Covington, Mandeville and SlidellLouisiana

Touring Honey Island Swamp, one of many ways to explore the flora and fauna of The Northshore

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Major Airports:
New Orleans (MSY)
Baton Rouge (BTR)
States:
Louisiana

Discover classic Lousiana flavors, hip downtowns and plenty of wide-open spaces for recreation in the nine communities of The Northshore

Head to St. Tammany Parish and explore The Northshore of New Orleans. This region is home to nine friendly communities, each offering classic Cajun and creole flavors, hip downtowns and plenty of wide-open spaces for recreation. Located just 45 minutes away from New Orleans' French Quarter, this region is easy to reach – but might prove hard to leave.

As you travel through St. Tammany, you’ll find a host of aspirational outdoor adventures and thriving towns to explore. Slidell offers a vibrant arts scene, family-friendly attractions and the pristine Honey Island Swamp. Abita Springs is a quirky, artsy community known for its positive vibe. Mandeville offers views of Lake Pontchartrain and ancient oaks, fun shopping and bed-and-breakfast inns along with fascinating historic landmarks. Covington is a charming town with great restaurants and shopping, and a lovely historic district. Madisonville, on the Tchefuncte River, celebrates maritime history with its Wooden Boat Festival and the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum.

A Nature-Lover’s Refuge

There are about 32,400 hectares of national wildlife refuge preserved within The Northshore, including Big Branch Marsh and the Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge. Northlake Nature Center on Bayou Castine offers raised boardwalks, interpretive signs and educational experiences. Kayakers can find easy access points along many of the bayous and rivers and on Lake Pontchartrain, with Bayou Cane in Mandeville being a popular launching point. In Slidell, go on a guided swamp tour for an up-close look at the scenic Honey Island Swamp and its wildlife, or take the kids to Insta-Gator Ranch and Hatchery to hold baby alligators. Visit Global Wildlife Center to interact with giraffes, camels, llamas and other creatures.

The 50-kilometer Tammany Trace is a jewel of a bike trail threading through fiveNorthshore communities. It’s a Rails to Trails Conservancy project that turned old railroad tracks into a wide, paved bike path. Visitors can walk or rent and ride bikes through the stately pines. At Fontainebleau State Park, camp, hike, bike, enjoy the beach or head out on the water. Louisiana Tours and Adventures offers pontoon boat tours from Fairview-Riverside State Park. Slidell’s charter fishing boats lead anglers to massive trout and redfish.

Tammany Tastes & Historic Downtowns

ExcitingLouisiana flavors await at fine dining destinations and family restaurants across the region. In Slidell, you’ll find sophisticated fare at restaurants like Palmettos on the Bayou, and comfort food at Creole Sisters Cafe. Other casual eateries nearby include the Abita Brew Pub in Abita Springs and Liz's Where Y'at Diner in Mandeville. Delight in perfectly fried shrimp or spicy boiled crawfish at local po' boy shops and seafood markets. Go wine tasting at Wild Bush Farm and Vineyard, or beer tasting at the Abita Brewing Company and Chafunkta Brewery.

Can’t get enough of the area’s charm? Tour Olde Towne Slidell, a walkable downtown district full of historic buildings, antique stores, specialty shops and museums. Experience eclectic folk art at the eye-opening Abita Mystery House at the UCM Museum, a roadside attraction for all ages in Abita Springs. And leave time for live music at the historic Dew Drop Social and Benevolent Jazz Hall in Mandeville or at community concerts on Tammany Trace trailheads around The Northshore.