Top New Orleans Outdoor Activities

Board your riverboat to the delightful tunes of the Steam Calliope. Experience the sights and sounds of river life that enchanted characters of history and literature - like Mark Twain's Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer - and see the bustling activity of America's second-largest port! Please note, the boat boards at 11:00am and departs promptly at 11:30am. We offer two seating times for lunch - 11:00 and 12:15pm. If you select the first lunch seating, please arrive around 10:45am and go straight to the dining room when you board the vessel.

Take a New Orleans Swamp Tour and Wetlands Adventure! See the Cajuns of the Bayou living and surviving in harmony with the swamps. Here, the waterways are their highways. From the relaxed comfort of our covered New Orleans Swamp Tour Boats, you will drift slowly past a 2000 year old Indian Burial Mound, a Cajun cemetery and Fishing village! You may see the wildlife that made the Barataria Swamps the Crown Jewel of the Louisiana Purchase. Here, birds, snakes, turtles, fur animals, and gators are the kings of the swamp, and are easily spotted in Spring, Summer, and Fall.

On this Sunday brunch cruise, travel along the Mississippi River while enjoying live jazz music and savoring a lovely buffet brunch, if option selected. Otherwise, sit inside in one of our elegantly appointed decks or sit outside on one of our outdoor decks and enjoy the sites and breezes of the Mississippi River. This authentic paddle-wheel riverboat will whisk you away to the romance and ambiance of yesteryear. Don't forget your camera, as you'll see amazing panoramas of the New Orleans skyline!

Zip NOLA is New Orleans' and the World's FIRST ever fully aquatic swamp zipline! With over a half mile of ziplines and suspension bridges spanning the Maurepas Swamp, Zip NOLA is the premier activity for nature lovers and thrill seekers alike. View swamp critters and the amazing swamp ecosystem from the comfort of the moss covered cypress treetops! Zip NOLA’s facility has many amenities including a 1200 sq ft gift shop with the latest and greatest New Orleans souvenirs, gifts, and snack/beverage items. Our shop also boasts a phenomenal enclosure for our baby alligators and turtles! We also have spacious restrooms, locker storage, green space picnic area, and an expansive 2000 sq ft elevated seating area overlooking the beautiful cypress-filled Maurepas Swamp. Guests can take in breathtaking sights of moss covered cypress swamp, while they also view the many wildlife that frequent the area. Alligators can be readily seen, as well as a plethora of other swamp critters!

This combination tour combines the best of the best! The best swamp tour with the best plantation along River Road. See a variety of wildlife on a swamp boat ride and explore an authentic southern plantation on this tour from New Orleans. See alligators, egrets, raccoons and snakes during your ride around a private Louisiana swamp after taking a tour of Oak Alley Plantation.

Meet your guide for pickup in downtown New Orleans and head for a 2-hour boat tour in Honey Island Swamp, a wildlife preserve that is one of the last protected wetlands in Louisiana. Visit a Cajun village only accessible by boat; learn about the animals and plants in the lush swamps; and get close to wildlife that are out and active with an expert local guide. *Please note that wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.*

Venture into the interior of one of the wildest swamps in America on this guided, 2-hour tour of Honey Island, Louisiana near New Orleans. Join a professional wetland ecologist on a personalized, narrated tour. This protected nature reserve hosts an abundance of wildlife, from egrets and herons, to otters and alligators. The boats are covered to provide shade from the hot Louisiana sun, and cover when the skies open up.

Experience the other Swamp Tour in New Orleans. This destination is only 35 minutes from New Orleans yet a world apart. Hold onto your hat! This New Orleans airboat tour is a high speed adventure that is part tour and part ride. This boat has a maximum of six to nine passengers to ensure a small, personal and uncrowded experience.

The French Quarter is known as one of the most haunted places in America, and with so many ghost tours to choose from, the best choice is this 1-hour carriage tour from the award-winning Royal Carriages, recently awarded the 2018 Louisiana Attraction of the Year Award. Instead of walking around with a large group of people, you'll travel to and from haunted locations comfortably in a mule-drawn carriage guided by a professional tour. Learn about all the history, culture, and architecture in addition to the ghostly spirits that refuse to leave.

