Dog Beach, Carmel CA Where the dogs are as joyous as the surfers and equal citizens. This scene is typical for the State Beach in Carmel which is also nicknamed "dog beach." Although I am typically drawn to photograph surfers, and there were plenty of them, the goofy smiles on the dogs faces were what attracted me most. This is one of the few beaches in the USA where dogs are allowed to frolic off leash and they love it.