What to eat, see, and do in Northshore Louisiana

Among the French Quarter Revelry, Cajun and Creole Eats, Mardi Gras celebrations, and everything in between, New Orleans are classic Louisiana destinations for visitors -but there are more to Bayou State of Big Easy.

Only across the Lake Pontchartrain, you will find Northshore Louisiana. This often overlooked region is full of cute small towns, strong local culture (there Considerable Mardi Gras celebration), coral shrimp, and Bayou’s pleasure.

Back in the 1800th, the area was a popular destination for rich New Orleansians who wanted to stay away from the city’s yellow fever outbreak. Today, Northshore, which includes many St. Tammany and including cities such as Covington, Slidell, Mandeville, and Madisonville, are still a popular destination. It is a favorite among locals looking for easy weekend vacations and visitors who want to develop their rural horizons. But don’t be fooled by a small city charm-there is a lot to do here, with a historic city center full of unique shops, southern comfort foods, and 80,000 acres of wildlife to kayak, bicycles, birds, and boats.

“Northshore area means everything to us,” said Lauren Almquist, co-owner Canoe adventures & tracesA local canoe tourist company and swamp kayak. “We live here, we paddled here, we swim here, we climb here, and most importantly, we raise our children here.

This is everything you need to know about Northshore Louisiana before you visit.

The best hotel & resort

Southern hotel

Located in Covington, the Southern Hotel First opened in 1907 and served the community for 50 years until it closed in the 1960s. The new owner modified the historic property and reopened in 2014, and the lobby bar has been a place for locals to gather for drinks while hanging out with tourists. The tiled stairs highlight the lobby, and the large and curved windows illuminate the lounge area near the bar with natural light.

Guesthouse Di Girod

In the middle of the old Mandeville, Guesthouse Di Girod Has only four suites, each with a personal entrance. The rooms are bright and open, and the front core is perfect for a lazy evening. The property is a block from Lake Pontchartrain and is easily located near the boutique and restaurant in the city center, as well as the Tammany Trace Trail.

Blue Heron Bed & Breakfast

The Blue Heron Bed & Breakfast It has two guest suites, each with a private entrance and a large balcony adorned with shaking chairs, daybed, and outer curtains. There are comfortable fire holes in the garden, and the continental breakfast can be sent to your room daily. Almquist recommends quiche breakfast. “It’s dead,” he said.

blue b & b

Right on the lake, blue b & b is a new bed and adult breakfast, with five suites, each with its own color and decoration scheme. Protected balconies, small kitchens, and banana pancakes and quiches breakfast complement the southern attraction. Opportunities to buy -We, eating, and water sports are within walking distance.

The best thing to do

Kayak in Cane Bayou

Take a kayak trip to Cane Bayou with a local Canoe & Trail Outfitter adventure. Owners of Lauren and Chad Almquist will row from their home and meet you at Cane Bayou, where you will slide through water and crocodiles, bald eagles, ospreys, warblers, and other wildlife in their natural habitat. Often, you will have this area for yourself -it is a great refugee from the hustle and bustle of New Orleans.

Hiking Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge

There are more than 18,000 acres of protected waters, bald cypress forests, bayous, and savannahs in Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife RefugeHeaven for birding, hiking, and exploring. Swamp is a habitat for birds and water birds, and you can also see the birds of the migration at certain times of the year, as well as endangered red birds. “There is a beautiful footprint called the Boy Scout Road Boardwalk Trail in Lacombe, which is overlooked,” Almquist said. “It’s a great place to take pictures of various wildlife you face here.”

Spend in the afternoon at Olde Towne Slidell

Buy antiques and gifts at many stores in Olde Towne Slidell or see pieces created by regional artists at the Slidell Cultural Center in the City Hall. Slidell also has beautiful murals at eight stops through the historic district, and the Mardi Gras Museum in court including more than 800 pieces of carnival talent, from clothing and glasses to throw and clothing.

Tammany trail bike

Originally built as a corridor for Illinois Central Railroad, Tammany Trace was a 31 -mile hike and bike woven through Covington City Center, Abita Springs, Mandeville, Lacombe, and Slidell. The route connects all five communities and is often visited by pedestrians, cyclists, and even rollerbladers. Rent some wheels from Bike Brooks shopwhich has locations in Slidell, Mandeville, and Covington, and hitting the roads have several points of entry.

