A small nature area just on the side of Hwy 90 appx half way from NOLA to BSL. Older locals may…read moreremember it as the site of the White Kitchen, an almost mandatory stop for food and fuel before I10 existed. The nature site has plenty of parking, a boat launch and a nice walkway well out into the marsh.

This might be the only nature preserve named after a restaurant. It's located at the intersection…read moreof US 90 (Chef Menteur Highway) and US 190. The area was once home to a state line diner called the White Kitchen. According to local legend, Jayne Mansfield stopped in on her way from Mississippi to New Orleans. She perished in a car accident that night only a few miles away. The restaurant is long gone and all that remains are wide open spaces. The park doesn't offer any hiking trails for exploration but it does provide a peaceful setting for nature watching. The trees drip with Spanish moss and cypress knees poke up from the swamp. If you want to get out on the water there's a boat launch for easy access. If not, you can just stroll the boardwalk. You don't have to worry about close encounters with wildlife since the pathway is elevated from the water. There are alligators, frogs, turtles, snakes, wild turkeys, egrets, brown pelicans and ducks in the area. People have claimed to see bald eagles too. When I visited earlier this month I was only able to spot a few blue herons off in the distance. The place has seen better days. The placard at the end of the boardwalk must be at least twenty years old. It's sun-bleached and too faded to read. There are empty soda and beer cans floating in the water. The lack of maintenance detracts from the natural beauty. I wouldn't go out of my way to visit this park but it's worth a stop if you're in the area.

Great boardwalk trail over the marsh. It's a good way to see wildlife on the northshore on an easy…read morehike.

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of…read morelife, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived" ― Henry David Thoreau, Walden I have always felt like Thoreau knew what he was talking about when he wrote that. It's been some time since I've gone to live in the woods, but I do think one can accomplish a lot by taking a walk alone into the wilderness. The boardwalk in this section of the Big Branch Refuge is a great place to take such a walk. Located in between Slidell and Lacombe, this section of the national refuge is somewhat different than the other two areas. This spot in particular is a half mile boardwalk trail that runs from the pine forest to the swamp. The trail lets you see first hand how the forest has subsided over the years and become swamp. The remnants of dead pine trees that could no longer survive the excessive moisture dot the landscape. As the trail continues, you will end a large expanse of swamp and an incredible view. There is also more trails to hike, but on my most recent visit I was running out of daylight. This trail is popular, but I have found that more times than not, you will be the only hiker. On my most recent trip I encountered several groups on my hike back, but only one group was irritating enough that I wanted to push them into the swamp. When people are hiking and enjoying nature, hooping and hollering is not enjoyable to others. My hike though the wilderness was very enjoyable. For the first part of the hike all that could be heard was the wind and the birds. If you need to think, want to take photos, or just enjoy a walk through the woods, check this trail out.

Nice little park with a walking trail. We are visiting the area and wanted a place to get out and…read morewalk the dog. This fit the bill. The trail was busy but we enjoyed a couple mile stroll with the adult kids and the pooch.

This is my favorite of the city parks in Slidell. It has a nice walking path around the ball fields…read moreand the perimeter of the park. There are trails and paths into the neighborhoods around the park if you want to walk farther and explore. The park is popular - there are always people and families around - and it feels safe and friendly, even at night. Sometimes cars drive through the park a little fast, but most are careful and drive slowly. The ball fields have been undergoing some extensive renovations in 2023 and the whole park is being improved overall. There are bathrooms available. They aren't great but are definitely better than nothing.

The Pearl River Wildlife Management Area is great for many reasons…read more 1. It is free to enter if you have a Louisiana hunting or fishing license. If not, don't enter as the game wardens can issue you a citation. You also need to stop at the entrance and fill out a check in/check out form whenever you enter or leave the WMA. 2. There are woods everywhere. If you don't like the woods, there is probably something wrong with you. Spend any amount of time in the woods, and you will be a better human being. 3. There is a shooting range. I reviewed it separately, but I will mention that the road leading to the range is po-boy road. What an awesome name for a road. 4. There are many dirt roads here. If you have a fancy car, or even a trashy car, don't come here. If you are a real American and drive a truck or SUV, you will love driving down these dirt roads. The four reasons I listed are just a few of the reasons why this is a great place to visit. If you're reading this review, I highly recommend you pay a visit to this WMA.

