Summer Isn't Over Yet: Where to Go Around The Northshore

There is a particular rhythm to late summer on the Northshore. The days are still long, the lakefront still calls for an evening outside, and weekends can be filled without needing much of an itinerary. Before fall calendars begin to fill, Mandeville and Lacombe offer plenty of reasons to enjoy the season exactly as it is.

From Saturday mornings among local makers to quiet trails near Bayou Lacombe, these are a few places and experiences worth making time for before autumn arrives.

MAKE AN EVENING OF THE MANDEVILLE LAKEFRONT

Some outings don't need a scheduled event attached to them. The Mandeville Lakefront is one of those places.

A walk along Lake Pontchartrain, time outside with the family, or simply catching the end of a summer day can turn an ordinary evening into something memorable. Rather than treating the lakefront as another attraction to check off a list, give yourself time to enjoy it at the slower pace that makes this part of Mandeville special.

Pair the evening with dinner nearby or bring something along for a casual picnic. It's an easy way to enjoy the outdoors while the days are still long - and one of those simple Northshore routines that can feel just as worthwhile as a major weekend plan.

SPEND A SATURDAY MORNING AT THE MANDEVILLE TRAILHEAD

For a livelier start to the weekend, head to the Mandeville Trailhead Community Market, held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 675 Lafitte Street in Historic Old Mandeville.

The market brings together more than 80 local artisans, producers, and growers, with seasonal produce, flowers, prepared foods, arts, crafts, and locally made goods. More than a shopping stop, it has the comfortable feeling of a neighborhood gathering somewhere to browse without rushing, run into familiar faces, and see what local makers have brought that week.

The Trailhead also sits beside the Tammany Trace, with picnic facilities, an amphitheater, pavilion, public restrooms, and other amenities nearby. That makes it easy to stretch a market visit into a longer morning outside rather than heading straight home once the shopping bags are full.

TURN THE MARKET INTO A MORNING ON THE TRACE

One of the nicest things about a morning at the Trailhead is that it doesn't have to end at the market.

Its location adjacent to the Tammany Trace gives you a natural excuse to keep moving after browsing the vendors. Walk or bike for a while, stop for something to eat, or simply spend more of the morning outdoors. There's no complicated plan required, which is exactly the appeal.

Late summer often encourages this kind of unhurried day: start somewhere familiar, follow whatever sounds good next, and make a few hours out of places that are close to home.

TRADE THE LAKEFRONT FOR THE WILDER SIDE OF LACOMBE

For a change of scenery, Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge offers a very different side of the Northshore. Spread across more than 18,000 acres, the refuge protects a landscape of marsh, bayous, pine savannah, forest, and other habitats along the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Hiking, paddling, birding, fishing, and wildlife observation are among the ways visitors can experience the area.

The Bayou Lacombe Visitor Center is normally open Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the surrounding refuge includes several easy trails and boardwalks for visitors who want an outdoor outing without committing to an all-day hike.

One important note before heading out: the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service currently reports a partial closure at the refuge following Tropical Storm Arthur, including closure of the Lemieux Center while storm damage is assessed and cleaned up. Check the refuge's current conditions before choosing your trail or setting out.

Check current Big Branch Marsh visitor information

GIVE THE KIDS A MORNING IN NATURE

Families have a couple of especially good reasons to put Lacombe on the calendar before autumn.

Nature Explorers takes place at the Bayou Lacombe Visitor Center on the first and third Friday of each month. Designed for children ages six and younger, the free 45-minute program combines native wildlife, nature-themed crafts, and a short walk. No registration is required, and children attend with an adult.

For older children, Homeschool Fridays are held on the fourth Friday of the month and focus on the native plants, wildlife, and habitats of Southeast Louisiana. The free 90-minute program is geared toward children through eighth grade, with an accompanying adult, and advance registration is requested.

These aren't elaborate day trips, and that's part of their charm. They offer families a reason to get outside, learn something about the landscape around them, and experience a quieter side of the area before school-year schedules and fall activities take over.

A FEW MORE SUMMER DAYS, WELL SPENT

You don't have to travel far (or wait for a major festival!) to make the final stretch of summer feel worthwhile.

A Saturday morning at the Trailhead can become a ride along the Trace. An ordinary evening can end beside Lake Pontchartrain. A short drive toward Lacombe can lead to boardwalks, bayous, wildlife, and a morning spent introducing the kids to something new.

That ease is part of what makes Mandeville and Lacombe so enjoyable. Some of the best ways to experience the Northshore aren't built around a big occasion at all. They're found in the places you can return to again and again, with enough variety to make each visit feel a little different.

Autumn will bring its own festivals, cooler evenings, and full calendars soon enough. Until then, there is still some summer left to enjoy.