St. Tammany Parish’s Northshore is a beautiful place to call home in Louisiana. The Northshore is about 45 minutes north of New Orleans and is the choice for families, foodies, nature lovers, golfers, and art enthusiasts. Families can enjoy great attractions, relaxed atmosphere, and phenomenal dining. The Northshore offers fun and funky festivals, eclectic shopping, and urban pleasures in communities surrounded by beautiful green spaces. Below are the towns that make up the Northshore and what makes them each unique:
Covington
Covington is the parish seat of St. Tammany. Covington is a charming town with fantastic restaurants and shopping. Founded in 1813, stroll the streets of Covington’s historic downtown district with free parking. Discover galleries, parks, boutiques, antiques shops, restaurants, and nightlife. Enjoy family friendly free concerts and annual festivals such as the Three Rivers Arts Festival, held every fall. HJ Smith's Hardware Store offers a glimpse back into time, and Covington Brewhouse conducts free tastings of its craft beer on Saturdays. Mardi Gras parades, the Chef Soiree, and Woofstock and just a few highlights of the year-round fun in Covington.
Mandeville
The giant oaks along Mandeville's lakefront are iconic for this old and lovely town on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain. Progressive yet protective of its heritage and natural beauty, Mandeville offers visitors excellent shopping, award winning restaurants, and plenty of attractions and activities such as Fontainebleau State Park and the Tammany Trace, a 31-mile trail for walkers, runners, and cyclists. Check out the Mandeville Pier at Sunset Point, a free fishing pier that juts out onto Lake Pontchartrain. Don't miss the Mandeville Community Market, a popular local farmer's market, held each Saturday. The annual Seafood Festival is held in July with several restaurants participating.
Slidell
On the eastern edge of St. Tammany Parish, Slidell is surrounded by rivers and bayous and boasts a vibrant arts scene, family-friendly attractions, natural beauty and proximity to New Orleans (just 30 minutes away). Olde Towne Slidell is a 10-square-block downtown district of historic buildings, antiques and specialty shops, and museums. Antiques-lovers, take note: Olde Towne hosts Slidell's Antique District Street Fair each fall and spring. Attractions include Slidell Cultural Center; the Slidell Museum, and the Slidell Little Theater. Attend free concerts in Heritage Park! Take a tour of beautiful Honey Island Swamp with one of four tour operators available in Slidell. Fun family annual events include the Slidell Heritage Festival, Crawfish Cook-off, and the Wild Game Cook-off.
Abita
Abita Springs is known for its artesian "healing water" from the medicinal springs. It is also a great place for year-round music and art festivals. A popular retreat for 19th-century New Orleanians, this historic little town is a great place to breathe deep and relax. Quirky, artsy and full of positive energy, Abita Springs is home to the eclectic Abita Mystery House at the UCM Museum fun for all ages. Be sure to visit the Abita Springs Opry for its “roots” music concert series. Another popular destination is the Abita Brewing Company, which offers free tours and tastings of its popular line of craft beer. Abita Springs is a great access point for the Tammany Trace bike trail, which cuts right through the heart of town. Visitors come for the Louisiana Bicycle Festival, the Whole-town Garage Sale and the fun and funky Krewe of Push Mow Mardi Gras parade.
Madisonville
Hugging the banks of the lovely Tchefuncte River, Madisonville is rich in local color and maritime history. Explore that history at the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum and learn about efforts to preserve Madisonville's lighthouse, built in 1837, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Fish or crab off the public pier on the lakefront -- or just enjoy some of the best seafood anywhere at restaurants such as Crabby Shack or Morton's, featuring a deck overlooking the river. Visitors flock to Madisonville for Maritime Museum's Wooden Boat Festival, held in the fall, and the Krewe of Tchefuncte Mardi Gras boat parade.
Lacombe
An unincorporated village on Lake Pontchartrain and along Highway 190, once a stagecoach route, Lacombe saw its first Europeans in the early 18th century. The laid-back community is known for the Creole observance of All Saints Day, in which descendants of early residents decorate and light graves in the oldest cemeteries in the ceremony Les Toussaints les Lumieres du Morte. Enjoy fishing and crabbing on Lacombe's Lake Road. Don't miss Lacombe's Crab Cook-off, an annual event held every June. Check in with Bayou Adventure, a one-stop shop and outfitter for all things outdoor. Get live bait, fishing advice, rent your own kayaks or take a guided tour of nearby Bayous Cane, Castine, or Lacombe.
Folsom
Folsom is horse country and hosts the GALA - Gallop Around Louisiana horse shows. The town is also known for its plant nurseries and the annual NorthShore Garden show in March. As you drive through this picturesque town you will notice many animal farms with emu and ostrich. Folsom hosts a Cajun Mari Gras themed parade and Village Famers Market. Be sure to visit the Global Wildlife Center in Folsom, the largest free-roaming wildlife preserve of its kind in the US and houses over 4,000 exotic, endangered, and threatened animals from all over the world.
Bush
Bush is located northeast of Covington. Visit Pontchartrain Vineyards and Winery to see the only winery in Louisiana that produces table wines exclusively from traditional bunch/wine grapes. Every spring and fall the Pontchartrain hosts a concert series and their wine tasting room is located next to the estate vineyards. Splendor Farms is must see family-friendly attraction featuring horseback riding stables, dachshund kennel, and petting zoo.
The Northshore is a beautiful and majestic place to call home!
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