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.