Dog-Friendly Louisiana Travel Tips
Bring your four legged family members along on your next trip to Louisiana.
Adventures await families visiting Louisiana, and they can be fun for your four-legged family members too. The Pelican State offers lodging, activities and even tasty treats for both man and his best friends.
Some bars and restaurants welcome pets in outdoor seating, perfect during spring and fall to enjoy mild weather and people-watching. At The Bulldog Uptown in New Orleans, sip one of 50 beers on tap (including plenty of Louisiana craft beers) on their patio on Magazine Street. Stroll a block down to Petcetera NOLA for a selection of canine bakery treats and accessories. Or, take a walk in the French Quarter on a pet-friendly, guided tour of the famed neighborhood's history with G L-f de Villiers New Orleans Historic Tours.
For local lodging in the area, search for pet-friendly stays on The Bed and Breakfast Inns of New Orleans website. Or, check out places to stay statewide. Most Louisiana cities include national pet-friendly hotel chains such as La Quinta, Super 8, Motel 6 and Holiday Inn.
In Baton Rouge, take a walk along the Mississippi River levee and then relax with a beer and a snack at Happy's Irish Pub or the Mid City Beer Garden. Nearby in Denham Springs, with a French name that translates to "the dog," Le Chien Brewing Company graciously welcomes furry friends.
Mardi Gras visitors should look up The Mystic Krewe de Barkus, a canine krewe. It parades a 15-block French Quarter route with costumes and a canine royal court. Other pet parades include Baton Rouge's Mystic Krewe of Mutts, Covington's Mardi Paws Parade, Lafayette's Krewe des Chiens, Lake Charles' Krewe of Barkus, Monroe's Krewe of Paws and Shreveport's Krewe of Barkus and Meoux.
In central Louisiana, the pet-friendly cottages at Cheneyville's historic (and reportedly haunted) Loyd Hall Plantation are nestled on a working farm. Alexandria's downtown is just 30 minutes away and is perfect for a stroll. Picnic at Alexander Fulton Mini Park with a pizza from nearby Embers, then follow The Green Belt Trail for an urban hike or drive up to Kisatchie National Forest and wander some of its pine-shaded trails and waterways.
Stay in Shreveport or Bossier City for easy access to activities in north Louisiana. The American Rose Center in Shreveport features 20,000 rose bushes. Blooms peak at the end of April, early May and mid-October, and pets can share the outdoor picnic facilities. The Bossier City Farmers Market also welcomes shoppers' pets every Saturday, April through November, at the Pierre Bossier Mall. The area's Boom or Bust Byway along La. Hwy. 2 leads to scenic walks, recreation areas and quaint Main Streets across four parishes.
Many cities also have off-leash dog parks—BREC's in Baton Rouge are some of the nicest—and remember that all Louisiana State Parks welcome leashed pets in outdoor facilities, and most have dog-friendly cabins for overnight stays.
Whether on two legs or four, Louisiana has an exciting experience waiting.
