Best Nature and Parks (RV, National, Dog, etc) in Terrytown

"In Louis Armstrong Park, Congo Square was a Sunday gathering spot for enslaved Africans under the French Code Noir. For one day of the week, they could sing the songs and practice the cultural traditions of their ancestral home. This was the groundwork of a uniquely New Orleanian link to the continent of Africa, and much of the city's most iconic food, music and culture has been built on that foundation."

"New Orleans, Louisiana, isn’t particularly known for being lush with greenery. That’s probably why Louis Armstrong Park is one of the top green tourist attractions that New Orleans has to offer. It’s close to the teeming French Quarter so isn’t far displaced from the cultural aspects of the city, and with a huge 32-acre space, it’s often become the home of events and festivals."

"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."

"Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve is an expanse of land in the historically diverse Louisiana Mississippi River Delta that protects a rich array of natural and cultural resources endemic to the region. Named after the pirate, Jean Lafitte, the park consists of six physically separate sites, namely the Acadian Cultural Center in Lafayette, the Barataria Preserve in Marrero, the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center in Eunice, the Chalmette Battlefield and National Cemetery in Chalmette, the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux, and the French Quarter Visitor Center in New Orleans. Together, these six sections explore the history of the area and tell the story of the diverse cultures that inhabited and developed it."

"If nature and sightseeing are up your alley, you’ll want to check out the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, which spans 22,241 acres and covers six different spots in New Orleans. Among the interesting spots within the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve are the different biomes, such as swamps, prairies, and bayous. There is also the Battle of New Orleans site within park grounds."

"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."

"Located in the French Market District/ Bywater the Crescent Park is another park that people go to. It spans 1.4 miles and has 20 acres of land. It is located near the French market."

"The refined Uptown park around Audubon Zoo is a bit older, having been landscaped in the 1880s on what used to be a plantation and staging area for Buffalo Soldiers in the Civil War. If you’re mesmerised by New Orleans’ twisting live oaks you’ll love Audubon Park, which has trees that go back to its plantation days. Before this space could be laid out by the eminent John Charles Olmsted, it hosted the World Cotton Centennial of 1884, a world’s fair."

"Previously called Upper City Park, Audubon Park is located across from Tulane University. Audubon dates to the 1800’s. Audubon was originally part of the Bore Family Plantation."

"Formerly the plantation of Etienne de Boré, the father of the granulated-sugar industry in Louisiana, this large, lush patch of greenery…"

"While meandering the New Orleans Botanical Garden, families can really take it easy in the Big Easy. Featuring more than 2,000 plants from around the world, aspiring naturalists will adore identifying plants and showing off their favorites. Open all year round, families can explore ten acres of thoughtfully designed gardens."

"Arcing around the east bank of the Mississippi opposite Algiers Point is a riverside park laid out in the 1980s and 90s on the site of former wharves and warehouses. Woldenberg Park fronts the French Quarter and is bordered to the south by the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and the Entergy Giant Screen Theater. During the French Quarter Festival in early April the main stages are put up in Woldenberg Park."

"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."

"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."

"About a one-hour drive from the centre of New Orleans, Oak Alley Plantation is well worth a visit if you’re heading out of the city. Now, a tour here will usually mean a two-hour stay but it’s well worth it if you want to learn more about the history of this house and plantation at your own pace. It’s easily one of the best things to do in New Orleans if you’ve got a car or on a wider road trip (like we were)."

"If you’re daunted by the multitude of jazz joints in the French Quarter, Preservation Hall is a traditional jazz venue with a house band drawing from more than 100 musicians. You can come for intimate concerts at 20:00, 21:00 and 22:00 Monday to Wednesday and extra performances at 17:00 and 18:00 from Thursday to Sunday. The shows are great of course, but Preservation Hall accepts audiences of all ages, which makes it a rare nightlife option for families."

"If traditional New Orleans jazz is what you seek, you can’t do any better than Preservation Hall. This legendary French Quarter establishment has been hosting the city’s finest traditional musicians nightly for decades. Reserve tickets in advance for one of the three intimate and highly interactive nightly shows (45 minutes each, starting at 8, 9, and 10 pm) or take your chances waiting in line the night of the show."

"Opened all the way back in 1961, Preservation Hall is a historical landmark in New Orleans housed in a building associated with a house band, a record label, and a non-profit foundation."

"The theatre was originally built in 1906 and completely renovated in 2011. The venue is now used for concerts, plays, films, corporate events, and private parties."

"On a rainy afternoon in New Orleans, there's no better place to be than the balcony of the historic Prytania Theatre, cooking up some honest to goodness Hollywood romance with your real-life love interest. Opened in 1915, this charming theater is the oldest in the city and the only single-screen left in Louisiana. Couples can share gelato or a freshly made cappuccino during daytime favorites like Citizen Kane or Some Like It Hot or cuddle up for midnight screenings of cult classics like Rocky Horror Picture Show."

"At more than 100 years old, the single-screen theater in Uptown is a step back in time, with red velvet ropes, balcony seating and family-friendly screenings of hand-picked classic films."

"A traditional French-style, family-run bakery, O’Delice offers breakfast pastries as well as cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. Try the baklava, rum balls, and Key lime tart in addition to the traditional selection of muffins, croissants, and scones. Stop by for lunch and grab a sandwich, or plan ahead and order a king cake for Mardi Gras (O’Delice ships worldwide, so your less-fortunate friends and family can still taste NOLA goodness)."

"(617 Ursulines St.) And please don’t miss this Parisian-style patisserie, tucked away between Royal and Chartres on Ursulines. Steeped in old-world charm, Croissant D’Or some of the best baked goods in the city. The sweet and savory croissants, and everything else you’ll find displayed in the gleaming glass case — the tarts and the tortes and the quiches — is delicious and served fresh daily from the bakery."

"Blueberry pastries at Maple Street Patisserie|© Maple Street Patisserie. Serving European pastries, cakes, breakfast, sandwiches, and coffee, Maple Street Patisserie is an Uptown bakery run by Master Baker and Master Pastry Chef Ziggy Cichowski and Executive Chef Patricia-Ann Donohue. Inspired by Europe’s bakeries, this Maple Street sweet joint features a menu filled with delicious sugary treats, such as flaky croissants, decadent dark chocolate cake with rich Belgium fudge icing, and of course, puff pastry bear claws stuffed with almond paste, raspberry, and cinnamon."

"European baker extraordinaire Ziggy Cichowski is the mastermind behind this small bakery on Maple Street, cranking out some of the best baked goods in the city. The chocolate chip cookies are amazing, as are the tarts, éclairs, and Napoleons. But the best in show are the glazed donut twists: soft, yeasty donuts fried golden brown and covered in a decadent, sugary glaze."

"The Po-Boy was invented in New Orleans and is a staple food with local’s so needless to say it’s a must eat in New Orleans. The most popular Po-boy with local’s and visitor’s alike are the shrimp or oyster Po-boy but at Parkway Bakery and Tavern they serve the most unbelievable Surf & Turf Po-Boy’s you will ever have!. Trust us on this one."

"Expect a long line: Parkway is the go-to spot in New Orleans for delicious, authentic po'boys. The generous shrimp po'boy is always a solid pick, but the roast beef and surf and turf options are also outstanding. Come on Monday or Wednesday for the famed oyster po'boy."