Nature’s Bounty
Honey Island swamp tour boat. Courtesy of LouisianaNorthshore.com.
For fun in the sun, head to Slidell, on the eastern edge of St. Tammany. There are great restaurants, antiques shopping, and more in Olde Towne (Slidell’s historic district); but outdoor adventures are special here.
Families can explore Camp Salmen Nature Park, a 130-acre natural reserve adjoining Bayou Liberty. Camp Salmen originally served as a trading post, helping provide goods from the surrounding natural area for the growing city of New Orleans. It was also the terminus of a ferry crossing from the city and, later, a Boy Scout campsite. Camp Salmen is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and offers a network of hiking trails and an inclusive playground, specifically designed to allow special-needs or physically challenged kids to play easily with their friends.
The network of hiking trails within Camp Salmen Nature Park will soon be connected to the Tammany Trace, a thirty-one-mile walking-and-biking route wending its way through several Northshore towns. Part of a national initiative to convert railroad corridors into easily accessible walking trails, the Tammany Trace was formerly an Illinois Central Railroad route. Now paved, and with the trestles converted to pedestrian bridges, the trail connects Slidell, Lacombe, Mandeville, Abita Springs, and Covington. The trail cut through the center of towns, interspersed by green space, and provides a convenient escape into the rich natural heritage of the area.
Anglers will love spending some time at the St. Tammany Fishing Pier. Built out of the I-10 spans damaged by Katrina, the pier is a great place to catch drum, sheepshead, catfish, flounder, and speckled trout. You can also go after blue crab with nets or just watch the sun set across the water. Or, book a charter fishing adventure with one of the dozen or so captains that launch out of Slidell marinas. For more information, visit fishthenorthshore.com.
If a quiet day of fishing is simply too low-adrenaline, take one of Dr. Wagner’s Honey Island Swamp tours. Small boats allow native, experienced guides to take you deep into the swamp to look for the state’s distinctive wildlife—bald eagles, herons, boar, egrets, owls, otters, turtles, and, of course, gators. Tours also include explanations of the natural history and ecology of the area and come with optional New Orleans hotel pickup. Customized small group trips are also available.
With all this to offer, Slidell and St. Tammany deserve a spot at the top of your list of natural destinations to enjoy. For more information and to plan your St. Tammany getaway, visit louisiananorthshore.com.