San Diego really is "America's Finest City'' for doggos. Endless sunshine, pet-friendly restaurants, and off-leash beaches make San Diego heaven on Earth for our canine compadres. Here's a few of the best restaurants, events, and pup-friendly photo spots in San Diego to check out with your fur-baby.

Dog-friendly restaurants in San Diego

Before you plan a trip to a dog-friendly San Diego restaurant, it's worth noting that dogs are only allowed on outdoor patio areas in California. Luckily, as one of the sunniest cities in the US, you should have no trouble enjoying an alfresco dinner with your doggo. Check out these dog-friendly restaurants in San Diego!

Lazy Dog Restaurant

The Lazy Dog Restaurant has several locations across the US, including one in San Diego. With an open-air patio and cozy firepit, Lazy Dog Restaurant serves up everything from retro TV dinner trays to authentic Thai noodles. You can even stop by on the weekends for brunch, complete with DIY mimosas.

Union Kitchen & Tap

Located on Fifth Avenue, Union Kitchen & Tap serves up rustic, modern decor and American classics for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Make sure you stop by during happy hour for a signature cocktail or three. The front patio is open to doggos, and this hip spot even has a "pup patio menu," which includes steak and rice and chef-made dog treats.

The Prado at Balboa Park

The Prado is hugely popular with San Diegans, thanks to its gorgeous location and high-quality Californian cuisine. Sit with Fido out on the terrace, which features an ornate fountain and "pawlenty" of shade. With its huge drinks selection and diverse menu, The Prado is ideal for pet parents and their fur-babies.

Sally's Fish House & Bar

Fancy chowing down on fresh fish? Sally's Fish House & Bar is a harborside eatery serving up some excellent seafood (a few farm-fresh dishes if you're a seafood fanatic). Sally's Fish House & Bar's patio welcomes pups, and there's a "puntastic" dog menu that features droolworthy dishes like "Surf and T-arf" and "Howlin' Good Chicken"!

San Diego dog-friendly event spotlight: Barks & Brews Dog Festival

Barks and Brews markets itself as one of the largest annual dog festivals in the US. Dozens of local breweries, food vendors, and pet retailers descend on Waterfront Park every Spring for a day of fun in the sun.

Enter your dog in a contest, enjoy a beer tasting, and let your dog make some new friends at one of the off-leash areas. A portion of the money from the festival goes to The Barking Lot, a local charity that has rescued over 5,000 dogs since 2010.

Where to take pics of your dog in San Diego

With no shortage of sunshine and landmarks, San Diego is perfect for planning a photoshoot with your fur-baby. Read on to find out about some of the best places to take pictures of your dog in San Diego.

El Prado, Balboa Park

The 1,200-acre Balboa Park has dozens of great places to take pics with your pup. El Prado boasts some of Balboa Park's most famous landmarks, like Case Del Prado, California Tower, and the St. Francis Chapel. All of these spots serve as top backdrops for photographing your dog in San Diego.

Gaslamp Quarter

Take your fur-baby for a stroll through San Diego's vibrant Gaslamp Quarter. Home to over 90 Victorian Era buildings, it's one of the most interesting and historic areas in the city. The Corner in the Quarter, the Gaslamp Quarter sign on 5th Avenue, and the Bum the Dog statue are all great places to take photos of your pupper.

Spanish Village Art Center, Balboa Park

The Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa houses over 250 local artists and is a popular photography spot thanks to its colorful tiling, art installations, and California-Spanish architecture.

Scripps Beach

Scripps Beach in northern La Jolla is perfect if you're trying to snap some unique photos of your dog on the beach. Leashed dogs are allowed on the beach before 9 AM and after 6 PM from April to October and before 9 AM and after 4 PM from March to November.

Scripps Beach tends to be a lot quieter than nearby La Jolla Shores and other beaches, so you'll be able to get a couple of pics without anyone in the frame. Take pics of your dog underneath Scripps Pier at sunset for the ultimate beach snap.

Animal shelter spotlight: San Diego Humane Society

The San Diego Humane Society is San Diego's largest network of animal shelters, caring for over 40,000 animals across 14 facilities in San Diego County. Since 1880, the San Diego Humane Society has been treating sick or injured animals and saving homeless pets from euthanasia.

As well as providing shelter for animals, the San Diego Humane Society does a whole lot more. It has a behavior center that trains shy and defensive dogs, a kitten nursery that cares for abandoned kittens, and a Humane Law Enforcement team that enforces animal cruelty laws.

But its good work doesn't stop there — it also runs Project Wildlife, which provides vet care to over 12,000 sick and injured wild animals, including ducks, squirrels, and raptors.

Famous San Diego dog: Bum, San Diego's Official Town Dog

Few canines grow to the level of local fame as San Diego's first and only town dog, Bum. In 1886, Bum went from being a street dog to being one of San Diego's most famous faces.

Bum, a Saint Bernard-Spaniel mix, was born in San Francisco and originally cared for by the fire department as a station pet. But Being a free-spirited and rowdy pup, Bum escaped and stowed away on a steamboat heading for San Diego.

He quickly became popular with local fishermen, who gave Bum a place to sleep. He could be seen around San Diego begging for food from local businesses, which earned him his unusual name.

Bum's demeanor changed following a fight with a bulldog in a trainyard. During their scrap, both dogs were hit by a train, killing the Bulldog and severing part of Bum's front right foot. After the incident, Bum became more gentlemanly, with editorials written about his exploits.

As the unofficial mascot of San Diego, Bum lived a life of luxury. He had his own table at one of the best restaurants in town and only accepted the finest of hand-outs.

But Bum didn't lose his thirst for adventure — he was once seen boarding a train to Los Angeles, where he toured the city for two days before returning home. A local had phoned ahead to arrange for someone to meet Bum at the train station so he'd be safe.

Sadly, Bum passed away in 1891 from rheumatism. In honor of San Diego's town dog, a statue of Bum was erected in the Gaslamp District, where it remains to this day.