Photo By: @thepoochcoach In this seaside village, dogs aren't tolerated--they're celebrated. Here is the story behind the honor, and how to plan the perfect getaway with your best friend. Walk down Ocean Avenue on any given morning and you will see it right away: dogs everywhere, off-leash and delighted, trotting alongside their people into shops, cafes, and galleries as though they own the place. In Carmel-by-the-Sea, they practically do. That reputation is now official. Dogster recently named Carmel-by-the-Sea the No. 1 Dog-Friendly Vacation Destination in the United States, with Cypress Inn and Terry's Restaurant + Lounge featured among the must-visit spots for travelers and their pups. For anyone who has spent a weekend here with a four-legged companion, the recognition simply confirms what they already knew. A Village Built for Wandering Much of Carmel's charm comes down to scale. The village is compact, walkable, and free of the usual barriers to bringing a dog along. Storefront water bowls are the norm rather than the exception. Restaurants set aside patio tables for guests with pets. And then there is Carmel Beach--a wide, white-sand stretch where dogs are welcome off-leash to chase the surf, dig in the sand, and greet every new friend who wanders by. It adds up to a place where you never have to plan around your dog. You simply bring them with you, and the day unfolds from there. A Legacy of Welcome No story about dog-friendly Carmel is complete without Cypress Inn. Opened in 1929, the hotel took on its most beloved chapter in the mid-1980s, when actress and lifelong animal advocate Doris Day became a co-owner alongside local businessman Dennis LeVett. Day insisted that four-legged guests be welcomed as warmly as their humans--and with that, Cypress Inn became Carmel's original pet-friendly boutique hotel. That spirit still defines the Inn today. Dogs are greeted at the front desk, made comfortable in the guest rooms, and treated to their own dedicated menu at Terry's Restaurant + Lounge. Because at Cypress Inn, pets have never been an afterthought. They are part of who we are. Where to Stay, Eat, and Explore Base yourself at Cypress Inn and the rest of the village opens up. Spend the morning on the beach, wander the shops and tasting rooms in the afternoon, then settle in on the garden patio at Terry's for dinner--your dog stretched contentedly at your feet. It is the kind of easy, unhurried rhythm that keeps guests coming back season after season. Celebrate National Dog Day With Us There is no better time to experience it all than this August. On Wednesday, August 26, from 4 to 7 p.m., Cypress Inn hosts Paws & Pour at the Inn, a National Dog Day celebration in the Courtyard and at Terry's Restaurant + Lounge. Enjoy signature Tito's Handmade Vodka cocktails--the Muttini, the Barkarita, and the Salty Dog--along with giveaways and an afternoon devoted entirely to dogs. Best of all, the event supports the Doris Day Animal Foundation, continuing the legacy of one of the world's great animal advocates. Bring your pup, raise a glass, and see for yourself how Carmel earned its title. Book your stay at Cypress Inn and plan a getaway your best friend will thank you for. Dog-Friendly Carmel FAQs Is Carmel-by-the-Sea really dog-friendly? Yes--exceptionally so. Carmel was named the No. 1 dog-friendly vacation destination in the U.S., with off-leash beaches, pet-welcoming shops and restaurants, and hotels built around traveling with pets. Few places make it this easy to bring your dog along. Can dogs go off-leash on Carmel Beach? They can. Carmel Beach allows dogs off-leash under voice control, making it one of the most beloved dog beaches on the California coast. It is a wide, white-sand stretch perfect for a morning run or a sunset walk together. What is the best dog-friendly hotel in Carmel? Cypress Inn is Carmel's original pet-friendly boutique hotel, welcoming dogs as warmly as their humans since the mid-1980s. Pets are greeted at check-in, comfortable in the rooms, and even have their own menu at Terry's Restaurant + Lounge. Are there dog-friendly restaurants in Carmel? Many Carmel restaurants welcome dogs on their patios. At Terry's Restaurant + Lounge inside Cypress Inn, four-legged guests even get a dedicated menu of their own--so everyone at the table is taken care of. What should I pack for a Carmel trip with my dog? Bring a leash for the village, waste bags, a travel water bowl, and a towel for sandy paws after the beach. Cypress Inn provides thoughtful pet amenities on arrival, so you can travel light and let the Inn handle the rest. When is Cypress Inn's National Dog Day celebration? Paws & Pour at the Inn takes place Wednesday, August 26, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Courtyard and at Terry's Restaurant + Lounge, featuring Tito's cocktails, giveaways, and a fundraiser for the Doris Day Animal Foundation. Dogs and their people are all welcome