There is plenty of fun to be had in New Orleans, but amazing experiences are also just short drives outside of the city.
Going back in time at a plantation or getting up close with nature and wildlife on a swamp tour are great ways to spend free time when attending Groundwater Week 2025.
Being on the grounds of a plantation gives you the sense of life years ago. The Oak Alley Plantation is one of the most picturesque as 28 huge Oak trees line an 800-foot walkway to the mansion. About one hour from New Orleans, the “Big House,” landscape, and exhibits detail life on the sugar plantation.
Two other plantations one hour away offer fascinating perspectives. The Laura Plantation details the lives of four generations of one Louisiana Créole family, both free and enslaved, in detail.
The Whitney Plantation is the only plantation museum in Louisiana with a focus on slavery. Historic buildings, exhibits, and first-person narratives tell an amazing story.
Note taxis and ride-sharing services do not pick up from all plantations. Transportation options are available through the plantations so check in advance.
If being on a boat surrounded by moss-draped cypress trees is more your style, head to Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Just 25 minutes from New Orleans, you can visit Jean Lafitte Swamp and Airboat Tours to explore Louisiana’s back country of bayous and swamps with stunning plants and wildlife.
Cajun Pride Swamp Tours is a privately owned wildlife refuge just 25 miles from New Orleans. The guides hail from the bayous of Louisiana and tell the history of their area.
Dr. Wagner’s Honey Island Swamp Tours is about 45 minutes away but is worth the drive asthe Honey Island Swamp is one of the least altered river swamps in the country and you witness pristine wilderness and primitive beauty.
Groundwater Week 2025 takes place in New Orleans December 9-11 and is co-locating with the Irrigation Association. Register today at GroundwaterWeek.com, and when you’re there, make sure to visit the incredible sites outside of the city.