They say New Orleans is wild. Take a walk on the real wild side right next door in Jefferson Parish and New Orleans’ Northshore, St. Tammany Parish. When you land at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport you are in Jefferson Parish, minutes from downtown New Orleans. And right across beautiful Lake Pontchartrain is New Orleans Northshore. Come and see where the locals live and play!
Jefferson Parish
Jefferson Parish is known for outdoor adventure, but we have so much more to offer! We are home to two award-winning theaters, museums, the Louisiana Oyster Trail, two state parks, one national park, three historic districts, and many family-friendly festivals.
St. Tammany Parish
The Northshore has become a popular getaway or hub-and-spoke destination. Once a getaway spot for wealthy 19th-century New Orleanians,
St. Tammany Parish has grown to become a destination with broad appeal.
Nicknamed the Louisiana Northshore for its location north of Lake Pontchartrain, St. Tammany Parish is less than an hour’s drive from Baton Rouge, New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast and at the crossroads of three major interstates I-10, I-12 and I-59.
Groups seeking opportunities to decrease their carbon footprint will enjoy staying in some of our flag hotels that have implemented green concepts while embracing our eco-friendly attractions and naturally sourced culinary scene during the day. Join us for the day!
• Take an eco-tour of the Honey Island Swamp.
Travel back in time on outward-facing, low fuel
emission, flat-bottom boats with experienced
guides that will educate your group about the
swamp’s fragile ecosystem. Choose from one of
several local and experienced companies.
• Visit Insta-Gator Ranch and Hatchery where
you will learn how this farm was developed to
conserve the American Alligator species and
preserve the Louisiana wetlands. Open year-round
however, tours during early September can
participate in the hatching experience.
• Take a guided tour to learn about conservation
initiatives and brew tasting at Abita Brewery.
Louisiana’s oldest and largest craft brewery and
part of the Louisiana Brewery Trail; they have
been creating its unique blends and signature
sodas since 1986.
• Your group will go wild as they tour one of the
largest free-roaming wildlife preserves in the
United States – Global Wildlife Center. Tour over
900 acres of beautiful Louisiana countryside. It’s
our own Serengeti, in Louisiana!
• Stroll through an urban herb garden at and learn
about medicinal remedies and gardening tips
at Passionate Platter. Then head inside to treat
yourself to delicious “Garden to Table” fare.
• For more traditional seafood and classics try
Middendorf’s in Slidell. This popular restaurant
opened a second group-friendly location in 2019
near the shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Best known
for their “thin-fried” catfish however in October,
you can also enjoy authentic German fare.
• Return back to your Northshore hotel for a
peaceful rest before you are up to explore even
more of Louisiana.
• Download the complete itinerary and contact Tanya
Leader by email or at (800) 634-9443 to start planning
your group meeting between Jefferson Parish and
St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana.