Roam: A vibrant New Orleans awaits you (and your pup)
By: Karyn WoffordThere’s a wealth of history, culture, and architecture to be discovered in New Orleans—and bring your pup along for the pet friendly spaces and amenities.
New Orleans is more than just Mardi Gras parades and knock your socks off good Cajun cooking. A wealth of history, culture and architecture await to be discovered. Sure, bustling Bourbon Street may not seem to be the most dog friendly place, but the southern destination is actually brimming with memorable things to do with your fur baby. Incredibly accommodating and versatile, this article just tips the iceberg of all the offerings.
Eat, Drink and Have Cupcakes
In the mood for a cupcake? Head to the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood, where New Orleans Cake Café and Bakery whips up seriously sweet tooth crushing desserts. But the savory breakfast options are equally loved by locals, with the biscuits and gravy being a highlight. Pups love sunning on the outside patio seating, and staff will provide water bowls as well.
Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restauranttakes it up a notch to welcome furry friends, with indoor/outdoor seating and a paw approved menu. Pet parents can enjoy creative cocktails, and as the name would suggest, excellent seafood, tacos and burgers. Overall it’s just a fun place to be.
Dat Doginfuses local and European flavors into artisan hotdogs, which can feature anything from crispy fish to zingy sausage. The name is convenient, because the joint is happy to see four legged customers come enjoy the outdoor seating. But seriously, this funky place will forever change your perspective of the average frankfurter.
The Voodoo Loungeis the edgy place to get drinks, that one searches for when traversing near the French Quarter. Open 24 hours, you can stop by anytime, pup in tow, to get a beer, whisky, or whatever may be calling your name. Bartenders not only know the names of regular human patrons, but their dogs too, giving a pretty good depiction of how pet friendly this cool bar is.
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Get Ready for an Assortment of Experiences
Algiers Ferryis a fun way to see the city, as it takes passengers (including Fido) into the waters of the Mississippi for just a couple of bucks! Ensure that your pup is securely fastened into a harness and leash, then enjoy the ride.
Just about every dog park feature can be found at the clean cut NOLA City Bark. Massive amounts of green space, separated areas for wee ones, water fountains, clean up stations—we could keep going. Being just a really pretty part of New Orleans, families truly enjoy being here. The park is off leash, but you must get a visitor’s permit to use the facilities, as it keeps everyone safe!
The French Quarteris that one spot likely most associated with the culturally rich city of New Orleans, and it’s one of the more dog friendly places to be as well. Many carriage drivers, shops, and cafes are more than happy to see your cutie pie. Expert doggy travelers note that you might want to carry little pups, or have them in a stroller, since it can get very busy.
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Everyone Wins at These Pet Friendly Hotels
Aloft New Orleans Downtown allows both dogs and cats to stay for free! Amenities, such as dog bowls and treats await. Perhaps you are traveling with someone who is allergic, or may not want to stay in a pet friendly room—the 17th floor is human exclusive—everyone wins!
The Greenhouse Inn may not offer a free stay for your pup, but the location is conveniently situated near a dog park. If there’s a restaurant you’ve been dying to try, or somewhere you can’t take your best friend, the inn allows well behaved dogs to stay in the room unattended. Only a handful of rooms are pet friendly, so be sure to book in advance. The quaint joint feels very homey, and has a lushly surrounded pool area.
Maison Saint Charles Hotel has a very “New Orleans” exterior, and lovely commons spaces. Both dogs and cats can bunk up with their owners, and can even stay in the room unattended if properly crated. Outside there is a convenient greenspace, so you don’t have to go far at all for potty breaks.
New Orleans tops countless other cities when it comes to being accommodating to pets. It’s surprising when a shop owner pops out to encourage you to enter with your fluffy one. While a lot of places offer the same old stuff to do, we feel New Orleans has some out of the box adventures and features that are as unique as the city itself. So, grab your beads and pack those suitcases, New Orleans awaits!
Karyn Wofford is a “Mom” to her fluffy, sweet dog Halli. She spends much of her time traveling and advocating for Type 1 diabetes—and Halli sometimes accompanies her on her adventures. You’ll find Karyn’s work on sites like Mother Earth Living, and in magazines such as Diabetes Forecast.
