St. Tammany Parish is your kind of vacation destination. We've got exciting attractions, 80,000 acres of wildlife areas easily accessible and explored, and urban pleasures like art galleries, fabulous shopping, live music, and inspired cuisine. Come to The Northshore this summer and check off memories to last a lifetime with our ultimate summer bucket list.
1. Tour Honey Island Swamp's pristine beauty, lush nature in harmony, and abundant wildlife with Cajun Encounters and Dr. Wagner’s Honey Island Swamp Tours in Slidell.
2. Visit our two waterfront state parks: Fairview-Riverside State Park in Madisonville and Louisiana's most visited state park, Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville.
3. Go tubing (or kayaking or canoeing) on scenic Bogue Chitto River, which flows through St. Tammany and Washington parishes. Get on the water with Louisiana River Adventures near Franklinton and Bogue Chitto Tubing Center near Bogalusa.
4. Throughout August, you can hatch a baby alligator in your hand at Insta-Gator Ranch & Hatchery. Or, make a new 3-foot friend anytime at this unique farm near of Covington.
5. Paddle the waterways: explore Cane Bayou to Lake Pontchartrain and Covington's idyllic Bogue Falaya River with Canoe and Trail Adventures (furry swimmers welcome).
6. Relax on a pontoon boat tour of Madisonville's Tchefuncte River with Tchefuncte River Charters, Louisiana Tours and Adventures or Offshore Experience.
7. Bike the Tammany Trace with rentals from Brooks’ Bike Shop (Covington, Mandeville, Slidell) and Abita Springs Hotel in Abita Springs
8. Sway to the sounds of live music: free Sunset at the Landing concerts on the banks of Bogue Falaya River in Covington, the BoHo-cool Lobby Lounge concerts inside The Harbor Center, Slidell, and at bars and nightclubs across the parish.
9. Slurp a snoball or devour a dip at Hoodoo Ice Cream in historic downtown Covington, Old Town Slidell Soda Shop in Olde Towne Slidell, Skooter's Grill & Ice Cream in Madisonville, Northshore Ice Company in Mandeville, Honey's Snoball Shack in Abita Springs, and lots of other places across the parish (Check out our Chilly Treats blog here.)
10. Toast with a locally-brewed cold one: Abita Brewing Company in Abita Springs and Chafunkta Brewing Company in Mandeville.
11. Stay for Tammany Taste of Summer, all through the month of August! Some of The Northshore's most popular restaurants offer fixed-price menus so you can try something new or enjoy your favorites at a reduced price. Participants include Boulevard American Bistro, Tavi, Valencia, English Tea Room and more in Covington, Odelia Café, Pat Gallager's 527, George's Mexican Restaurant and more in Mandeville, Tchefuncte's, Impastato Cellars and Keith Young's Steakhouse in Madisonville, Restaurant Coté, NOLA Southern Grill, Deanasco Restaurant & Bar and more in Slidell, and dozens more. Visit TammanyTaste.com for the complete list and their menus!
12. Cast a line: bring your line & pole to our fishing piers, get your supplies at our bait shops, and book a chartered fishing or crabbing trip with our Fishing Charters. See what's biting this summer in our latest fishing blog by our angling aficionado, Keith Lusher.
13. Dine with a waterfront view: The Anchor and Abita Roasting Company, both overlooking Madisonville's beautiful Tchefuncte River, Pat's Rest Awhile on the Mandeville lakefront and Palmettos on the Bayou on the banks of Bayou Bonfouca in Slidell.
14. Find fresh and freshly-made foods, and prepared goods and artisan crafts, at our many farmers and makers markets:
- Camellia City Market in Slidell
- Abita Springs Art & Farmers Market in Abita Springs
- Mandeville Trailhead Community Market and Lafitte Street Market in Mandeville
- The Paddock Farmers Market at Giddy Up Folsom in Folsom
- Claiborne Place Makers Market, Covington Farmers Market and Covington Lunchtime Market in Covington
- Pearl River Farmers Market and Craft Show in Pearl River
15. Let four legs do the hiking: go horseback riding at Splendor Farms B&B and Trail Riding Facility in Bush or Bogue Chitto State Park in Franklinton, Washington Parish.
16. Sail away: take a tour with Delaune Sailing Charters and Bayou Sailing Charters.
17. Birds spotted! Explore Northlake Nature Center and Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville, Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in Lacombe and Fairview-Riverside State Park in Madisonville. Read about spring migration through the Mississippi Flyway, which runs right through St. Tammany Parish, in a blog by the Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges.
18. Get up close and personal with a reticulated giraffe (and camels, zebras, and much more) at Global Wildlife Center in Folsom.
19. Dine with your four-legged family at The Chimes in Covington, Middendorf's in Slidell, Liz’s Where Y’at Diner in Mandeville, and more.
20. Happening events: St. Tammany is ready to entertain you! Dig into our calendar of events for festivals, concerts, theatrical performances, art exhibits, shopping events and lots more.
What's your favorite summer activity on The Northshore? Tell us about it! Tag us when you post your pics to Facebook and Instagram.
