3 Best Day Trips from New Orleans
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There’s a wealth of scenic and cultural activities to be found on day trips from New Orleans. Just a quick drive over beautiful Lake Pontchartrain delivers a delightful change of pace on the North Shore. Just a little further away is Lafayette, where Cajun culture—especially the food—is celebrated. And less than two hours from New Orleans is the town of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where visitors can outdoor adventure or explore the jazz scene. Curious? Read on for our picks for the best day trips from New Orleans—along with what to do when you get there.
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THE NORTHSHORE
Just across Lake Pontchartrain and a short drive from downtown New Orleans, the Northshore is a scenic collection of towns that includes Covington, Mandeville and Slidell. There's a relaxed, village-like feel to the area. And besides all the history and nature there are also a few hidden foodie gems.
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Abita Mystery House
The museum is the collection and living gallery of home-grown artist John Prebel. The furthest stretches of his imagination are all on display here, from wall-sized mosaics to miniature city scenes, to sculptures of half-human hybrid creatures to an Airsteam trailer that has collided with a flying saucer. Eclectic almost begins to cover it.
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Honey Island Swamp Tour
This company has been successfully running some of the region’s best tours of this pristine swampland since 1982. The swamp isn’t too far from some urban centers, but it feels undeniably rural, and outside of the company facility there’s no real sign of modern life. The wildlife was the main event, with small alligators, feral boars, raccoons, water snakes, and turtles. If any of that sounds intimidating, the whole outing is very safe, but your tour guide will bring a hit of bravado to the presentation, which adds some fun drama.
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Southern Hotel
$As you pull into the forecourt, you’re presented with a Mission Revival-style building, the modernity of which belies the hotel’s history, which stretches back over a century to 1907. The interiors—the hotel was refurbished and reopened in 2014—is the very model of boutique charm, with colorful contemporary furniture that doesn’t look cookie-cutter, modern art and furnishings with personality. Even coming from a city as laid back as New Orleans, there’s a palpable change in pace, and time spent here feels even more relaxed. Southern Hotel is really the only choice for a North Shore stay that isn’t an anonymous chain hotel.
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Lake Pontchartrain
There are spots to view Lake Pontchartrain that are closer to the city limits of New Orleans, and some neighborhoods even lie up against it, but it’s on the Northshore where you can really explore this scenic natural resource to its fullest. Nature trails, hiking, fishing, sailing and all manner of water sports and outdoors activities take place on the shores of Louisiana’s own great lake.
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Middendorf's
$$The restaurant brings in many of its guests with its famed thin-cut catfish. It is breaded and fried to order and is unlike any other catfish steaks you’ve likely tried, with elevated levels of crispiness and flavor. You can be a contrarian and order it cut the usual, thicker way, or you can go completely rogue and explore the soft shell crab or broiled shrimp options. Seafood restaurants in Louisiana don’t last unless they’re doing something right, and the thin catfish specialty has served this place well. It might be a one-trick pony, but it’s a trick worth driving out for.
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- Courtesy The Shackrestaurant
The Shack
$$You might think that a place called The Shack selling soul food in the suburbs would be a lazy nod to regional favorites, but you would be wrong. The menu also throws in Cuban and Caribbean influences to stellar effect. The appetizers set the stage, with a dreamy duck quesadilla and guacamole with crab and bacon. There’s a taco bar and daily specials that include a Wednesday night shrimp and grits dish that will stand up against any in the region. Expectations are further exceeded on the drinks menu with cute twists on classic cocktails. Execution, presentation, and ingredient quality are all top-notch, and the prices make it one of the best value dining experiences on the North Shore.
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Blue Dog Cafe
$$The blue dog in question here is the subject of revered late local artist, George Rodrigue, whose work can be seen all across the state, especially in New Orleans and here in Lafayette. Rodrigue’s art is incredibly accessible, and loved by kids and adults alike, so there’s a good showing of families at the café. There’s also an arty crowd that passes through to pay their respects while chowing down. Guests are drawn in with some southern classics and then introduced to more unusual dishes that might tempt them to broaden their horizons. Crab cakes and boudin balls for appetizers are standard in this part of the world, but there are also some glorious seafood wontons and a shrimp en brochette that comes with jalapeños and bacon that really stands out.
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Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
Historic churches and cathedrals are hardly a rarity in this religious part of the world, especially with the Catholic influence that looms so large in Louisiana. This imposing red and white brick cathedral, though, is impressive even within that well-populated arena. The cathedral is just a century old and is a memorable example of the Dutch Romanesque Revival Style, the striking brick structure framing historic stained glass windows imported from Germany. The domed interior opens up to reveal a wonderfully-preserved, colorful and airy church. It's a tranquil place for reflection, as are equally the cemetery and the beautiful, centuries-old Cathedral Oak tree. There are no regular guided tours on site, but they can easily be arranged by contacting the cathedral through a phone number on their website.
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Acadian Village
The village may be a recreation of a 300-year old Cajun settlement but given that seven of the eleven homes that have been erected are authentic buildings, the site, operated by (and in support of) an organization that supports people with intellectual disabilities doesn’t feel contrived. There’s a real sense of achievement that shines through as you wander between the carefully-constructed buildings. This is especially true when you read that the land here was cleared and that the homes were moved from various other parts of the region and rebuilt, complete with wooden pegs and mudded walls. There aren’t too many authentic examples of real Acadian history in the region, even though Cajun influences run through lots of local music and food, so it’s inspiring and impressive to see this accurate reconstruction.
