This Lesser-known Louisiana Region Has Charming Small Towns, Delicious Seafood, and Boutique Hotels—and It’s Just 40 Minutes From New Orleans

Between French Quarter revelry, Cajun and Creole eats, Mardi Gras celebrations, and everything in between, New Orleans is a classic Louisiana destination for visitors—but there’s so much more to the Bayou State than the Big Easy.

Just across from Lake Pontchartrain, you’ll find Louisiana’s Northshore. This oft-overlooked region is full of cute small towns, a strong local culture (there are plenty of Mardi Gras festivities), crawfish, and bayou fun.

Back in the 1800s, this area was a popular destination for wealthy New Orleanians who wanted to distance themselves from yellow fever outbreaks in the city. Today, the Northshore, which encompasses much of St. Tammany Parish and includes towns such as Covington, Slidell, Mandeville, and Madisonville, is still a popular destination. It’s a favorite among locals looking for an easy weekend getaway and visitors wanting to expand their horizons beyond the city. But don’t be deceived by the small-town charm—there’s plenty to do here, with historic downtowns full of unique shops, Southern comfort food, as well as 80,000 acres of wildlife areas to kayak, bike, bird, and boat.

“The Northshore area means everything to us,“ says Lauren Almquist, co-owner of Canoe & Trail Adventures, a local canoe and kayak swamp tour company. “We live here, we paddle here, we swim here, we hike here, and most importantly, we raise our kids here. The area is nature-focused with … two state parks, a national wildlife refuge, a 31-mile bike path, and much more.”

Here’s everything you need to know about Louisiana’s Northshore before you visit.

Best Hotels & Resorts

The Southern Hotel

Located in Covington, the Southern Hotel first opened in 1907 and served the community for 50 years until it closed in the 1960s. New owners renovated the historic property and reopened it in 2014, and the lobby bar has become a place for locals to gather for drinks while mingling with travelers. A tiled staircase accentuates the lobby, and large, arched windows illuminate the lounge area near the bar with natural light.

Guesthouse on Girod

In the heart of Old Mandeville, Guesthouse on Girod has just four suites, each with a private entrance. Rooms are bright and airy, and the front porch is perfect for lazy afternoons. The property is one block away from Lake Pontchartrain and conveniently sited near downtown boutiques and restaurants, as well as the Tammany Trace trail.

Blue Heron Bed & Breakfast

The Blue Heron Bed & Breakfast has two guest suites, each with a private entrance and a large porch decked out with rocking chairs, a daybed, and outdoor curtains. There’s a cozy fire pit in the garden, and continental breakfast can be delivered to your room daily. Almquist recommends the breakfast quiche. “It’s to die for,” she says.

de la Bleau B&B

Right by the lake, de la Bleau B&B is a new, adults-only bed and breakfast with five suites, each with its own color scheme and décor. Covered balconies, kitchenettes, and weekend breakfasts of banana pancakes and quiches round out the Southern charm. Shopping, dining, and watersports opportunities are all within walking distance.

Best Things to Do

Kayak on Cane Bayou

Take a kayaking tour of Cane Bayou with local outfitter Canoe & Trail Adventures. Owners Lauren and Chad Almquist will paddle from their home and meet you at Cane Bayou, where you’ll glide through the water and spot alligators, bald eagles, ospreys, warblers, and other wildlife in their natural habitats. Oftentimes, you’ll have the area all to yourself—it’s a great escape from the hustle and bustle of New Orleans.

Hike Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge

There are over 18,000 protected acres of marshes, bald cypress forests, bayous, and savannahs at Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, a haven for birding, hiking, and exploring. The marshes are a habitat for shorebirds and waterfowl, and you can also spot migratory songbirds at certain times of the year, as well as the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. “There’s a wonderful trail called Boy Scout Road Boardwalk Trail in Lacombe, which overlooks the marsh,” says Almquist. “It’s a great spot to take photos of the various wildlife you encounter here.”

Spend the Afternoon in Olde Towne Slidell

Shop for antiques and gifts at the numerous shops in Olde Towne Slidell or see pieces created by regional artists at the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall. Slidell also has beautiful murals at eight stops through the historic district, and the Mardi Gras Museum inside the courthouse includes more than 800 pieces of Carnival flair, from costumes and goblets to throws and dresses.

Bike the Tammany Trace

Originally constructed as a corridor for the Illinois Central Railroad, the Tammany Trace is a 31-mile-long hike-and-bike trail that weaves through downtown Covington, Abita Springs, Mandeville, Lacombe, and Slidell. The path connects all five communities and is frequented by walkers, cyclists, and even rollerbladers. Rent some wheels from Brooks’ Bike Shop, which has locations in Slidell, Mandeville, and Covington, and hit the road—the trail has multiple entry points.

