Northshore
This is a land of tall pine trees, bayous, swamps and rivers that begins on the northern shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Experience the country side of life with antique shopping in towns that began as railroad stops, with spring water and local brews, nature and bike trails, and kayaking or floating down a wilderness river.
Nature Trail in Bloom
Spring is the perfect time to visit this nature trail through the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge near New Orleans. Louisiana’s purple wild iris and the white water lily…
Mountain Bike Trails to the Max
A mountain bike trail where you least expect it – in the gentle hills of southern Louisiana. Off-road bicycling enthusiasts have spent the last few years helping to design and…
Horse Trail Ride
If you’ve ever thought about getting on the back of a horse and going on a trail ride through the wilderness, Louisiana’s Bogue Chitto State Park makes it easy to…
Camping Across the Lake
Visitors to Fountainbleau State Park regularly flock to the beachfront to watch the gorgeous sunsets over Lake Pontchartrain. Fountainbleau State Park in Mandeville is only a short 45-minute drive from…
Ponchatoula’s Valentine Chocolate from Elmer
Those heart-shaped boxes of Elmer chocolate that will be given to sweethearts this Valentines Day got their start in the small southeast Louisiana city of Ponchatoula. The production line rolls…
Continue Reading Ponchatoula’s Valentine Chocolate from Elmer
Hiking the Gorge
One of the best hikes in Louisiana is located in Bogue Chitto State Park. The 5-and-a-half mile long Gorge Run Trail loops through pine-covered hillsides and through river lowlands of…
Biking the Tammany Trace
The Tammany Trace is an easy paved long-distance bike trail in Louisiana that takes you through forests and across rivers and bayous in southern St. Tammany Parish. The 28 mile…
A Beacon on the Lake
From early Native Americans to present day fishermen and recreational boaters, Lake Pontchartrain has a long maritime history. A Madisonville museum has that history on display, including the building of…
A One-Room School in Antique City
Back in the 1800’s, it was not unusual find one-room schools, especially in rural communities. There is one that’s been saved and turned into a museum in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. When…
Explore Louisiana’s giant Live Oak trees
They are the grand monuments of the southern landscape, with massive strong arms that support an evergreen crown that can be fashionably draped with Spanish moss. The biggest of the…