Interesting place, lots of birdlife and swap areas to see…read more Bring your camera, and a fishing pole.

Huge beautiful park! A real treasure find for this Alaskan!…read more Took the Sugar Mill trail which is a nice, wide gravel trail. Very easy to traverse for just about anyone. Some walked while some biked. Sugar Mill is a looping trail about a mile long. The alligator boardwalk trail was closed, likely due to damage from Ida and hasn't been repaired yet. There was another trail, but we did not take it. The massive cypress are just awesome! The Spanish moss slowly wavering in the air as you walk underneath these giants is just captivating to me! We did not encounter any creatures except squirrels and a male Orchard Orbweaver and his impressive web. Sooo much space and things to do here we didn't even do all of it. There's big open fields for playing, a playground, tons of parking available. I did see the pier and water of Lake Pontchartrain in the distance, but we were too hungry to keep exploring lol $3 per person to enter the park - 100% worth it

What is not to love about dining a historic park that offers 2,800 acres and beautiful views of…read moreLake Pontchartrain. This place did not disappoint and what a lovely day to explore. Established in 1942, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999, the most-visited park in Louisiana has nature trails, a sandy beach, a new, all-inclusive playground, a splash pad, and the ruins of an 1829 sugar mill situated among towering oaks. Love there is An all-terrain track wheelchair is available for use by visitors with limited mobility. Win win for everyone.

This is a great park for kids and adults…read more Located next to Mandeville City Hall, I guess this could be considered the official City Park. There are two large play sets for kids. There is one general area, and one designed for younger kids. Both sets are relatively modern and will be enjoyed by kids regardless of their age. The set in the general area has a ramp that should accommodate wheelchairs. In addition to the play sets, there are swing sets, metal climbing obstacles and a giant open area. I recommend you play the run as fast as you can to that tree in the distance game to wear your kids out. There are also two tennis courts. I don't know if they need to be reserved, but it looks like it is first come first serve. If you want a place for your kids to play, check out this park.

This is a nice little park in the middle of Mandeville next to City Hall. They've got tennis courts…read moreand basketball courts which are in use just about every day I walk through. It's a good place for a picnic. They've got picnic tables and an area to cook out in. There is also a slide and other playground equipment for kids. Not bad for a small park. It gets quite a bit of action and is a great place for mom to hang out and read a book or whatever while the kiddos have a blast.

Appropriately enough, the Columbia Street Landing is a small, picturesque public park at the end of…read moreColumbia Street. Located on the meandering Bogue Falaya river, this location, though serene at present, served as a functioning harbor throughout the 1800s for the town of Covington. Right now, the "river" looks like a peaceful, lazy stream I could easily walk or swim across...but I'll take the park sign's word for it that this was once a bustling commercial port. This is one of the more well-hidden parks I've found anywhere, as it looks more than a bit like the backyard of the homes on either side of the park. A quaint gazebo and a fountain are located at the front of the park, while a concrete path heads down to the river, with a small wooden deck on its shore. To the left is a grassy clearing that is occasionally used for free concerts between March and October: http://covingtonweekly.com/2014/03/19/sunset-at-the-landing-free-concert-series-2014/ I wouldn't say that there is much to "do" here, but it's a pretty spot for a half-hour of relaxation, perhaps a picnic down by the water. Lovers of unheralded, uncrowded natural public spaces will want to seek out this idyllic little slice of parkland.

Cute little spot to go fishing or hang out with friends and/or family. Nice to have a picnic and…read morehave a little time of relaxation.

I may be biased but we love it! The water is murky and not…read morethe greatest. Its not a sparkling blue but the sand is white and soft. It is well taken care of and the spacious walking paths and bridges make it a wonderful place for a stroll or run. The locals are the best part.

What a gem. It's so off the main gulf coast drag that it's almost total at times. Gorgeous homes,…read more or woods and it feels off the radar.