Best Nature and Parks (RV, National, Dog, etc) in St. John the Baptist Parish

"This park pays tribute to one of the Big Easy’s most esteemed legends, Louis Armstrong. The park is all about art, jazz, and music, featuring different events throughout the year at the historic Congo Square. It’s only a block from the jazz-inspired Hotel St. Pierre; so grab your food and find a peaceful spot among the trees, or spread out a blanket along the banks of the lagoon."

"Just outside of the French Quarter is Louis Armstrong Park, a public space honoring the jazz musician it was named after. Inside, there are iconic sites like Congo Square, a historic meeting place for slaves in the 1800s. There are also sculptures, a duck pond and plenty of green space where you can relax after spending your morning walking around the city."

"There aren’t a ton of green spaces in downtown New Orleans, so Louis Armstrong Park, just outside the French Quarter, is a welcome option. Given its proximity to the city’s culture, the park has also become a hub for festivals and seasonal events. It’s a well-designed, landscaped spot that packs a lot into 32 acres."

"If you’d prefer a more leisurely option, you can escape to one of the local parks (City Park or Audubon Park) not far outside of the Historic District. If you haven’t gotten your fill of jazz yet, you can do the Harbor Jazz Cruise on the Steamboat Natchez. I’ve listed more details on all the options below."

"Many of our readers would suggest us to check out City Park while we were posting photos of ourselves in New Orleans on social media. After seeing photos of this place it’s no wonder why this place is a photographer’s dream and has the most beautiful trees everywhere."

"We started our day with a visit to the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve Visitor Center. There are actually six different units within this one park site… The French Quarter Visitor Center is a great place to start your visit and get information not only about the Historical Park, but about the history of New Orleans. A ranger presentation at the French Quarter Visitor Center of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve."

"The Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve is another great park to visit if your family loves nature and animals. The Barataria Preserve located in Marrero Louisiana is about 30 minutes outside of New Orleans, if your family is in town for a while, I recommend visiting this park. For more information on The Jean LaFitte National Historical Park and Preserve visit https://www.nps.gov/jela/barataria-preserve.htm"

"This 1.4-mile, 20-acre urban park on the riverfront offers landscaped gardens, a dog park, walking paths, public restrooms, swings, and panoramic downtown views. Don't miss the David Adjaye-designed Piety Street Bridge, a pedestrian walkway that rises above active railroad tracks to connect the river with the Bywater community. A post shared by BJ Knights (@bj_knights) on Sep 5, 2016 at 8:32am PDT"

"This park was created in 2014, when a formerly derelict area of the city near the Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods was targeted for redevelopment. The park runs along the river; it is 1.4 miles long and is spread out over 20 acres. The main attraction in the park, apart from the pleasant green spaces, is the Piety Street Bridge."

"Finally, head to Crescent Park for a beautiful sunset view of the city, and after the sun goes down venture over to Frenchmen Street for some live jazz and blues. While tourists tend to visit Bourbon Street, you’ll see more locals on Frenchmen. For tonight’s live music, check out this listing by the local radio station."

"This spectacular oasis in the middle of NOLA’s uptown area features multiple picnic spots, playgrounds, a jogging trail, riding stables, a golf course, and more. It stretches from St. Charles Avenue (making it an easy trip on the streetcar) to Magazine Street, and right across Magazine, you’ll find the impressive Audubon Zoo."

"Get your dose of nature at one of New Orleans’ two large parks.City Park is larger than Central Park in New York and is home to the New Orleans Museum of Art, as well as several gardens.Audubon Parkboasts the Audubon Zoo and is easily accessible by street car. Either way, both are excellent options for a relaxing afternoon."

"Famed for the 300-year-old allée of live oak trees dripping with Spanish moss that flank its main entrance, Oak Alley Plantation has more to offer visitors than a quintessential view of a Southern plantation. Highlights include numerous exhibitions exploring the complexities of Southern and Louisiana history, 1,300 acres (526 hectares) of grounds, and the historic house itself—all within easy driving distance of New Orleans.More"

"Oak Alley Plantation is actually about an hour west of New Orleans, but it is such an amazing photo location, anyone visiting New Orleans should make the trip. It was definitely one of the highlights of our vacation. As you might expect, it is an old plantation house, located on the west bank of the Mississippi River, in the community of Vacherie, which is in St. James Parish."

"Funded by the WPA, the City Park Rose Garden, as it was called when it opened in 1936, has been expanded over the years to fit 12 acres of land featuring more than 2,000 varieties of plants from all over the world. In the early 1980s, the space was renamed the New Orleans Botanical Garden, but what has remained are the 10 sculptures commissioned by Mexican-American relief artist Enrique Alférez."

"The New Orleans Botanical Garden was designed during the Great Depression era as a project for the Works Progress Administration. It is one of the few examples of a public garden still remaining to this day from the Art Deco Period. Come out to see this amazing beauty and learn about the different plants that reside in the garden!"

"The Mississippi River is a very prominent part of New Orleans, so you have to get a picture along its banks. My favorite spot is just south of Jackson Square where you can get a nice shot of the Crescent City Connection Bridge in the background. This shot below was late in the day we arrived after a long flight."

