Take It Outside: 5 Outdoor Activities in New Orleans

In keeping with the spirit of Lent, many New Orleanians are using the month of March – or planning to, at least – for detoxing purposes. This is a great time of year to think about implementing healthy habits into your lifestyle, and while perhaps not immediately apparent, this city offers plenty of opportunities to do so. Here are a few enjoyable suggestions that I’ve come across. Make time to fit in one or two between enjoying the French Quarter or Garden District for a more well-rounded trip to the Big Easy!

1. Couturie Forest & Arboretum: Get your hiking fix by exploring the trails around this 33-acre preserve, which can be easily accessed from Harrison Avenue in Lakeview. The “mountain” along one of the trails is actually the highest point in New Orleans, at 45 feet above sea level. Visiting horticulture enthusiasts will be excited to learn there are 45 species of trees currently living within the forest. The trails are open during daylight hours: exercising common sense and caution while hiking, in addition to paying close attention to the maps and signage along the way will ensure the best possible visit to the forest. For more info, visit the official website.

2. Fishing at City Park: City Park is the second largest municipal park in the United States and offers 11 miles of lagoons. You must have a freshwater fishing license from the State of Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. View a complete listing of all the fish that live in City Park. At the end of this month, on March 31, the annual City Park Big Bass Fishing Rodeo & Fishtival will take place. In addition to the fishing competitions, the “fishtival” offers music, free casting lessons for kids, educational displays and raffles.

3. Bird-watching at City Park and Couturie Forest: Birder’s World Magazine named City Park the best bird watching spot in NOLA; check out a guide to all the resident species. More than 100 species of birds make their home in the forest, and the City Park website explains “it’s not uncommon for birders to spot 60 or more species during an outing” along one of the Couturie Forest trails.

4. Kayaking: Take a kayaking tour or rent your own kayak to ride along the peaceful Bayou St. John. You can observe wildlife, local landmarks such as St. Louis Cemetery #3, and get a sense of the community culture by observing people and families along the banks of the bayou. Kayakitiyat offers a package deal that includes a kayak tour, dinner at Liuzza’s, and a night at the horse races.

5. Group games: Get a group of friends or family together and visit one of our local parks! Some suggestions beyond the ever- popular Audubon Park and City Park include Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve and Armstrong Park. Checkout this complete list of local parks for even more ideas.

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