New Orleans’ Northshore: 3 Ways to Escape to Nature in Louisiana

Enlist the experts at Dr. Wagner’s Honey Island Swamp Tours in Slidell to create an unforgettable memory of the Northshore. With a native guide leading the way, take a small-boat journey deep into Honey Island Swamp, a protected, primeval cypress swamp and pristine wildlife area. See the massive cypress trees stretching up from the still water and the cypress knees jutting out all around them. Learn ecology and history lessons and hear legendary tales about pirate escapades and even the Honey Island Swamp Monster. Explore stretches awash with alligators swimming and sunbathing, snakes crawling on tree branches and numerous species of birds searching for a meal. Turtles and frogs plop in the Pearl River from log perches as you pass by. You might even spot a beaver lodge, red wolf, deer, wild hogs, raccoons and nutria.

Kayak or canoe through the calm, peaceful waters of Cane Bayou, which feeds into Lake Pontchartrain. Listen as a knowledgeable master naturalist with Canoe and Trail Adventures in Mandeville leads the trip. Guides speak with passion about the ecosystems and preservation of the swamp, marsh, bayou and estuary system. Land outings are also available for birding and hiking.

Rent kayaks for the day from Bayou Adventure in Lacombe to take in the scenic beauty and see animals in their natural habitat at your own pace. Keep your eyes peeled for alligators submerged in the water with only their eyes and nostrils visible. Look to the banks and in the air to spot flocks of ibises, egrets and herons. See ospreys atop cypress trees in May and June; parents will be training their young how to survive beyond the nest.

Both vendors also offer guided twilight paddles for a sunset view of Lake Pontchartrain and an unforgettable end to the day.

Spend a day cycling or walking the Tammany Trace, the State of Louisiana’s first rails-to-trails conversion and an inductee into the Rails-to-Trails Hall of Fame. The Trace spans nearly 50 kilometers from downtown Covington through Abita Springs, Mandeville and Lacombe, ending in Slidell. Rent bikes at Brooks' Bike Shop in Covington after strolling through downtown boutiques and getting a bite to eat. After a short, scenic ride to Abita Springs, families will enjoy a children’s playground and the Abita Mystery House, a roadside attraction filled with unusual collections and oddities. Be sure to stop at the Abita Brewery for craft beer and soda tastings.

If you opt to explore just a portion of the trail, ride over the Bayou Lacombe Bridge to admire the waterway below. The drawbridge is passable from sunrise to sunset. In the area, see historic cemeteries amid a landscape of live oak and pine trees. Continue on a beautiful ride along the 11.5-kilometer route to the Slidell-Carollo Trailhead, where you'll find plenty of restaurants and shopping nearby.

Fly in to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), where you can rent a car and drive 40 minutes over the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway to the Northshore.