The gentle sounds of waves hitting the shore; the sight of palm leaves swaying in the breeze; and a smorgasbord of coastal flavors await people visiting “The Northshore.” Located across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans, St. Tammany Parish gives off plenty of beach vibes, southern charm and an escape to a place where life seems to move at a slower pace. Here are a few ways to make the most of your visit to the Northshore.

Moss draped live oak trees and grass in the foregrand with Lake Pontchartrain and the Causeway in the background — The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in the background is the world’s largest bridge running continuously over water. It runs from Metairie to Mandeville on the Northshore.

Beach Vibes

If you aren’t familiar with this part of Louisiana, Lake Pontchartrain isn’t technically a lake, it’s an estuary, a place where saltwater and freshwater mix. Given the size of this body of water, it can feel more like an ocean, especially when you are standing along the shore and looking out onto the horizon. You’ll find plenty of places to catch a sunrise or sunset and if you’re in the right place at the right time, it may look like the sun is melting into the “sea.”

A few small buildings line up along a small street with a park off to the right in Mandeville Louisiana with a park — Mandeville, Louisiana’s “Downtown” gives off quite a few coastal vibes with its small shops, restaurants and coffee shops, and O’Wheelie’s Bike Shop where you can get a great view from the top porch.

Mandeville is just one of the towns you’ll find on the Northshore. Here, the pace of life is a bit slower and spending time by the water is a must. The main “drag” is Lakeshore Drive which runs between a large park and a picturesque collection of coastal homes and businesses. If you want to dip your toes into the sand or the water, check out Mandeville Beach at the eastern end of the park.

A large live oak tree draped in spanish moss sits in a park next to the lake. — Large live oak trees like this one dot the landscape along Lake Pontchartrain’s Northshore. The Belle of the Ball is the name of this one and it’s part of the Live Oak Society’s registry.

Live Oak trees draped in Spanish Moss line much of the lakefront park. Tree limbs as big as other trees, stretch out along the ground and up into the sky. One of the trees, called the “Belle of the Ball” is a must-see attraction in Mandeville. This magnificent tree is more than 300 years old and is certified by the Live Oak Society, an organization with rigid rules for its registry.

people on bicycles crossing a bridge along the Tammany Trace in Louisiana — Heading out on the Tammany Trace Trail takes you through plenty of natural areas along the Northshore.

Moving around Mandeville

While you can drive around Mandeville, I highly recommend walking around, or even better, make your way to O’Wheelies to rent some “wheels” to get around. During my visit to the area, O’Wheelies owners provided us with pedal assisted e-bikes, something I hadn’t tried before. We headed out from the shop and onto the Tammany Trace Trail, a 31-mile former rail line connecting several of the communities in the parish.

A few blocks off the trail you’ll find a treasured piece of music history. The Dew Drop Jazz & Social Hall was built in the late 1800s. It is considered the world’s oldest virtually unaltered rural jazz dance halls. The building itself is quite simple. The unpainted wooden structure is framed between moss draped live oak trees and a small picket fence. Whether or not there is music playing on the small, elevated stage in the back, it’s easy to picture the musicians crafting the hall’s rich legacy. Still in use today, the Dew Drop draws in big crowds, filling up with music lovers both inside and out.

an old wooden building with large windows. a small stage is in the back with a sign saying dew drop jazz and social hall — Jazz halls were once a staple of communities across the region. The Dew Drop Jazz and Social Hall is now owned and preserved by the City of Mandeville.

After spending time along the lakefront or biking the Tammany Trace, you’ll want a bit to eat or get something to drink. And you likely won’t have to go too far. During my time in Mandeville, Visit Northshore treated our group to lunch at Barley Oak Draught House. There is plenty of open seating on two levels where you get stunning views of Lake Pontchartrain. Barley Oak offers up 100+ craft beers and delicious pub inspired dishes. If you aren’t in the mood for a meal, check out Tandem Coffee and Cocktails, a place where you’ll find something you like while enjoying more of Mandeville’s beach town vibes.

Pub food and more than 100 craft beers make Barley & Oak in Mandeville, a prime location along the Mandeville Lakefront.

Covington’s Southern Charm

With street names like Boston, New Hampshire and Columbia, you might be a bit confused when you’re driving through the small town of Covington. This isn’t a New England village; it’s a small town filled with Southern Charm and hospitality.

a beige building with lots of arches in the entryway and palm trees out front in Covington, Louisiana — The Southern Hotel has been a part of Covington’s rich history since the early 1900’s. It’s Mission Style architecture makes it really stand out from the other buildings downtown.

At the heart of it all you’ll find an elegant and artsy boutique hotel helping define the word Southern. That’s not just because the name of the hotel is “The Southern.” This hotel takes hospitality seriously. When you check in, you don’t just get information on what’s offered at the hotel, you also get a couple of maps of downtown showing you places to eat and shop.

A bright red room with bookshelves and artwork inside the Southern Hotel — The Southern Hotel feels like a gallery with plenty of spaces to admire artwork and cozy settings for relaxation.

As you walk the hallways of the Southern, you might get the idea you are walking through an Art Gallery. Everywhere you turn you’ll find paintings on the wall, nicely framed historical photographs of the area, and a postcard mural beside the pool. The hotel offers daily art tours.

The artsy feel of the Southern Hotel extends into its restaurant, The Gloriette where large murals line the walls.

If you believe that food can be a work of art, The Southern has you covered there too. The hotel’s Gloriette Restaurant mixes French elegance with Gulf Coast flavors. Each dish is crafted to catch your attention with its palette of colors while the taste is sure to please your palate.

Like the maps from the hotel suggest, don’t limit yourself to what’s in the hotel. Go out and explore Downtown. Places like Haven Coffee and Cocktails a couple of blocks away serves up comfort through its coffee, dishes like BBQ Shrimp and Grits and of course crafted cocktails. For a real down home feel check out the Vazquez Restaurant where I opted to have a Muffaletta and some delicious homemade onion rings.

a traditional muffaletta sandwich served on a sesame seed bun and homemade onion rings — While Central Grocery in New Orleans gets a lot of attention for its mufalletta you can find them in lots of places in the region. This one at Vasquez Restaurant in Downtown Covington was served up with homemade onion rings.

Want to do a little shopping? Make a stop at H.J. Smith & Sons General Store and Museum. This slice of Americana transports you to a different time, especially as you walk across the creaky wood floors and check out all the items in the museum portion.

Brick building with a large windowfront painted a turquoise like color. A small record shaped sign with the lwords Black Flower Apparel and Records sits to the right of the door. — Step back into Black Flower Apparel and Records and be transported to a time when vinyl, cassettes and DVD’s provided you a wealth of entertainment.

If you’re a fan of having your music on vinyl or on cassette or long for the days of VHS or DVD movies, make plans to visit Black Flower Apparel and Records. If Howard Harper is working be sure and let him know the travel writer from Tennessee sent you. He and I talked for a long time, sharing our love for music and those recording formats that have faded into history.

So much more to do

Even thought my time in the Northshore was short, I was able to pack a lot into my visit. That included a visit to Abita Brewing (home of my kids’ favorite root beer), Fontainbleau State Park and the charming town of Abita Springs. Stay tuned for even more about these places and how to make the most of your time in the Northshore.