Love your pet to distraction and consider him or her a member of the family? Ventura, Calif. just might be the destination of choice this summer. Not only is there the beach, but there’s a dog-friendly culture here that runs more than skin-deep. It’s part ‘n parcel of the whole SoCal lifestyle that so many crave.
Ventura may be the doggie hot spot of the whole West Coast. Dogs are accorded all sorts of slack here in layback land. A couple of examples include the Summerfest All-Breed Dog Show. Set for July 5 – 8, it’s a celebration of all things canine. Good news for lovers of just plain mutts: the show’s been expanded to encompass obedience and rally competitions for mixed-breed dogs.
The high point of Ventura’s doggie summertime doings follows a week later with the 15th Annual Pooch Parade. Set for Sunday, July 15, the Fundraising Dog Walk & Pet Expo provides animals a second chance at life. The parade itself is a three-mile roundtrip along the sublime Ventura Beach Promenade, a fundraiser to support dog rescue and rehabilitation. If you’re thinking of bringing your animal along for the walk know that you’ll have to register, that your pet’s got to be on a leash and that the leash can’t be of the retractable variety.
The sound of the Pacific surf is counterpoint to the pet parade and the dog show. That same powerful ambiance is also a soothing backdrop to Ventura’s Summer Sounds Concert Series. Jazz, soul, pop and reggae rock blend beautifully to render these SoCal summer afternoons even more seductive. The concerts are every Sunday afternoon from now through Sept. 2. Head to Ventura Harbor Village. You’ll find it at 1583 Spinnaker Drive.
As for food, there’s some great barbeque to be had. Pierpont Inn serves it up every Thursday through Aug. 30 – along with extra helpings of live music and entertainment.
(Image: loweonthego)
