If you’re looking for a brewery with a certain “je ne sais quoi,” look no further than Le Chien Brewing Company in Denham Springs. The friendly staff at Louisiana’s best dog-friendly brewery are ready to say bonjour to your best friend and pull a pint for her parents. Serving handcrafted beers and sodas, all tastes are accounted for behind the bar. Pups receive a treat from the bartender and a bowl of water, but can also beg for your last bite of pie from Pie Eyed food truck. Afterward, let off steam in the off-leash dog park at South Park.

After a busy day, retire to a comfortable room at La Quinta Inn & Suites Baton Rouge Denham Springs.

Formerly the location of a sugar plantation in the mid-19th century, Fontainebleau State Park is a 2,800-acre recreation area on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. During your visit to Louisiana’s most dog-friendly state park, see the crumbling brick ruins of a sugar mill built in 1829, hike a beautiful 4.8-mile trail, or walk along the interpretive nature trail spotting some of the 400 different species that live here. Kayaking and paddleboarding down Bayou Cane to Lake Pontchartrain are also “pupular” activities within the park.

The Fontainebleau State Park Campground welcomes canine campers at campsites and in select glamping tents. Just outside of the park, the About Trace Bed and Breakfast offers a one-room guest house that allows dogs.

The Atchafalaya Experience in Breaux Bridge is a one-of-a-kind expedition that you can share with your best friend. Tour America’s largest river swamp and meander through the cypress trees under the guidance of a father-and-son team with more than 30 years of experience on Louisiana’s most dog-friendly attraction. Fido might spot beavers, deer, alligators, crocodiles, and more than 30 bird species along this unique boat tour in the bayou.

You won’t find any wildlife in your room at Holiday Inn Express Breaux Bridge Henderson. If you need to make a quick trip, dogs are welcome to chill in the room alone. There’s also a pet relief area on the property.

Pitch a tent, park your RV, or reserve a pet-friendly cottage at Lakeview Park in south-central Louisiana. Nestled along the banks of the 13-acre Fred Bellow Lake, you and Fido will have the opportunity to fish for bass and bream, canoe, or take a walk around the levee to spot wildlife at the state’s most dog-friendly campground. Local residents include the rare but occasional alligator, so always keep your pup leashed. When it’s time to stretch his legs, take your pooch to the on-site Clara’s Canine Bark Park, a fully fenced, leash-free zone divided into separate sections for large and small dogs. Reserve Saturday nights for live music from the park’s community barn. Pets of any size are permitted at tent and RV sites for no additional fee, and two pets up to 75 lbs are allowed in cottages 1 and 3 for an additional fee of $35 per pet, per night.

Spending a weekend in dog-friendly New Orleans? NOLA City Bark has 4.6 landscaped acres with separate areas for pups big and small. Located right downtown in City Park, it features double entrance gates, water fountains for dogs and humans, shade pavilions, an event lawn, on-site restrooms and a small walking trail, making it The Pelican State’s Best Dog Park. Temporary tourist permits are required and can be obtained online. Explore the rest of the park’s amenities like botanical gardens and a sculpture garden with your leashed pooch afterwards.

Stay within walking distance of the park on historic Esplanade Avenue in this lovely lavender vacation rental.

Louisiana is known for its swampy sections of river called bayous. Get a taste for these marshy outlets on the state’s top trail to hike with your dog, The Gorge Run Trail at Bogue Chitto State Park. This winding woodland pathway is shady with benches and a small pavilion with a fishing pier for public use. Keep your eyes peeled for alligators lounging in swampland, beaches that lead to the water, and native plants like American Beech, Southern Magnolia, Persimmon, and Red Mulberry. The Gorge Run Trail is a 5.5-mile loop rated as moderately difficult.

Spend the night between downtown NOLA and the park at Moore's Chateau. Pups can play off leash in the fenced backyard while you lounge on the comfortable furniture.

The Lookout Inn of New Orleans offers a break from the hustle and bustle of The French Quarter in the more laidback Bywater neighborhood. Percival Winston, the inn’s resident French Bulldog and mascot, can often be found in the fenced backyard oasis that features colorful tropical plants, winding pathways, and a cocktail pool and relaxing hot tub for guest use. Dogs are welcome in all four guest rooms at Louisiana’s best pet-friendly B&B, each with a queen-size bed, living room, and private bathroom. For more space to play, visit Crescent Park Dog Run just around the corner.

The Lookout Inn of New Orleans allows dogs of any size for an additional fee of $40 per pet, per stay.

The Mystic Krewe of Barkus is the only Krewe in the Big Easy for four-legged Orleanians. In the days leading up to Mardi Gras, bring Fido to Louis Armstrong Park to join a crowd of furry friends at the Mystic Krewe of Barkus Pawty in the Park. Louisiana’s can’t miss dog event features family-friendly entertainment, food vendors and more. The party culminates in the Mystic Krewe of Barkus Parade through the famous French Quarter.

Pet-friendly rooms book up early during festivities in NOLA, so act fast and reserve a room for you and your pooch at Aloft New Orleans Downtown.

If our Best of Louisiana preview left your dog drooling for more, we hope you check out our book - Ruff Guide to the United States. Remember to use gift code BEST to get a copy for just $10. Happy Travels!