The best restaurant

Tavi

You can party on a plate of meze, fresh hummus, and wooden tape in TaviInteresting inspiration from North Africa and Lebanon, as well as South America. Do not skip fried chicken hummus, complete with crunchy birds and pepper on the creamy hummus -is a delicious south rotation on the classic Mediterranean dish.

Liz in the dining area

Cooking downhome takes a central stage at Liz in the dining areaWhere owner Liz Munson Buzz is between the table and welcomes the customer with a smile and a hug. The diner specializes in Creole and Cajun cuisine and serves breakfast and lunch, with various eggs, biscuits and gravy, po’boys, burgers, and sandwiches on the menu. I recommend getting porridge with breakfast and fried potatoes with lunch.

Abita Roasting Co.

On the banks of the Tchefuncte River in Madisonville, Abita Roasting Co. It is an interesting place between the Oak trees covered by Spanish moss. Get a place on the front core and watch a floating boat on the river. There are long lists of artisan coffee available, plus cocktails and smoothies as well. Abita is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the menu of items range from beignets and biscuits for chicken and waffles, omelets, wrap, burgers, and salads.

Palmettos in Bayou

In Slidell, Palmettos in Bayou is a spacious restaurant in Bayou Bonfouca with indoor and outdoor seating, as well as live music and weekend lunch. Palmettos specializes in high louisiana cuisine, and you can order things like fried green tomatoes, fried crocodiles, corn -grown fish, and oysters. “It’s very neat to sit on the back of their backs to hear Bayou’s sound at night,” Alquist said.

Tchefuncte Restaurant

With the view of the Tchefuncte River, Tchefuncte Restaurant Serve Louisianan and American dishes made with local and seasonal ingredients. Creative startups include Boudin Egrolls, Roll Cinnamon Belly Pork, and Szechuan Wasabi butter butter serving carrots and broccolini. The channel is just as interesting, with dishes like Tuna Thai Basil and the fish are offered.

The best time to visit

Although New Orleans has a reputation as a Mardi Gras festival center, Northshore is a great place to celebrate, too, and is usually less crowded. Throughout the year, the area has overflowing with purple, gold, and vegetables, and there are always many family-friendly marches on the schedule and lots of King cake to go.

However, even if you do not visit specifically for Mardi Gras, Almquist says spring is a “truly magical” time to visit. Full wild flowers bloom, migration birds are still laying in the area, and you can often catch crocodiles and turtles in the water. Mark Johnson, the Mayor of Covington, recommends visiting in the fall and early winter when the weather has cooled.

Simply avoid planning a trip to the area in the summer, when Northshore becomes damp, hot, and touched by mosquitoes, like others in the south.

The best city to visit

Madisonville

The Madisonville coast community, located along the Tchefuncte River, is full of maritime history, plus cute restaurants and annual festivals such as Krewe of Tchefuncte Mardi Gras Parade Boat and Louisiana’s Maritime Museum Wooden boat festival.

Covington

Covington is about an hour and fifteen minutes from the heart of New Orleans. Neighborhood St. The John Division in the city is on the list of historic countries, and you can find free parking in Lot Ox in the city, which begins on the day when traders will ride their cows there. In Covington, you can read more than 25 restaurants and find a shopping shop, galleries, and coffee shops. “Like the big cities in Europe, Covington has incredible cuisine, more than 100 free live music every year, and two centuries of history,” said Mayor Mark Johnson.

Mandeville

With 1.5 miles from Lake Pontchartrain Shoreline, Mandeville is a water-centered community, full of fresh seafood, easy lake access, and lively shopping and dining options at Old Mandeville.

How to get there

The nearest major airport, Louis Armstrong International Airport New Orleans (MSY), about 35 miles from the Northshore Center, and it will take about 40 minutes to drive from airport to beach. If you have your own small aircraft, you can fly to Hammond North Shore (HDC) Airport.

The way around

Northshore is not serviced by a public bus or train. Your best bet is to rent a car. Private limosin and rented taxis are available, but are limited and expensive. Travel services like Lyft and Uber also operate in the area, but as they are in the rural areas of the state, catching cars can be hit or missed.