Fontainebleau State Park
Walk among the ruins of an old sugar plantation on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain.
Just three miles from the quaint Northshore town of Mandeville is Fontainebleau State Park, a convenient and scenic getaway with some truly spectacular kayaking. It also happens to be a short drive from New Orleans, which means that within an hour of leaving the French Quarter, you can be paddling pristine streams full of native fishes and cypress trees.
Fontainebleau is a park with a storied past. It was once the site of a large sugar mill built under the direction of Creole planter and senator Bernard de Marigny in 1829. Marigny’s plantation fell into disrepair long ago, but today you can tour the brick structures that remain. You’ll also learn more about the illustrious man himself inside the park’s visitors center, where handmade tools and furniture are on display.
Outside the visitors center you’ll find a pier stretching over enormous Lake Pontchartrain, a prime spot for sunset-watching. A man-made beach offers sunbathers a chance to catch some rays, and for younger visitors, a water playground is open seasonally.
An old rail line at the north end of the park has been converted into part of the Tammany Trace, a 31-mile path that visitors can walk, bike or in-line skate through. The other trails in Fontainebleau State Park also offer fabulous chances to see some of the diverse species of birds and other wildlife that live or migrate through the park.
Relax in comfort after a day of hiking, biking and birding at one of the primitive campsites, deluxe cabins or premium RV sites. You may also indulge yourself with a stay at one of the park’s waterfront cabins overlooking Lake Pontchartrain.
The sights and sounds of Mandeville and Covington are a short ride away — and for intrepid travelers, both are accessible via the Tammany Trace. Schedule a trip with swamp or kayaking tours in the area, or grab a bite and a brew at Spoke + Barrel Eatery. A short drive over to Slidell, take a swamp tour with Dr. Wagner's Honey Island Swamp Tours.
Entrance fee: $3 per person; free for seniors age 62 and older, and children age 3 and younger.
