Northshore Outdoor Adventures Meet Culinary Extravaganzas
You'll work up an appetite playing all day in the Northshore outdoors.
Welcome to the Northshore (north of Lake Pontchartrain and New Orleans) where breathtaking nature and superb culinary traditions collide providing the perfect setup for adventure. Here are a few ideas for starting your day with adventure and ending it with a full belly.
Stand-Up Paddleboard for Your Lunch
Ready to hit the water? A popular stand-up paddleboarding excursion starts at Columbia Street Landing in Covington (site of live music concerts every third Friday of the month from March through October). From the Columbia Street Landing, paddle north on the Bogue Falaya River just past the Highway 190 bridge. To earn your beer, paddle back to the Chimes Covington Restaurant. Just leave the paddleboards on the dock and walk up the boardwalk to the restaurant. Try the Barney, a beer mix of Abita Purple Haze and Andygator, and follow it up with some icy oysters on the half shell, warm gumbo, fried alligator, red beans and rice, New Orleans BBQ shrimp, or other Louisiana specialties.
Other paddling trips meet in Madisonville on Water Street by the local gourmet Abita Roasting Company coffee shop and paddle south to the mouth of the Tchefuncte River at Lake Pontchartrain and the 1837 Lighthouse. Refuel at Tchefuncte's overlooking the Tchefuncte River in Madisonville.
A Day on the Water
More than a dozen fishing charters call St. Tammany home, most based in Slidell. Some charters motor out to fish off the Causeway Bridge, a 24-mile-long span over Lake Pontchartrain while others offer access to well-known fishing hot spots like the Rigolets, the Biloxi Marsh, Lake Borgne, the Chandeleur Islands and the Mississippi Sound. Head out with Category 5 Outdoors lure designer and captain Kenny Kreeger of Lake Pontchartrain Charters or Dudley Vandenborre - charter captain and creator of the famous Deadly Dudley lures. After catching trophy trout and record redfish, arrive by boat at Palmettos on the Bayou or try Nathan’s Restaurant—both known for their waterfront dining.
And if you are starting to feel waterlogged, try out exploring the area via bike.
Bikes and Brews
Option 1: Rent bikes from Brooks' Bike Shop in Covington. Bike to discover Covington's historic St. John district to shop at H.J. Smith and Sons. You'll also find unique art pieces at the multiple art galleries and shopping continues at the multiple boutique shops. Swing by the Bogue Falaya Park then bike six miles to Abita Springs where delicious Louisiana brews can be tasted at Abita Brewing Co. Bonus: Stop by the Abita Mystery House to view some of the strangest collections in Louisiana.
Option 2: Snack or have lunch at the Abita Brew Pub and try the Abita line of craft beers. They have seasonal brews such as the Strawberry Lager, in addition to Abita Amber, Andygator, Restoration Pale Ale and Turbodog (and more) on tap, locally brewed at the Abita Brewery down the road. For lunch, start with the Andygator Crawfish Cakes or Brewer’s BBQ Crab Claws Sautéed in Abita Amber and Rosemary BBQ sauce. Then choose from any of the 10 specialty burgers or grab a bite of traditional Louisiana with a seafood po' boy.
Visit The Northshore more information for things to do on your adventure throughout St. Tammany.
