The diverse region of over 400 miles gives you the ability to explore nature while remaining close enough to the action of New Orleans. We are just ten minutes away from downtown! Known for outdoor adventures like swamp tours, fishing, hiking, and camping, we are so much more! We are home to two award-winning theaters, the Louisiana Oyster Trail, museums, eco-tourism destinations, and one-of-a-kind shopping. There is something for everyone in our parish.

Enjoy a wild time in Jefferson Parish! As a New Orleans neighbor, Jefferson Parish spans more than 400 miles from Lake Pontchartrain to the fishing community of Grand Isle on the Gulf of Mexico. The area offers diverse attractions, ranging from humble fishing villages and swamp territories to historical districts, museums, and contemporary buildings with stunning Mississippi River views!

Jefferson Parish is home to the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, the Louisiana Oyster Trail, two state parks, a national park and preserve, historic districts, wetland adventures, and urban shopping and dining. Enjoy an up-close adventure aboard an adrenaline-pumping airboat, explore the wonders of nature along lush boardwalks with family-friendly green spaces, step back in time while exploring Gretna’s Historical District, or savor the salty Louisiana delicacy of oysters along our Oyster Trail.

Individuals or groups seeking some time outdoors will enjoy Bayou Segentte State Park. Teeming with wildlife such as alligators and turtles, as well as local vegetation and flora, the park is a spectacular outdoor space for exploring or just relaxing. Both salt and freshwater fishing are available because of the park's unique location. From the boat launch, you may explore many areas not readily accessible by overland routes. Catches of bass, catfish, bream, perch, redfish, and trout are common in the park. On land, picnic areas are available, as are campsites and playgrounds.

The Barataria Preserve at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve has more than 26,000 acres of wild Louisiana wetlands, hardwood forests, swamps, bayous, marshes, and forests. Walk along boardwalks and dirt trails to spot animals, including alligators and over 200 species of birds, plus an ever-changing array of wildflowers and plants. Exhibits at the preserve visitor center highlight how the Mississippi River built Louisiana's wetlands, the national importance of the area, and the relationship between the land and its people. An environmental education center is used for field trips and special programs.

Those seeking a unique Louisiana adventure will delight in an excursion to Elmer's Island Beach in Grand Isle to see the largest single coastal ecosystem restoration, or the wildlife refuge that features saltwater marsh, coastal dunes, and beaches.

Jefferson Parish has built a solid ecotourism trade, luring visitors of all ages with hiking in Jean Lafitte National Park, canoeing in the waterways of Bayou Segnette, boating from Kenner's launch in Laketown, getting a first-hand look at the local fauna and flora around Grand Isle, and visiting the Bucktown Wetlands Boardwalk located within a 3.4-acre man-made marsh where you are able to learn about and experience- first-hand- a beautiful coastal marsh, coastal restoration and wildlife habitat along the shores of the stunning Lake Pontchartrain.

Hundreds of different species of birds visit Jefferson Parish each year, making it one of the nation’s top destinations for migratory bird watching. With birding trails across the area, there are plenty of opportunities to view the wildlife throughout the region. The pristine beaches at Grand Isle are a perfect place to watch some of the many species of shorebirds. You will also be able to view gulls, terns, skimmers, and, of course, the Louisiana State Bird, the brown pelican. The marshes that line the back of the island provide a perfect habitat for wading birds, including the great blue heron, ibis, snowy egrets, and occasionally the pink roseate spoonbills.

Where else can you feed an alligator on a swamp tour? Catch a whopper of a fish in Jean Lafitte. Relax on the beach in Grand Isle. Or learn about our rich and diverse culture inside one of our museums. There's no shortage of things to do in Jefferson Parish!