The Big Easy is a highly walkable city, so most people leave the car at home for their New Orleans tour. However, if you do plan on bringing or renting a car, then the area around the city is open to you. Here are a few places we’d recommend visiting if you have wheels:
Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge: Located just within the borders of the city, this wildlife preserve is one of the largest urban refuges in the country. If you want to catch a glimpse of a gator up close, then the Bayou Sauvage Ridge Trail might be your best opportunity!
Mandeville: About an hour away from New Orleans, Mandeville is a quaint little Louisiana town with a ton of history. Music fans can boogie at Ruby’s Roadhouse or stop by the Dew Drop Social & Benevolent Jazz Hall, a historic African-American social club built in 1895 that now hosts a wide range of jazz bands.
Stennis Space Center: Just across the border in Mississippi is the Stennis Space Center, originally founded by NASA to test Saturn rockets. Today, Stennis Space Center is one of the largest rocket testing sites in the country and features a pretty terrific museum as well
Abita Springs: A small town east of New Orleans, Abita Springs was originally a Choctaw village that became famous in the 19th century after American settlers found the nearby medicinal spring. Some popular spots to visit include the Abita Brew Pub, serving beer brewed with crystal-clear water from the spring, and the Abita Mystery House, an old gas station featuring an eclectic collection of folk art, homemade inventions, and other bits and bobs.
To make the most of your next trip to New Orleans, check out our New Orleans Self-Guided Walking Tour. More prolific travelers might also be interested in Action+, a subscription service that grants access to over 100 tours for a single yearly price.
Essential Travel Guide:
