Day Trips from New Orleans, Louisiana

1. Lake Charles

Lake Charles is located in southwest Louisiana, and is filled with culture, history, excellent food, music and things to do outdoors. In downtown Lake Charles, you’ll find a hot spot for local artists and musicians, many of whom work out of the renovated 1912 Central School, now a center for the Arts & Humanities. Experience the traditional Lousiana sausage, boudin, along the Lake Charles Boudin trail. One of the best outdoor attractions in Lake Charles is the Creole Nature Trail, a scenic byway which parallels 26 miles of beaches.

2. Gulfport, MS

Gulfport is a coastal community in Mississippi with something for everyone.

Get outdoors and enjoy the area parks and the waterfront. Rent a kayak or jet ski, board a fishing charter or take a cruise, or spend a day at the Gulf Islands Waterpark. On land, rent a bicycle at Magnolia City Rides, visit the children’s museum at The Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, or the Mississippi Coast Model Railroad Museum. You’ll find locally owned shops throughout the area, and of course, excellent seafood including Po Boys, fish plates and shrimp plates. Notice the designated Least Tern Nesting areas along Highway 90, which protect the habitat of these native birds in what’s been designated as a Globally Important Bird Area, or IBA.

3. Abita Springs

Louisiana’s Abita Springs is a charming small town known for its artesian waters, vibrant main street, and family appeal. Abita is located in the St. Tammany Parish along the Tammany Trace Bike Trail, a 31-mile path along an abandoned railroad line. Enjoy walking, jogging, or cycling along the trail.

When in town, stop at the Abita Brew Pub, which produces the award winning Abita Beer. The pub’s menu is complete with burgers, crawfish cakes, and salads.

The Abita Springs playground, adjacent to the Tammany Trace trailhead, is a sustainable design made from recycled materials, and geared toward challenging children both physically and mentally.

4. Shell Beach

Shell Beach is just an hour’s drive from New Orleans and among the most beautiful beaches in Louisiana. The beach is found along Lake Borgne, an inland lagoon formed by the Gulf of Mexico.

The quiet beach is a favorite of bird watchers who come to see both native and migrating birds.

Summer offers swimming opportunities, or visitors can get out on the water year round by renting a boat.

Fishing in Lake Borgne is among the best in the area. The protected waters make it a good spot for redfish. Charters can be arranged through several nearby outfitters.

5. Avery Island

Louisiana’s Avery Island is a 2,200-acre privately owned island that’s famous as the birthplace of Tabasco brand hot sauce. The subtropical island is one of five that rise from the coastal waters.

The islands are formed by giant rock salt formations, a remnant of an ancient seabed.

Visit the Tabasco factory and museum, where the sauce has been in production since 1868.

Enjoy authentic southern and Cajun food at the Tabasco restaurant.

At the 170-acre Jungle Gardens you’ll see native flora and fauna, including a bird sanctuary that’s home to both native and migrating species. Bird tours are available daily via reservation. Avery Island Map

6. Baton Rouge

The state capitol of Louisiana, Baton Rouge is centrally located and home to over 300 years of Louisiana history. Visit both the old and new state capitol. One is a national landmark overlooking the Mississippi River, the other the tallest capital building in the United States, with 34 floors. Area museums include the Louisiana Art and Science Museum and the 100-acre Audubon State Historic Site.

7. Bayou St. John

Bayou St. John is a quaint, walkable neighborhood of New Orleans framed by Esplanade Avenue and the Lafitte Greenway.

Eclectic, locally owned boutiques and trendy cafes, restaurants and bars are tucked away in this picturesque neighborhood with oak-tree lined streets.

Walk along Esplanade Avenue past the historic 1852 Edgar Degas House, where the French Impressionist spent a year between 1872 and 1873. Bayou St. John is named in part for the waterway that frames one end of the neighborhood. Get on the water by renting a paddleboard or kayak, take a yoga class or enjoy a picnic on the grassy shores. Map

8. Bush

Located in the St. Tammany Parish, Bush is a small town located northeast of Covington. Splendor Farms is a family-friendly farm that offers a petting zoo, horseback riding stables, and even a dachshund kennel. The bed and breakfast is open to day guests for guided trail rides. Map

9. De Soto National Forest

De Soto National Forest, just east of Louisiana, is one of the top places to visit in Mississippi. The 500,000 acre area protects hardwood bottoms and the native southern pine forest, several streams, cypress swamps, buttercup flats, and the wildlife that depends upon this natural resource.

Recreational opportunities within the forest include hiking, cycling, or ATV riding, canoeing, and horseback riding. Hunting and fishing is allowed within season.

Wilderness areas include Black Creek, the only National Scenic River in Mississippi.

Wildlife in this area includes wood ducks, birds, and otters. The district’s Big Biloxi Recreation Area offers camping, picnic and bathhouse facilities along the Big Biloxi River.

De Soto National Forest, 654 West Frontage Rd, Wiggins, Mississippi 39577, Phone: 601-528-6160

10. Global Wildlife Center

Folsom’s Global Wildlife Center is among the largest free-roaming wildlife preserves in America. Over 1,000 exotic animals roam the 900 acre preserve, including giraffes, camels, zebras, elands, kangaroo, and bison. Tours include Safari Tours and Private Tours.

On a 75-minute safari tour, you’ll board a train to get up close and personal with the animals throughout the scenic Louisiana countryside, complete with a lake and twelve ponds.

Private tours board a Pinzgauer all terrain vehicle for an intimate experience for up to eight guests.

Enhance your experience by purchasing a cup or bucket of feed for the animals, which encourages them to visit you up close.

Global Wildlife Center, 26389 Hwy 40, Folsom, LA 70437, Phone: 985-796-3585