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East St. Tammany Recipe Using Slidell as your base, find Louisiana comfort food, eclectic shopping and the beauty of the swamps on the east side of St. Tammany Parish. Here are a few suggestions on how to spend a fun (and filling) day…
Break the fast Have an old-timey breakfast at the Big Easy Diner, the kind of place where the waitresses call you “hon,” and the short-order cooks know the difference between sunny-side up and over easy. Morning swamp tour See the Honey Island Swamp in all its glory; no matter the time of year, the swamp’s natural beauty is awe-inspiring. Several tour operators offer 90-minute glides through this pristine primeval wilderness. See alligators, egrets and herons, and other wildlife as you learn about the mysteries of the swamp, a short ride from Slidell. Sample Louisiana Eat where the locals eat, at Schaeffer’s, a Slidell institution. Enjoy a mountainous fried seafood platter, po-boy or bowl of gumbo. Or head over to Bayou Country Village for a lighter lunch and some sensory overload. A gargantuan shopping experience too cool to just be called a souvenir store, Bayou Country offers all things Louisiana, and features a café and praline counter where you can watch the irresistible candies being made.
Olde Towne Slidell Now that you’ve been fortified, spend the rest of the afternoon strolling Olde Towne, where you’ll find a number of antiques, clothing and home décor shops, including Barbara’s Victorian Closet antiques mall, the Purple Armadillo, and Meme’s Beads and Things. History buffs will enjoy a visit to the Slidell Museum, situated in the old town jail. The museum exhibits photographs and artifacts from the town’s history as well as militaria from the Civil War. If art’s your thing, head for the Slidell Art League Gallery and the Slidell Cultural Center, both featuring work of area artists. Sunset on the Bayou Relax with a glass of wine on one of the lovely outdoor decks at Palmettos on the Bayou and watch the sinking sun fade through the cypress trees. The mood’s casual but the food’s upscale at this great place overlooking Bayou Bonfouca. Choose from such dishes as the duck breast with a blackberry reduction or the Eggplant Palmettos and save room for Bananas Foster. If you go … Big Easy Diner, 985-639-8006 Dr. Wagner’s Honey Island Swamp Tour, 985-242-5877, www.honeyislandswamp.com Cajun Encounters Honey Island Swamp Tour, 985-641-5879, www.cajunencounters.com Pearl River Eco-Tours, 985-649-4200, www.pearlriverecotours.com Schaeffer’s, 985-646-1728 Bayou Country Village, 985-649-3264, www.bayoucountry.com Barbara’s Victorian Closet, 985-641-6316 Palmettos Bar & Grill, 985-643-0050, www.palmettosonthebayou.com Hungry for more vacation "recipes?" To see them all, click here.
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