[Yorkiedaze]

I sent that information on areas to choose from and sent it on to my friend in Newport Beach to get her opinion and this is what she had to say:

Most important do NOT go to Dog beach! It is rampant with pit bulls--the gangsters take their fight dogs there and I have heard horror story after horror story! It's not safe for yorkies. Not to mention there is no shade and it gets scorching hot on a sunny day. However, there are many excellent choices after that--- I have not heard of Skybark or the other places in LA but will look for a website cause it sounds so cute! It would be so much easier for you too to only have to travel to LA instead of all the way down to Orange County, if you want I'll share a hotel room at the dog-freindly place we stayed for the expo last time with you. I used to live near travel town, its a neat little miniature railway park but I wouldn't really do a doggie group there as there are often little children's birthday parties--loud screaming kids with pinatas, you know the scene---I walk my boys at Upper Newport Bay Regional Park once a week, the trails are very gentle and its very peaceful--its a nice place with tons of poop bag dispensers and the animal control truck is almost always out there policing--I consider that a good thing, it keeps the dogs on leashes and the big dogs in control. Then again, there is no chance for off-leash fun there now that I think of it. ALmost all the dog parks in Orange COunty are really nice--the woman I work with is on Costa Mesa's city council and she is the council member in charge of Bark Park--its really nice because they have a seperate small dog area that's grassy. I wouldn't go to Laguna's dog park though, it's gorgeous but there have been incidents of the coyotes sweeping off the canyon and grabbing little dogs. Wow--SO many choices! If they do decide to stay in the Newport Beach area my favorite dog-friendly brunch place is called the Blue Water Grill on Lido Island--nice patio on the water, you are right on the marina watching the jellyfish and they are super dog-friendly. A large Malamute "works" there and she is the sweetest dog, Rudy even likes her and he as a rule hates all big dogs! Honestly, if I were you I'd lobby for one of those places in Agoura Hills or maybe Malibu or Los Angeles, its so much closer for you! If you go I would go too!