Things to do Near St. Bernard State Park

Situated on a bend in the Mississippi River, St. Bernard State Park was established on acreage donated by a local businessman and state senator in 1971. Within its boundaries, visitors will find a variety of local wildlife. Armadillos have been spotted in the forests, and lucky campers may see some truly rare creatures ambling about; minks and river otters have also been seen within the park.

The real stars of the animal kingdom at St. Bernard State Park are the birds. The park is a dedicated stop on the America’s Wetland Birding Trail, where great horned owls take flight, woodpeckers peck and warblers sing their high-pitched songs.

RV campers can find a place to park for the night at St. Bernard State Park. Fifty-one campsites with water and electrical hookups are found in the heart of the park, conveniently adjacent to the waterways and water playground and hiking trails.

Nearby Things to do

The closest city to St. Bernard State Park is Chalmette. The New Orleans suburb is home to Chalmette Battlefield, part of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve. This is where the Battle of New Orleans, the last major battle of the War of 1812, was fought. Walk the grounds where Andrew Jackson once led American troops to victory over British forces, and check-in at the visitor center to see when battle reenactments are happening.

Just a couple miles beyond Chalmette is New Orleans. As one of the nation’s most beloved cities for its cultural, historical and musical riches, the Crescent City has been a mecca for travelers since it was founded more than 300 years ago.

The dining options alone are worth the trip from St. Bernard State Park, and indeed, many travelers come to New Orleans primarily for the food. Old-school Creole restaurants like Commander’s Palace, Arnaud’s, Tujague’s and Antoine’s have all been in business for more than a century. Newer fine dining spots like Emeril’s Delmonico, Patois, Lilette and Cochon offer more contemporary takes on classic Creole, French and New American cuisines, and visitors will find plenty to love about New Orleans restaurants that serve up dishes from around the world. Try Colombian food at Maïs Arepas, Israeli food at Saba, Italian food at Irene’s and Indian food at Saffron.

After dining in New Orleans, you may want to burn off some calories at one of the city’s urban green spaces. Audubon Park, located in the middle of the Uptown/Carrollton neighborhood, has walking trails and the Audubon Zoo. New Orleans City Park, across town, also has plenty of walking trails, plus kayaking in Bayou Metairie and Bayou St. John (available to rent), New Orleans Botanical Garden, New Orleans Museum of Art and the Louisiana Children’s Museum. You could easily spend a day or two just exploring City Park and the attractions within it.

Visitors interested in learning about New Orleans culture should start their journey in the city’s heart, at Jackson Square. That’s where you’ll find Louisiana State Museum’s Cabildo and Presbytere (connected to St. Louis Cathedral), the shops and restaurants in the Pontalba Buildings, street performers and, just across Decatur Street, the world-famous Café Du Monde. Grab a bag of beignets (French donuts) and a café au lait, then walk up the steps to Woldenberg Park for a spectacular view of the Mississippi River.

Finally, you won’t want to leave New Orleans without catching some live music. Hear jazz bands performing at Preservation Hall and Fritzel’s European Jazz Pub in the French Quarter, Dixieland and ragtime music on the Steamboat Natchez and in Frenchmen Street clubs, rock and soul bands at the Maple Leaf Bar and Tipitina’s, and many smaller, lesser-known venues in neighborhoods throughout the city.