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The French Press
$$There’s a wealth of casual dining options in Lafayette, but few that even slightly elevate their dining room or ingredients. This café delivers refinement without adding pretension. Breakfast and lunch are the main events here (the restaurant only opens for dinner at the weekend), and the menu is a thoughtful mix of classics and local twists. The Cajun Benedict uses boudin sausages and andouille gumbo, for instance, and the Croque Monsieur was a melty delight of Gruyère and béchamel sauce. Historically, this long, narrow room was a working print shop, and the good looks of the original building have been retained. The exposed, polished stone and dark, wooden floors make for a classy atmosphere that stands out in town.
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Johnson's Boucaniere
$This simple yellow building with a rickety-looking wooden porch looks somewhat anonymous, aside from a hand-written specials board outside and a basic patio attached to the side. If you didn’t know what a "boucaniere" was you’d drive straight past it, but once you know that it means "a place for smoking meats," you won’t make that mistake again. The dedication here—whether to pork, chicken or brisket—truly is a delight to behold. You can order individual portions of each, or have the kitchen whip up a sandwich or salad bowl. Cajun classics such as gumbo and boudin sausage complete a mouthwatering picture. It’s one of those casual spots that has an underlying seriousness about what they serve and is going to impress any BBQ fan.
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Carriage House Hotel
$A search for accommodation beyond cookie-cutter national chains in Lafayette doesn't turn up many results, especially if you’re looking for relatively upscale digs. An unflashy brick building in a newish part of town, the Carriage House has some 21 luxury suites and a handful of extended-stay condos, and given the very ordinary local competition in the local hotel portfolio, it’s a refreshingly contemporary and fresh property. There are some welcome neoclassical flourishes to the building and a scenic courtyard. The amenities at the City Club (of which the hotel is part) really elevate the experience. The outdoor pool has extensive lounging areas, a water slide, and fountains, making for a fun spot for families. The Club also has some pristine all-weather tennis courts and a wonderful fitness center, with a gymnasium, sauna, and a wealth of exercise classes.
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DeSoto National Forest
There’s just over half a million acres of coniferous forest here, which is among the most important natural regions in the Gulf Coast area. After a 35-minute drive from central Hattiesburg, exploring the forest is a relatively straightforward task, thanks to several trails. Hiking, ATV, horse, and bike trails are all incorporated into the landscape, meaning that different levels of challenge are available, and there's something for both casual and more experienced hikers. The well thought out trails devoted to different means of transport and hiking, as well as the ability to kayak and canoe, means that the forest is attractive for almost everyone that enjoys the outdoors.
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- Courtesy African American Military History Museum/Brent Wallaceactivity
African American Military History Museum
African-American soldiers have fought for the United States in every war since the founding of the country, and the museum has dozens of impressive multimedia exhibits that interpret events from the Revolutionary War right up to modern day anti-terrorism operations. Presentations range from evocative reconstructions of wartime conditions to recorded first-person accounts to interactive games. There are so many inspiring and pioneering stories told at the museum. One of the most interesting is that of Hattiesburg's own Jesse L. Brown, who was America's first Black naval aviator. There’s an exhibit dedicated to heroic World War II nurse Ruth Bailey Earl, also of Hattiesburg. The story of the Buffalo Soldiers post-Civil War is also a must-see, as is the movie presentation, Patriots to the End: The African American Soldier.
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Cotton Blues
$$This is a casual spot that feels special. A caveat before attempting to summarize the food: the menu is huge. It’s hard to even skim over any of the sections—even the pasta offerings include a dish with crawfish and quail. There's obviously all the fried seafood favorites you know and love in the south, catfish and shrimp among the major ingredients, and a list of artery-crowding entrees. Steaks, tacos and salads are lengthy lists in their own right, while the sandwich and burger options alone would take you a few weeks to work through eating here every day. Add to this desserts, sides, soups and an actually intriguing apps selection (pulled pork fries and deep south egg rolls with rabbit among the must-haves) and you have a behemoth of a menu. The kicker: everything is made fresh. Every day.
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- Okatoma Creek Outdoor Postactivity
Okatoma Creek
Okatoma Creek is a tributary of the Bouie River and is about a twenty minute drive from downtown Hattiesburg. The combination of whitewater runs and calmer waters mean that visitors can engage in all manner of water sports, from intermediate canoeing to kayaking to swimming. The Class I kayaking run is one of the most popular reasons for water sports enthusiasts to come to the creek. It’s one of the few whitewater experiences in the region, and although it’s not at the high end of things technically, it’s still a moderately challenging run, with three falls/chutes. It usually takes around three and a half hours to complete the run of around 19 miles.
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Hotel Indigo Hattiesburg
$Outside of the major cities, finding hotels with character can be a challenge in the South, so this relatively new property from IHG’s Indigo brand is a welcome addition to Hub City’s accommodation portfolio. The rooms are notably fresh and elevated and real thought has gone into incorporating the neighborhood’s history into the design. The railroad industrial chic here stands out among local hotels and the property signals a new, contemporary breed of accommodations that are springing up in towns such as Hattiesburg.