Journal destination
Stories from this city location. Explore published field notes, guided trips, and local perspectives.
The collection
01Float beneath draped cypress, watch for alligators and migrating birds, and learn swamp lore from a local naturalist—this small-group kayak tour is a measured, intimate way to experience Louisiana’s waterways.
02Less than an hour from the French Quarter, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve folds history, Cajun culture and untamed wetlands into a single, navigable landscape. Choose a shaded pontoon for calm observation or a fast airboat for shallow-channel thrills.
03A 1,300-acre urban refuge just minutes from the French Quarter, New Orleans City Park pairs ancient live oaks and reflective lagoons with museums and public art. Read on for the best ways to explore—on foot, by bike, or with a local guide.
04Board a paddlewheeler, feel the Mississippi’s steady push, and let live jazz and Creole flavors explain how this river shaped New Orleans. Practical tips, local history, and the best ways to experience the water’s pulse.
05Lake Pontchartrain is New Orleans’s broad, brackish playground — a place where wind-driven sailing, low-key kayaking, and saltwater fishing meet marsh birds and Causeway sunsets. This guide pairs sensory scenes with practical intel for a trip that’s as accessible as it is elemental.