If you’re planning a Southern California getaway and your dog is coming with you, put Buena Park on your list. 🐾
I’ll be honest, I didn’t realize just how much there was to do in Buena Park until Emily and I spent a few days exploring it. What started as a quick getaway turned into a packed little adventure with dog-friendly restaurants, coffee stops, shopping, photos, a lake, a pool day and even a perfume discovery I ended up bringing home.
And because Emily believes every vacation should revolve around food, relaxation and being photographed, she was very much on board.
Here’s everything we did during our Buena Park getaway.
Our Home Base: Hampton Inn & Suites Buena Park
We stayed at the Hampton Inn & Suites Buena Park, which was a convenient home base for exploring the area with Emily.
Having a comfortable place to come back to between adventures made it easy to spend the day exploring without feeling like we had to rush from one activity to the next.
And of course, Emily had to inspect the bed and make herself comfortable. Because what is a hotel stay without claiming the bed? 😂
Coffee & A Little Treat at Stereoscope Coffee
Our first stop was Stereoscope Coffee, where I grabbed an iced latte and a pastry.
Emily, naturally, was not going to sit there while I had all the fun. She got a little dog biscuit of her own, making this an easy stop to add to a dog-friendly itinerary.
I love finding coffee shops where bringing Emily along doesn’t feel like an afterthought. A morning coffee with your dog is one of my favorite ways to start a travel day.
Porto’s Bakery: Yes, It Really Is Worth the Hype
Next up was Porto’s Bakery.
If you’ve heard people rave about Porto’s, I can confirm that the hype is real.
There was so much to look at, and honestly, I wish we’d had more time to explore. Between the bakery displays and all the things I wanted to try, this was one of those stops where I immediately thought, “I need more time here.”
If you’re visiting the area, definitely leave room in your itinerary for Porto’s.
Lunch at Rock & Brews
Then it was time for one of Emily’s favorite parts of any trip: food.
We stopped at Rock & Brews, which has a dog menu, and I loved that Emily could have her own meal instead of just watching me eat.
She was very happy about this arrangement. 😂🐾
Traveling with a dog is so much easier when restaurants actually make them feel welcome.
Gaucho Grill: Emily Gets Her Own Beef Patty
At Gaucho Grill, Emily got her own beef patty.
And let’s just say she had no complaints.
I love finding places where Emily can have an actual meal while we’re traveling rather than relying on treats to get her through the day.
She takes her vacation dining very seriously.
A Little Magic at The Cauldron
Then things got a little more interesting at The Cauldron Spirits & Brews.
This witch-themed spot was completely different from anywhere else we visited during the trip, which made it such a fun addition to the itinerary.
Emily even had some chicken while I tried one of their themed cocktails.
The atmosphere alone made this a memorable stop, and it was a fun reminder that dog-friendly travel doesn’t have to mean doing the same types of activities over and over.
Exploring The Source OC
We also spent some time at The Source OC.
It’s an outdoor shopping and entertainment destination, so it was a nice place to walk around with Emily and explore at our own pace.
And of course, I had to take advantage of one of the most photogenic stops we found…
Photogram OC
Photogram OC was one of my favorite photo stops of the trip.
We had so much fun taking photos with Emily, and it gave us something different from the typical travel photos I usually take.
If you’re traveling with a dog who happens to enjoy being in front of the camera, this is definitely one to put on your list.
Emily, naturally, understood the assignment.
Slowing Down at Ralph B. Clark Regional Park
After all the eating, exploring and photographing, we needed a little downtime.
We headed to Ralph B. Clark Regional Park and spent some time walking and relaxing by the lake.
This ended up being one of my favorite parts of the trip because it gave us a chance to slow down.
Emily is actually really good at knowing when it’s time to conserve her energy. After a busy day of exploring, she was perfectly happy to relax beside the lake and take in the scenery.
Sometimes the best part of a trip is doing absolutely nothing for a little while.
Bringing Home a Little Piece of Buena Park
One of my favorite surprises from the trip was discovering Buena Park’s exclusive destination-inspired fragrance collection created with Daniel’s Truth.
I brought home Suite Society, and the citrus and orange blossom notes are completely my kind of scent.
The collection is available at select Buena Park hotels, including the Hampton Inn & Suites, so it’s a really fun little way to take a piece of your Buena Park getaway home with you.
And yes, I may have found a new favorite perfume. 🍊✨
Of Course We Had to Have In-N-Out
And obviously…
We couldn’t leave California without In-N-Out. 🍔
Emily has officially decided that California vacations should include burgers, and honestly, I don’t disagree.
Ending the Trip by the Pool
After a full day of exploring, we headed back to the Hampton Inn & Suites for some poolside relaxation.
This might have been Emily’s favorite part of the entire trip.
She got to lounge on her float, enjoy the sunshine and do absolutely nothing.
And after everything we’d packed into our Buena Park adventure, I think she earned it.
Why I’d Go Back to Buena Park With Emily
What surprised me most about Buena Park was the variety.
We weren’t just going from one dog-friendly restaurant to another. We had coffee, shopping, photography, food, a themed experience, nature, the beach nearby and plenty of opportunities to simply relax.
And Huntington Dog Beach is only about 15 miles from Buena Park, so if your dog loves the beach, you can easily add some ocean time to your itinerary too.
For me, that’s what makes a good dog-friendly destination: having enough options that you can build the trip around your dog’s personality instead of trying to fit your dog into a trip that wasn’t designed for them.
Buena Park gave us a little bit of everything.
And Emily?
She would probably tell you the trip was perfect because there were burgers, chicken, a pool float and a hotel bed involved. 😂🐾
Save This Buena Park Dog-Friendly Itinerary
If you’re planning a Southern California trip with your dog, here’s our quick list:
📍 Hampton Inn & Suites Buena Park
☕ Stereoscope Coffee
🥐 Porto’s Bakery
🍔 Rock & Brews
🥩 Gaucho Grill
🔮 The Cauldron Spirits & Brews
🛍️ The Source OC
📸 Photogram OC
🌿 Ralph B. Clark Regional Park
🌊 Huntington Dog Beach
🍊 Daniel’s Truth / Suite Society fragrance
🍔 In-N-Out
🏊♀️ Pool time at the Hampton Inn & Suites
Would you and your dog visit Buena Park?