Seal Point Dog Park (San Mateo)

Just outside of the city of San Francisco, in Silicon Valley, is a lovely series of parks tucked away near the Pacific ocean. Shoreline Parks is a system of five parks assembled by the city of San Mateo. All of these parks, as the name might suggest, are along the ocean. 

When it comes to parks, the Shoreline Parks system has it all. There are picnic areas, biking paths and hiking trails for every level of experience. There are playgrounds for the kids with animated wind sculptures that move in the ever-constant breeze. There are wilderness areas, access to beaches and wooden walkways that allow visitors to take a close look at marshes, estuaries, and coastal wetlands. And at Seal Point, there's a great dog park.

The Seal Point dog park is huge, almost three acres, and it's really well set up. The enormous off-leash section has a secure area for little dogs. The park has lots of benches, plenty of water fountains, although they can be rather spread out, and the city has provided lots of poop bags so you can properly clean up after your dog. 

Like the rest of the Shoreline Parks system, Seal Point has plenty of trails and beach access, enough to tempt your inner explorer. Your dog is welcome on these trails, but she has to be leashed, and you are expected to clean up after her. 

There are some amazing views, from the impressively long San Mateo Bridge to Treasure Island and Angel Island out in the bay. However, the parks are on the beach in northern California, so it is usually cool to cold, often foggy, and always windy. You will want to make sure you have dressed accordingly, and be sure to bring extra water so you and your dog don't get dehydrated from smiling so much in the wind!