Attractions Nearby New Orleans, Day Trips and Excursions

(New Orleans, Louisiana - LA, USA)

On the outskirts of New Orleans and beyond you'll encounter the enchanting landscapes of Cajun countryside with its swamps and bayous full of weird and wonderful wildlife attractions. You'll also experience authentic Cajun culture and cuisine in various townships such as Kraemer, famous for its warm hospitality and distinctive music.

Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge is just 15 minutes from the New Orleans French Quarter, while you can get a taste of southern plantation life by touring the opulent estates lining the banks of the Mississippi River in an area generally known as the River Road.

Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge

Tel: +1 985 882 2000
Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge is the largest of its kind established in an urban area, located just 19 miles / 31 km from downtown New Orleans. It is home to a number of endangered and threatened species, such as the brown pelican and bald eagle, and consists of fresh and brackish marshes, hardwood forests, lagoons and canals. Protected by hurricane levees, the refuge is one of the last remaining marsh areas adjacent to Lake Pontchartrain.
Open hours: Daily, daylight hours only.
Admission: free

Cajun Country

Address: Louisiana (LA), USA
The Cajuns, or Arcadians, are descendants of the French who were driven from British controlled Nova Scotia in 1755. After settling the bayous and swamplands of southern Louisiana they absorbed cultural influences from other European countries, as well as local Native Americans, to form the famous and distinct Cajun culture of today. Of particular interest is Cajun cooking and Cajun and Zydeco music. Any number of townships from the Texas border through to the Mississippi south of New Orleans offers authentic Cajun cultural attractions and tours, while the unofficial center is the town of Lafayette.

Fontainebleau State Park

Address: 67825 Highway 190, Mandeville, Louisiana LA, 70448, USA
Tel: +1 985 624 4443
Fontainebleau State Park is located on the northern shores of Lake Pontchartrain and provides a relaxing escape from the crowds. Offering a lovely beach, picnic area, swimming pool, nature trails, camping and the ruins of a plantation sugar mill, the park makes a delightful day out.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Lake Pontchartrain

Lake Pontchartrain is the second largest saltwater lake in the USA and forms the northern boundary of New Orleans. The lake is relatively shallow and is lined with beaches popular among picnickers, with the southern end dominated by swamps and bayous. Fishing, sailing and kayaking are also popular, as is camping in several state parks lining the waters edge. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway spans the lake north-south and is the longest bridge in the world at around 23 miles / 37 km.

Fort Pike Historic State Park

Address: 27100 Chef Menteur Highway, New Orleans, Louisiana LA, 70129, USA
Tel: +1 504 662 5703
Built in 1827, Fort Pike played an important role in the defense of New Orleans from British attack. Today Fort Pike Historic State Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and makes for a fascinating stroll through arched casemates, with sweeping vistas of the Rigolets. The Fort Pike Historic State Park also contains also a museum and living history programs.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

Address: 8606 West St. Bernard Highway, New Orleans, Louisiana LA, 70043, USA
Tel: +1 504 281 0510
On the grounds of what is now the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve lies the Chalmette Battlefield, site of 1815 Battle of New Orleans. A self guided tour reveals the course of the decisive battle against the British that made Andrew Jackson a hero. The Beauregard plantation house is home to exhibits depicting the battle as well as offering great views of the Mississippi River, while you'll also find a National Cemetery and a re-enactment of the battle each January.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

River Road

Address: New Orleans to Baton Rouge, Louisiana LA, USA
Along the banks of the Mississippi River, between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, you'll find numerous plantation homes that document the lives of rich, southern plantation owners. A series of levies on both sides of the riverbank connecting the various plantations is what is referred to as the River Road. You can either drive yourself or enjoy the stories and legends recited by a tour guide that dramatize the lives of southern plantation owners. Popular homes include Butler-Greenwood Plantation, Cottage Plantation, Evergreen, Houmas House and San Francisco Plantation House.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free (charges apply for visits to plantation houses)

Rural Life Museum

Address: 4560 Essen Road, at I-10, Baton Rouge, Louisiana LA, 70898, USA
Tel: +1 225 765 2437
The Rural Life Museum is an outdoor museum run by the Louisiana State University and aims to depict the realities of rural life and culture during the 19th century. Its buildings include slave cottages, an overseers' house and a shotgun house, representative of a large sugar plantation, as well as pioneer cabin, working blacksmiths shop and a barn museum.
Open hours: daily - 08:30 to 17:00
Admission: charge