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Home/Regions/Northshore

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.

2 black cast iron pots dutch oven over log flames

Dutch Oven

Dave McNamara
December 8, 2022

The cast iron of a Dutch oven seems to create a better tasting dish after you watch the ingredients simmer and steam over an outdoor fire. Many Louisiana state parks…

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colorful square quilt block outside window of florist

Louisiana Quilt Trail

Dave McNamara
November 16, 2022

The driving tour of the Louisiana Quilt Trail takes you to homes and businesses that display colorful painted quilt blocks. But a closer look at the blocks provides an imaginative…

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Great blue heron flying over river

Tchefuncte River

Dave McNamara
May 17, 2022

The great blue herons and white egrets seem to be watching us and keeping their distance as we glide along the tree-lined Tchefuncte River. Our tour of this historic southeast…

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sunset over lake pontchartrain with moss-covered cypress trees and bare roots along shoreline

Camping at Fontainebleau

Dave McNamara
February 22, 2022

Visitors to Fontainebleau State Park regularly flock to the beachfront to watch the gorgeous sunsets over Lake Pontchartrain. campgrounds have reopened – cabins still closed from hurricane ida Get the…

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Husser Community Center Old green building U.S. flag

Old Husser School

Dave McNamara
January 11, 2022

The old school in Husser has stood for a century. I like old buildings. And they seem even more interesting when they pass the age of one hundred. There is…

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mountain bike jumps hill on bike trail in Bogue Chitto State Park Louisiana

Mountain Bike Trails to the Max

Dave McNamara
December 24, 2021

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…

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two white churches with steeples facing each other after dark lights on inside

Twin Steeples

Dave McNamara
November 16, 2021

born again with art These two old churches with their twin steeples are among the oldest wooden structures in the southeastern Louisiana city of Ponchatoula. But after sitting mostly unused…

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giant Live Oak In Louisiana

Explore Louisiana’s giant Live Oak trees

Dave McNamara
November 2, 2021

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…

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Bogue Chitto State Park and river with trees

Bogue Chitto State Park

Dave McNamara
May 22, 2021

Whether you enjoy a lazy float down the river, camping, horseback riding, hiking or tackling extreme bike trails, Louisiana’s Bogue Chitto State Park has it all. And it’s only a…

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Monarch Butterfly on plant on nature walk in Big Branch Wildlife Refuge

Nature Trail in Bloom

Dave McNamara
April 19, 2021

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…

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horses in corral for trail ride in Bogue Chitto State Park Louisiana

Horse Trail Ride

Dave McNamara
February 23, 2021

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…

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red heart shaped boxes of chocolate from Elmer Candy in Ponchatoula

Ponchatoula’s Valentine Chocolate from Elmer

Dave McNamara
January 20, 2021

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…

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gravel hiking trail along creek surrounded by autumn color trees backlit by afternoon sun hike Bogue Chitto State Park Louisiana

Hiking the Gorge

Dave McNamara
January 16, 2021

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…

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wooden trestle bridge of Tammany Trace bikeway crossing scenic Louisiana bayou

Biking the Tammany Trace

Dave McNamara
January 12, 2021

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…

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working beacon guides boaters to the Tchefuncte River in Madisonville, Louisiana

A Beacon on the Lake

Dave McNamara
September 12, 2020

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…

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Old Collinswood School Museum in Ponchatoula, Louisiana

A One-Room School in Antique City

Dave McNamara
August 20, 2020

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…

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