See the Cajuns of the Bayou living and surviving in harmony with the swamps. Here, the waterways are their highways. From the relaxed comfort of our covered New Orleans Swamp Tour Boats, you will drift slowly past a 2000 year old Indian Burial Mound, a Cajun cemetery and a fishing village! You'll admire the wildlife that made the Barataria Swamps the Crown Jewel of the Louisiana Purchase. Here, birds, snakes, turtles, fur animals, and gators - the king of the swamp - are easily spotted in Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Nowhere is Louisiana’s wildlife more abundant than in the swamps and bayous of New Orleans. Take a boat ride through these swamps and bayous and be on the lookout for alligators, raccoons, snakes, turtles and native birds. Hear stories from your guide about local Cajun culture and the mysteries of the swamps and bayous.

Embark on a quest in New Orleans and walk under the majestic live oaks in one of the United States’ largest urban parks. Learn about City Park’s past and present, from its plantation days to its current draw as a mecca for locals. Discover unique cultural and historical facts while solving clues and puzzles. + Discover the history and beauty of New Orleans City Park + Visit the 800-year-old McDonogh Oak, one of the top sculpture gardens in the country + Try a new type of experience, the perfect mix between a tour, outdoor escape game, and treasure hunt Discover New Orleans’ fascinating history as you walk in the beautiful City Park and solve clues. Explore this charming park in New Orleans by playing a quest with your friends, significant other or family. Each clue will lead you from one place to another by providing you with exact directions so you won't need a map, GPS, or guide. As you solve the problem and guess the answer, the secret story of that place is unlocked.

Explore the bayous and byways of southern Louisiana, just outside of New Orleans! If you are searching for a gorgeous, natural and picturesque Kayak Swamp Tour – This Tour is For You! Paddle through dense cypress forest, expansive wetlands, and an array of wildlife on a tour that is ideal for beginners and adventure seekers alike! Kayak tours are fully guided and last between 2 to 2.5 hours. The duration of the full tour will be up to 3 hours, with a 45 min drive from New Orleans.

Savor the beauty and romance of the New Orleans skyline aboard the Dinner Jazz Cruise. Enjoy the tunes of the Dukes of Dixieland jazz band and a narrated tour provided by our captain while cruising the Mighty Mississippi River. Please note: there are two seating times for dinner, so please make sure to check availability of both if one is not available. The first dinner seating is from 6-7:15pm and the second dinner seating is from 7:45-9pm. The Steamboat NATCHEZ is taking some time off, but her sister vessel, the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS will be taking her place. You’ll get the same authentic riverboat experience of a leisurely, two-hour cruise on the mighty Mississippi, enjoying traditional live jazz, craft cocktails, and all the beautiful New Orleans sites, while also exploring the newly renovated riverboat. Make sure you check out all four decks - the top deck view is a sight to see! Upgrade your ticket to include the dinner buffet.

Located in the French Quarter, these adventures offer a one-of-a-kind premium experience. Follow clues and solve puzzles to complete your mission together. You might escape...You WILL have fun! Choose to play one of four uniquely immersive games: - Prison Break: Complete a daring escape from the evil warden! - Special Ops: Mysterious Market: Uncover the truth as a secret agent! - The Heist: Recover a stolen masterpiece from an art thief! - Playground: Complete your report card and get to summer break!

The Oak Alley plantation tour is one of the most magnificent plantation tours near New Orleans because of the 28 evenly spaced, huge Oak Trees that go from the river road to the Plantation House. The Greek Revival home dates back to 1837. Located on the grounds is a restaurant, blacksmith shop, Souvenir Shop and antique farm equipment. Next up is an airboat tour - hold onto your hat! Our New Orleans Airboat Swamp Tour is a high speed adventure that is part tour and part ride. Along the way, you will get a personal tour by your local Captain. Our airboats have stadium seating, so that the person in front of you does not obstruct your view. So, every airboat seat is great for experiencing the tour and viewing the wildlife.

