St. Tammany Parish

St. Tammany Parish has a bit of everything. Historic town centers are located in Abita Springs, Covington, Mandeville and Slidell. It has upscale residential and traditional agricultural areas; the lake and wetlands are in the southern portion and piney forests sit on softly rolling hills up north. All of this is within a short drive across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans. Cyclists explore the Tammany Trace, which connects towns in the parish via a leafy bikeway and Fontainebleau State Park affords travelers hiking, camping and fishing in a serene setting. A horseman will find enchantment in the Folsom area. At the Global Wildlife Center, children get wide-eyed as they journey through a safari that puts them face-to-face with giraffes, zebras and an assortment of other exotic animals. Get a more local—and grown-up—experience at Abita Brew Pub. St. Tammany also has an excellent collection of Louisiana-style, white-tablecloth restaurants.