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Cypress swamps, slow brown bayous and live oaks hung with Spanish moss surround Slidell, the largest city in St. Tammany Parish on the northeast shore of Lake Pontchartrain. It sits about 30 miles from downtown New Orleans across the I-10 Twin Span, close enough for day trips into the city but with a quieter, outdoorsy rhythm of its own.
The town grew up in the 1880s as a construction camp for the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad and was named after John Slidell, a Louisiana senator and later Confederate diplomat. The old railroad core, now called Olde Towne, keeps its depot, antique shops and small museum. Hurricane Katrina pushed a storm surge deep into the city in 2005, and much of what you see today was rebuilt in the years after.
Most visitors come for the water. Swamp boat tours head into the Honey Island Swamp along the Pearl River, nature trails wind through Camp Salmen Nature Park on Bayou Liberty, and the Tammany Trace rail trail starts here for a long ride west. Mardi Gras parades roll through town each Carnival season, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast is less than an hour east.
One of the least disturbed river swamps in the country, spread across the Pearl River basin just east of Slidell. Guided flat-boat tours glide past cypress knees, alligators, herons and turtles, and guides love to tell the legend of the Honey Island Swamp Monster. Morning tours are cooler and calmer.
The original heart of Slidell, laid out around the railroad in the 1880s. Its brick storefronts hold antique and gift shops, cafes and small restaurants, and the Amtrak depot still sees trains on the Crescent route. Come for an antiques browse on a weekday morning, when the street is quiet.
A small city history museum in Olde Towne, housed in a historic former jail and town hall building. Displays cover the railroad and lumber era, Mardi Gras costumes and the impact of Hurricane Katrina. Admission is free; check the limited opening days before you go.
A former Boy Scout camp on Bayou Liberty turned into a parish nature park, with boardwalks, walking trails through pine and hardwood forest and huge live oaks. The restored Salmen Lodge, once a trading post, stands near the water. Bring bug spray and look for wading birds along the bayou.
A city park on the banks of Bayou Bonfouca with a walking path, playground, picnic pavilions and a boat launch. It is the main stage for Slidell's outdoor festivals and its holiday light displays in December. Sunset over the bayou from the waterside path is the best time for a stroll.
The eastern end of the Tammany Trace, a paved rail trail that follows the old Illinois Central line west through Lacombe, Mandeville and Abita Springs to Covington. Walkers and cyclists share the shaded path, which crosses several bayous on old trestles. Ride the first few miles for a peaceful out-and-back.
A large refuge along the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain just west of Slidell, protecting salt marsh, pine savanna and hardwood ridges. Boardwalk trails at the Boy Scout Road area lead to good bird watching, and the refuge is home to the rare red-cockaded woodpecker. Bring binoculars and water.
A small public gallery inside Slidell City Hall that hosts rotating exhibits by regional painters, photographers and sculptors, along with art markets and receptions. Shows change through the year, so check the city's arts calendar. It pairs well with a walk through nearby Olde Towne.
Several krewes, including the Krewe of Titans, roll through Slidell during Carnival season with floats, marching bands and plenty of beads. The crowds are friendlier and smaller than in New Orleans, so it suits families. Arrive early to claim a curbside spot along the route.
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