New Orleans is considered "The Most Haunted City" in the United States with rich paranormal history like no other. Allow our master storytellers to walk you through the realm of Ghosts, Voodoo, Vampires & More. While on tour, you will hear the story of New Orleans' most haunted & featured location, the Lalaurie Mansion. Delve into the bone-chilling story of Mad Madam LaLaurie, considered one of our most sinister historical figures. You will leave with feelings of excitement and trepidation as you continue on to explore the streets of the French Quarter. Please arrive 30 minutes prior to tour departure for check-in at the steps of the Supreme Courthouse. Refunds will not be issued for late arrivals. Each tour is unique and may or may not include all of the stops listed above or may stop at other locations, not on this list. Tthis is an outdoor walking tour and we do not enter any buildings. Tour groups run at a maximum of 28 guests or 15 guests for the VIP option.

Experience the thrill of riding a 16-passenger airboat on a 2-hour New Orleans swamp tour, with informative narration provided by the captain. See alligators and other wildlife in their natural habitat during the adrenaline-fueled ride. This family-friendly tour includes the convenience of hotel transport from downtown hotels.

Take a short drive from New Orleans to visit Honey Island Swamp, a wildlife preserve that is one of the last protected wetlands in Louisiana, during a 2-hour boat tour. Visit a Cajun village only accessible by boat; learn about the animals and plants in the lush swamps; and get close to wildlife with an expert local guide. This tour does not include transportation.

Experience the full magic of Louisiana's bayous on the closest swamp tour to downtown New Orleans. Journey down the bayou on a 90-minute Cajun adventure through the heart of Southern Louisiana on a relaxing and shaded pontoon boat ride in the protected Jean Lafitte National Park and Preserve. As you and your family glide along swamp waters, observe native plant and exotic life in a delicate yet powerful landscape that has both changed and defined Louisiana culture. View moss-covered cypress trees, evading yet beautiful water hyacinths, gators, egrets, and many more interesting creatures that call the swamp their home. Tour guides born and raised in the bayou will reveal the mysteries of the bayou as well as exclusive facts about its ecosystem. Join us and "laissez les bons temps rouler!"

You and your guests are going to love the opportunity to sit back and relax while your carriage driver unfolds 300 years of fun-filled history on your mule-drawn carriage ride. We cover the storied history of New Orleans, discussing everything from our resilient culture to the aging architecture. While our carriage tours cover a ton of history, they aren't boring history lectures. Aside from history, we'll chat about things like food, cocktails, nightclubs, jazz, museums, must-sees, and things to do!

We begin with a tour of St. Joseph’s Cemetery, where your guide will tell you of the unique burial traditions and celebrations in our “cities of the dead”. You'll then roll under the shade of the live oak trees in the Garden District. You will marvel at the beautiful mansions owned by wealthy merchants of the past and celebrities of the present. Your guide will tell you stories of not only the residents but also the people who built these amazing houses. Time permitting, we will cruise through the Irish Channel to see its colorful shotgun houses, neighborhood restaurants, and hole-in-the-wall po’boy shops. Paved Paradise Tours is a small, owner-operated company that provides a truly local perspective. When you ride with us you are riding with one of the owners, ensuring that your experience is of the highest quality. See the city through the eyes of someone who loves what they do, loves the City of New Orleans, and wants you to love it too.

Are you ready to experience one of the best excursions New Orleans has to offer? Adventures of Jean Lafitte offers personal Alligator Tours through Louisiana’s beautiful backcountry. Gather your whole crew and come experience the “road less traveled”! You’ll be touring 20,000 acres of tidewater cypress swamp. During your 1 hour 30 minute tour you’ll have opportunities to see alligators, snakes, turtles, egrets, herons and ibis, and we sometimes see hawks, owls and bald eagles. We are approximately 35-45 minutes from New Orleans. Both self-drive and hotel pickup options are available, and hotel pickups begin 75 minutes prior to tour time.Because we are located about 40 minutes outside of New Orleans, cab and uber services are not available.