Bayou Country General Store * Slidell La.
If you are traveling to New Orleans on I-10 from the East then your journey will take you through the town of Slidell which is about
30 miles from the French Quarter. As you pass through Slidell I recommend that you stop at the
Bayou Country General Store, which is just off the highway. Here you will find everything from Alligators to Zydeco which of course includes pralines, coffee, desserts, mugs, jellies, sauces, Cajun foods, mixes, Cajun spices, Tabasco Hot Sauces, aprons, linens, cookbooks, dinner wares, swamp stuff, lotions, soaps, and plenty of other stuff. You will find them at
1101 East Howze Beach Rd, Slidell.
Parasail on Lake Pontchartrain * Slidell La
Fly high above
Lake Pontchartrain while parasailing with an experienced crew and the latest in lift-off and landing technology, allowing
safe and dry landings every time. Fly away in ease and comfort. Enjoy a scenic boat ride while waiting your turn to rise above the lake.
No experience necessary! This is a seasonal activity so call first 985-201-5002.
Parasail Adventures, LLC is about
25 miles from the French Quarter and is located at
4965 Pontchartrain Drive, Slidell.
Cabela's Outfitter * Gonzales La.
If you are into hunting, fishing, or camping then a visit to
Cabela’s Outfitter is a must. Cabela’s is more than just a retail store; it is an adventure you’ll always remember. As soon as you step inside, you’ll experience Cabela’s unique blend of shopping and the outdoors. From life-size wildlife dioramas to huge aquariums swimming with freshwater fish, every Cabela’s store is designed to entertain and educate you about the Great Outdoors. Cabela’s is located about
60 miles west of the French Quarter right off of I-10 at 2200 W. Cabela's Parkway Gonzales, La at
2200 W. Cabela's Parkway Gonzales, La.
Spend a day on Ship Island * Mississippi
Ship Island is an
undeveloped barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico about 11 miles off the Mississippi Coast. It is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore and protected by the U.S. Park Service, this sand island offer visitors the first
high quality beaches for swimming and shelling east of New Orleans.
Ship Island excursions depart from the Gulfport Harbor; the cruise takes about an hour one-way. Passengers have the option of the most popular half day island visit (4.5 hours), or the all day "sun-seeker" visit (7 hours). Gulfport harbor is about
75 miles east of the French Quarter, about an hour and a half drive.
Crawfishing Louisiana style
Crawfishing: although its not as popular as in years past it is still enjoyed by many locals. It usually starts in early February. We get our nets and bait and head out to our favorite ditch or swamp. For bait we use melt it's from the lining of a cow's stomach...very bloody, spongy, rubbery, stinky stuff. The blood and stench attract
crawfish like moths to a flame. Each time you pick a net up, you empty all those
crawfish out into the bushel basket, you step on the melt in the center of the net so it oozes blood, you muddy the water with a stick, and you set the net back down in the cloudy spot. When done you head home for a delicious
crawfish boil.
Honey Island Swamp
The
Honey Island Swamp is a vast marshland located only about fifty miles north of New Orleans. It is considered by many to be the most pristine swampland habitat in the United States. Nearly 70,000 acres of the Honey Island Swamp is permanently protected as the
Pearl River Wildlife Management area and the
Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge. I have explored, canoed, hunted, and fished both of these areas for the past thirty years and still never tire of the adventure that they offer. The Honey Island Swamp is also home of the legendary
Honey Island Swamp monster. Those who have seen him say it is about 7 feet tall and weighs about 350 pounds, with long brown hair. There are many
New Orleans swamp tours available to explore the swamps and I would recommend that while you are
vacationing in New Orleans you check one out. The swamp tours provide both the Swamp Tour and the transportation to and from the city. While you are on the
swamp tour boat you will see abundant wildlife, alligators and maybe my son Blake.
Crabbing around New Orleans
Crabbing:Nothing beats a Louisiana crab boil and the New Orleans area offers an abundance of places for recreational crabbing that you can get to with or without a boat. We go crabbing year round usually when the urge for a crab boil hits but we find that the crabs run better in the summer and a moving tide is a must. When we go crabbing we just pack up the truck with about a dozen drop nets, turkey necks for bait, a sharp sturdy knife for cutting the bait, a hamper to put the crabs in and plenty of snacks and drinks. We go to Lafitte, Chalmette, Delacroix Isle, Port Sulphur just to name a few places. When we find what looks like the right spot we bait up our nets and start crabbing. The limit you can catch is 12 dozen a person and on many trips we have come home with 8 – 14 dozen crabs. Next time you visit New Orleans be sure to order yourself some boiled crabs.
Louisiana swamps * Crawfishing around New Orleans * Honey Island Swamp * Crabbing around New Orleans * New Orleans swamps * Fishing around New Orleans
Questions about New Orleans?
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