta Island is a many-layered cake: the bay, the shore, the RVs, the jet skis, the horses, the dogs, the people, and the wildlife. I’d visited many times before I had a dog, so I can confirm – it’s even better with a canine companion!
It is a unique space where you can enjoy bay views and a nice breeze.
Getting To Fiesta Island
The dog friendly beach and trails on Fiesta Island are just seven miles north of downtown San Diego, and well worth the drive. And when you arrive, parking is easy and FREE!
Grab your gear and walk across the bridge to the island where you can explore beaches around the entire perimeter. Or park on the island if you don’t plan to walk all the way around.
The loop around the park is just under 6 miles, and that includes a trek to the top of the hill at the center of the island where there is plenty of space to explore.
Keep in mind that beyond the occasional ports-potty, there are no restrooms or drinking water on the island. So come prepared! And also make sure you bring plenty of waste bags to pick up after your pet.
What You’ll See On Fiesta Island
We started by heading up the hill to explore the top of the island. Most people miss this spot, and we had it all to ourselves that day!
Then we continued our adventure down along the shore. It was a pretty warm day, so Koa enjoyed the chance to splash in the water. Though he knows how to swim, he has decided to limit his water activities to places below shoulder level. He’s a pretty funny dog.
READ MORE ⇒ Teaching Your Dog To Swim
During our visit, Koa and I saw cyclists, kayakers, runners, walkers, dogs, and horses swimming in the bay. We took regular breaks to play fetch and check out the other dogs and horses. There is something so wonderful about taking your dog to a place where he’s allowed to run free!
But remember that the road does run along the shoreline. So make sure your pet can be controlled with voice commands. The speed limit is low, but it’s still better to be safe than sorry! And if you’ll be driving around the island, be sure to obey the speed limit and keep an eye out for pups and pedestrians.
Next Stop: Old Town San Diego
After 3 hours exploring the dog friendly trails and beaches on Fiesta Island, we drove to Old Town San Diego. It’s an excellent way to wrap up your day!
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is dog friendly. Pets are not allowed inside any of the structures – but there’s still plenty to see!
Through museum exhibitions, restored historic buildings, living history demonstrations and special events, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park provides visitors a glimpse at the way San Diego was transformed from a Kumeyaay village to a Mexican pueblo to an American Settlement.
Five original adobe buildings are part of the historic park, which include museums, retail shops, and several restaurants. The Historic Plaza remains a gathering place. And visitors can also observe a working blacksmith shop, enjoy music, and meet the park’s burros.
I hope you get to enjoy dog freedom on Fiesta Island when you visit San Diego!
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About the Author: Jane Forrester is the happy owner of a wonderful rescue pup, Koa. All photos in this post belong to Jane.
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