With so many enticing menus to sample, why not make a weekend out of it? Book a stay at one of the Northshore’s dozens of independent hotels, bed and breakfasts, and charming inns that welcome guests with distinctive hospitality. A number of historic cottages simply brim with Southern charm, while luxury hotels and secluded waterfront hideaways offer everything from walkable city living or pure, escapist solitude. Wherever you choose rest your head, rest assured, The Northshore has the right fit while you work up an appetite. Visit visitthenorthshore.com/hotels/bed-and-breakfasts/ to get started.
Into the Outdoors
The natural beauty that sets St. Tammany parish apart, also makes the Northshore a natural destination for outdoor adventures. With more than 80,000 acres set aside as state parks and wildlife refuges, the region presents diverse opportunities for bird watchers, hikers, bikers, and nature lovers. Grab your binoculars and focus on the cypress stands at Fontainebleau State Park, a 2,800-acre park fronting Lake Pontchartrain that was once the site of a sugar plantation owned by Bernard de Marigny de Mandeville. Or check out the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, where 15,000 acres of marsh, sinuous waterways, and pine flatwoods await.
Don’t just stick to dry land – St. Tammany parish offers numerous ways to get out on the water, too. There’s nothing like a kayak paddle breaking the surface as you glide through the swamp to bring the sights and sounds of a vibrant ecosystem to life. Experience the lush serenity of the bayou at Honey Island Swamp, while guided tours of the Bogue Falaya and Tchefuncte rivers provide a curated introduction to life along the waterways. For more rambunctious fun, pack an ice chest and kick back for an afternoon innertube adventure down the Bogue Chitto River.
On Two Wheels
Bike enthusiasts take note: The Tammany Trace is a rails-to-trails revitalization project that follows the path of the old Illinois Central Railroad line, providing cyclists, runners, skaters, and horseback riders (pretty much anything without an engine, in other words) with a safe, picturesque, traffic-free route all the way from Covington to Slidell. The thirty-one miles of trail includes offshoots into popular attractions like Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge or the Mandeville Saturday farmers market, and rolls past plenty of places that are culinary hotspots in their own right—including Abita Brew Pub, Meribo, and Spoke and Barrel Eatery, which has the added benefit of being right across from the Mandeville Trailhead. Bring your own bike, or rent one from Brooks Bike Shop in Covington. What better way to work up an appetite for the next memorable meal on your Tammany Taste of Summer calendar. visitthenorthshore.com/tammanytaste/ to learn more.