Best Restaurants

Tavi

You can feast on meze plates, fresh hummus, and wood-fired pita at Tavi, which draws inspiration from North Africa and Lebanon, as well as the American South. Don’t skip the fried chicken hummus, complete with a crispy yardbird and Aleppo peppers atop creamy hummus—it’s a delicious Southern spin on a classic Mediterranean dish.

Liz’s Where Y’at Diner

Downhome cooking takes center stage at Liz’s Where Y’at Diner, where owner Liz Munson buzzes between tables and greets customers with a smile and a hug. The diner specializes in Creole and Cajun cuisine and serves just breakfast and lunch, with various egg scrambles, to-die-for biscuits and gravy, po’boys, burgers, and sandwiches on the menu. I recommend getting a side of grits with breakfast and a plate of cheese fries with lunch.

Abita Roasting Co. 

On the banks of the Tchefuncte River in Madisonville, Abita Roasting Co. is a quaint spot set amongst Spanish moss-covered oak trees. Grab a spot on the front porch and watch boats float by on the river. There’s a lengthy list of artisan coffees available, plus cocktails and smoothies, too. Abita is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and menu items range from beignets and biscuits to chicken and waffles, omelets, wraps, burgers, and salads.

Palmettos on the Bayou

In Slidell, Palmettos on the Bayou is a sprawling restaurant on Bayou Bonfouca with indoor and outdoor seating, plus live music and weekend brunch. Palmettos specializes in elevated Louisiana cuisine, and you can order things like fried green tomatoes, fried alligator, cornmeal-battered Gulf fish, and oysters. “It’s really neat to sit on their back patio listening to the sounds of the Bayou at night,” says Alquist.

Tchefuncte’s Restaurant

With views of the Tchefuncte River, Tchefuncte’s Restaurant serves Louisianan and American dishes made with local, seasonal ingredients. Creative starters include boudin eggrolls, a pork belly cinnamon roll, and Szechuan wasabi cashew butter served with radishes and broccolini. The mains are just as exciting, with dishes like Thai basil yellowfin tuna and blackened redfish on offer.

Best Time to Visit

Although New Orleans has a reputation as the center of Mardi Gras festivities, the Northshore is a great place to celebrate, too, and is usually much less crowded. During this time of year, the area overflows with purples, golds, and greens, and there are always plenty of family-friendly parades on the schedule and lots of king cake to go around.

But, even if you don’t visit specifically for Mardi Gras, Almquist says springtime is a “truly magical” time to visit. Wildflowers are in full bloom, migratory birds are still roosting in the area, and you can often catch alligators and turtles sunbathing on the water. Mark Johnson, mayor of Covington, recommends visiting in the fall and early winter when the weather has cooled off.

Just avoid planning a trip to the area in the summertime, when the Northshore gets humid, hot, and overwhelmed with mosquitoes, much like the rest of the South. 

The Best Towns to Visit

Madisonville

The waterfront community of Madisonville, situated along the Tchefuncte River, is full of maritime history, plus cute eateries and annual festivals like the Krewe of Tchefuncte Mardi Gras boat parade and Maritime Museum Louisiana’s Wooden Boat Festival.

Covington

Covington is located about an hour and fifteen minutes from the heart of New Orleans. The town’s St. John Division neighborhood is on the National Register of Historic Places, and you can find free parking in the town’s ox lots, which date back to the days when tradesmen would hitch their oxen there. In Covington, you can peruse more than 25 restaurants and find boutique shopping, galleries, and coffee shops. “Like the great cities of Europe, Covington has incredible cuisine, over 100 free live music acts per year, and two centuries of history,” says Mayor Mark Johnson. 

Mandeville

With 1.5 miles of Lake Pontchartrain shoreline, Mandeville is a water-centric community, full of fresh seafood, easy lake access, and lively shopping and dining options in Old Mandeville. 

How to Get There

The nearest major airport, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), is a little over 35 miles from the heart of the Northshore, and it’ll take about 40 minutes to drive from the airport to the coast. If you happen to have your own small aircraft, you could fly into Hammond North Shore Regional Airport (HDC).

How to Get Around

The Northshore isn’t serviced by public buses or trains. Your best bet is to rent a car. Private limousines and hired cabs are available, but limited and costly. Ride-hailing services such as Lyft and Uber also operate in the area, but since it’s in a more rural part of the state, catching a car can be hit or miss.