"Louisiana is a state that is famous for its waterways and bayous, and New Orleans is no exception to the rule. Fronting the French Quarter is one of the best riverside parks in the city – Woldenberg Park. Originally the location of warehouses and wharves on the east bank of the Mississippi, the site was retooled in the 1980s and 1990s into a park."

"For a day of exploring in the French Quarter, Woldenberg Park is an essential stop. Located right where the Quarter meets the mighty Mississippi, the park begins at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and runs along the water to St. Philip Street. Picnic spots, gazebos, and waterfront benches provide some of the city’s best views of the river."

"Named after the 19th-century painter Edgar Degas, Café Degas is a cozy French bistro that features reasonably priced French-inspired cuisine with a touch of Creole. On warm days and evenings, the front windows are opened up to the street. Don’t forget to order the La Gratinée d’Oignons, which is French onion soup with crispy croutons and bubbly Swiss cheese."

"Seared Gulf fish, shrimp and Prince Edward Island mussels are served with citrus-poached Yukon gold potatoes, choucroute, sauteed asparagus and pinot gris and garlic sauce. Reservations recommended. Lunch Wed.-Fri., dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Sat.-Sun."

"From twinkling lights to a tree in the middle of the front patio, this is al fresco dining with gobs of panache. Don’t miss the floating islands doused in creme anglaise for dessert."

"A cozy little French crêperies in uptown New Orleans known for their dessert and entrée crepes, as well as their tasty main courses. Order the Moules Marinière, which is PEI mussels steamed in white wine and garlic and finished with cream; share the large one (served with pommes frites) over a couple of glasses of rosé champagne. Essential InformationAddress: 1410 Robert St., New Orleans, LA | 504-899-2670Open For: Sun-Thurs Dinner (5pm-10pm); Fri-Sat Dinner (5pm-11pm); Sunday Brunch (11am-3pm)Attire: Business CasualReservation Required: EncouragedCost: $$Website:La Crêpe Nanou"

"Cotelettes d’agneau is lamb chops served with cognac reduction, pommes frites and haricots verts. Reservations accepted. Dinner daily, brunch Sun."

"Located in New Orleans East not far from the shores of Lake Pontchartrain, Royal Brewery has one of the most original tap rooms to have sprung up in the past 5-10 years. Taking inspiration from brewing styles from around the world, Royal’s brewers concoct a litany of unique flavors from ales fermented with a British Ale yeast to California Common Steam Lagers. They even feature their own ginger ale which you can sample in-house (trust us, it’s worth the trek)."

"A post shared by Brieux Carré Brewing Company (@brieuxcarre) on Jul 30, 2017 at 12:13pm PDT. Craft brewing manufacturing facility with a taproom open on weekends. Games are set-up around the venue including an area for kids along with a stage for live music."

"Located in the Broadmoor neighborhood, Broad Street Cider produces handcrafted ciders and meads in small batches with no artificial flavors or added sugars. The dry and semi-dry ciders and meads are gluten-free, unfiltered, unpasteurized and have no added sulfites. Head to the taproom for not only the standard offerings but also limited specialty releases available on draft and to-go in jar fills."

"Address: 2723 S Broad StreetNew Orleans, LA 70125Phone: (504) 405-1854Website. Try a craft brewery experience with a twist at Broad Street Cider. At Broad Street, they’re making hand-crafted ciders and meads in small batches based on apple juice from Michigan and the Pacific Northwest."

"So far, Broad Street Cider is the only cidery in New Orleans. No worries though, they’re pumping out enough variety to keep visitors and locals intrigued. When I visited there nearly a dozen ciders on tap, plus a number of guest taps."

"One of Port Orleans’ investors/owners is former New Orleans Saint Zach Strief, and the Saints love is everlasting — witness beers like Sean Payton blonde ale and the recently released Gl37son IPA (a portion of the profits go to the care (and adventures) or people with ALS, like Steve Gleason.) But it’s not a sports brewery. It’s a brewery that takes pride in a beer well made, and the importance of enjoying those beers with friends and over food."

"The plates are made to pair with the beers at Port Orleans Brewing’s casual taproom & adjoining brewery. Additionally, they’re just a few blocks down from NOLA’s taproom. During my visit, there were 15 beers on tap, ranging from classic lagers to boozy and complex bourbon barrel-aged brews."

"United Apparel Liquidators (U.A.L.) on Chartres is the local location of the original store founded in Hattiesburg, Mississippi back in 1980. Now in three states with multiple locations, including this one in the French Quarter U.A.L. is a great place to browse. The concept is simple: the store trades in overstock from designers, showrooms and retailers at deep discounts."

"The Oakwood Shopping Center is in Gretna, a quick drive over the Crescent City Connection, the bridge that takes you to the West Bank of the Mississippi. It's not as big as some of the other malls on this list, but that can be a blessing in disguise. The Oakwood Mall has plenty of parking and fewer crowds, making the shopping experience breezier."

"With 82 shops, including Dillard's and JC Penny's, this mall on Jefferson Parish's West Bank offers an array of retail options across all price ranges, as well as dining, spas, a barbershop and more."