Summer on The Northshore means easy access to some of Louisiana's most scenic outdoor experiences. Families can bike between communities on the Tammany Trace, paddle quiet bayous, spot wildlife in protected marshes and spend the day exploring state parks, all within St. Tammany Parish. From lakefront beaches and swamp tours to nature trails and wildlife encounters, these family-friendly outdoor activities offer plenty of ways to experience The Northshore together. 

 

A visitor walks along the winding boardwalk through the lush forest and wetlands of Camp Salmen Nature Park, surrounded by towering live oaks, palmettos and dense green vegetation on a summer day.

 

Easy Outdoor Activities for
Quick Family Fun 

For families looking to get outside without committing to a full-day adventure, parks and nature areas combine playgrounds, easy walking trails and opportunities to experience The Northshore's natural landscapes. 

Bogue Falaya Wayside Park in Covington features a large playground, shaded picnic areas, a disc golf course and access to the Bogue Falaya River, making it a popular stop for families with younger children. 

Camp Salmen Nature Park in Slidell combines a wheelchair-accessible playground with trails that wind through woodlands and wetlands. Families can also access the Tammany Trace, launch a kayak on Bayou Liberty or explore the historic Camp Salmen Lodge. 
 

The Boy Scout Road Boardwalk winds through the pine savanna of Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in Lacombe as golden sunset light filters through tall longleaf pines and native grasses.
Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge


For a quick nature break, explore the Boy Scout Boardwalk at Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, home to 15,000 acres of pine flatwoods and coastal marsh with opportunities to spot birds, turtles and even bald eagles. 

Families with younger children may also want to stop at the Tammany Trace Trailhead in Covington, home to the inclusive Kids Konnection Playground and Kids Town, a child-sized village inspired by Northshore architecture where kids can explore, climb and role-play. 

 

Beach Days & Water Activities

A couple strolls along the sandy beach at Fontainebleau State Park while two children relax on inner tubes in the calm waters of Lake Pontchartrain beneath a clear summer sky.
Fontainebleau State Park beach


The Northshore's beaches are less about surf and more about calm, family-friendly places to swim, splash and relax. From sandy lakefront shores to inland swimming lakes, there are several ways to cool off during the summer months. 

Fontainebleau State Park combines a lakefront with shallow swimming areas, picnic spots, a fishing pier, a splash pad, and an all-inclusive playground, making it one of the easiest places to spend a half-day outdoors with kids. Park admission is just $3 for ages 4-62, free for all others. 

Mandeville also boasts a small beach on the eastern edge of lakefront park. Easily accessed with plenty of parking, the area features a splash pad, playground, port-o-lets, and numerous restaurants and shops nearby. 

Slidell also has Northshore Beach. The small, neighborhood beach features two small pavilions with picnic tables and is adjacent to the event venue, Slidell Firehouse Event Center.

 

Three people and a dog float down the Bogue Chitto River on colorful inner tubes, surrounded by lush green forest on a warm summer day.
Tubing on the Bogue Chitto River

When the Louisiana heat turns up, one of the best ways to cool down is by floating the scenic Bogue Chitto River. Although most tubing outfitters are located just across the parish line in Washington Parish, the river flows into St. Tammany Parish and has long been a favorite summer escape for Northshore visitors and locals alike. Family-owned Bogue Chitto Tubing Center has been helping guests enjoy relaxing two- and four-hour floats for more than 30 years, while nearby Bogue Chitto State Park offers its seasonal "Tubing in the Park" program with tube and kayak rentals through Labor Day weekend. Expect gentle currents, shady stretches beneath towering cypress and hardwoods, sandy beaches perfect for a swim and a laid-back adventure that's synonymous with a Louisiana summer.

 

Outdoor Adventures for Active Families


Three cyclists ride across a bridge on the Tammany Trace, surrounded by lush green trees along the scenic rail trail on a summer day.
Biking the Tammany Trace


Families looking to explore beyond playgrounds and splash pads will find miles of biking trails, forest paths, wetlands and waterways to explore in The Northshore. From cycling the Tammany Trace to hiking, paddling and wildlife spotting, these outdoor adventures are especially well-suited to older children and teens. 

For families ready for a bigger challenge, Bogue Chitto State Park also features hiking trails, mountain biking routes, kayaking and tubing. The park's rolling terrain and river access make it a favorite for older children and teens looking for a more adventurous day outdoors. 

The Tammany Trace stretches 31 miles through Covington, Abita Springs, Mandeville, Lacombe and Slidell. Families can choose shorter rides between trailheads or spend several hours exploring sections that connect downtown Covington, Abita Springs and Mandeville with pine forests and wetlands. 

Northlake Nature Center in Mandeville offers miles of trails through elevated boardwalks and natural paths that wind through longleaf pine and hardwood forest, where birds, turtles and other wildlife are commonly spotted. 

 

Three children wearing backpacks and carrying walking sticks explore the boardwalk in Northlake Nature Center.
Northlake Nature Center

 

Full-Day Family Experiences 

Some of The Northshore's most memorable outdoor experiences happen far beyond the playground. Families can explore a cypress swamp by boat, feed giraffes from a safari wagon or spend hours discovering protected wetlands rich in wildlife. 

Spanning nearly 70,000 acres, Honey Island Swamp offers a glimpse into one of Louisiana's most untouched wilderness areas. Guided boat tours typically last around two hours and wind through cypress-lined waterways where families may spot alligators, birds and other wildlife. 

At Global Wildlife Center in Folsom, families can ride through hundreds of acres of open pasture while feeding giraffes, zebras and other free-roaming animals from a safari wagon. It's one of The Northshore's most distinctive family attractions and especially popular with school-age children. 

Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge protects 15,000 acres of coastal marsh and pine flatwoods along Lake Pontchartrain. Trails and boardwalks provide opportunities to spot wading birds, bald eagles and other wildlife while exploring one of the region's most important coastal habitats. 

 

A child feeds antelope from a safari vehicle during a guided wildlife tour, with free-roaming hoofed animals gathered nearby in an open pasture.
Global Wildlife Center

 

Make It a Family Day on The Northshore 

One of the best ways to experience family-friendly outdoor activities on The Northshore is to combine several adventures into a single day. Start the morning on the Tammany Trace, enjoy lunch in one of The Northshore's walkable downtowns, then spend the afternoon exploring a wildlife refuge, swamp or state park. 

Few destinations make it easier to move from bike trails and beaches to alligator sightings, giraffe encounters and protected wetlands in a single trip. Build your own Northshore family adventure by exploring more family-friendly attractions, outdoor activities and local favorites as you plan your getaway. 
 

Picnic at Fairview-Riverside
Fairview-Riverside State Park

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