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Vol. 1 - Florida & Southeast 11/08
Vol. 2 - the Southwest 11/09
Vol. 3 - The Southeast v.2 11/10
Vol. 4 - Southeast v.3 11/11
Vol. 5 - Southeast v.4 11/12
Day 124, Camp 30 - Fontainebleau State Park, Mandeville, LA - New Orleans
Posted 04-15-2009 at 09:29 AM by Phantom
2009/03/15 (4 nights @ $8 per nite)
Day 124, Camp 30
Fontainebleau State Park
Mandeville, LA
New Orleans
ALL PHOTOS RELATED TO THIS BLOG
ARE AVAILABLE FOR VIEW AT:
Picasa Web Albums - Phantom
We pulled out of Gulfport and took I-10 West into Louisiana, taking the split onto I-12 to the North side of Lake Pontchartrain, Fontainebleau State Park, Mandeville, LA... a mere 76 miles. We used this campground as a convenient base from which to visit New Orleans. At the advice of the park ranger, we drove the causeway into the city, ($3 round trip, collected only on the southbound run)... and parked free at the Art Museum on N. Carrollton. The Canal Street Street Car route ends here, so you just hop on, pay your $1.25 and ride all the way down to the river. Makes it easy to get back to your car at night, (but pay attention to the frequency times... they get further apart after 6 pm or so).
The causeway over Lake Pontchartrain is a trip all in itself! It's 23 miles long... the longest bridge over water in the world! From the center, you can just barely see the other side.
We made it our mission to walk every street in the French Quarter... an area 13 x 7 blocks.... horizontal and vertical, criss-crossing the area for 3 days! There are so very many bars, clubs, shops, art galleries, a few 'gentlemen's clubs' and many wonderful restaurants. It's rather overwhelming. I saw the largest collection or original photographs by historically significant photographers that I have ever seen in one place... prices from $1,400 to $85,000! The 'Vieux Carre' (Old Square) is not for everyone... it can be dirty and gritty, but it is certainly unique in all of America. Some buildings date to the 1700's. The pirate Jean Laffite had a blacksmith shop... still standing, now a bar... with original fireplace!.. amazing. We enjoyed ourselves immensely. One day we took a little side trip on the way into town. We caught the St; Charles Street Car to see the 'Garden District'... with its many gorgeous houses... neat. Another day we took the free ferry across the Mississippi to Algiers Point. This is a little, quiet, quaint countrified village so different from the bustle of New Orleans. It is here that all the floats for Mardi Gras are made. The houses in the historic downtown area date to the 1700's and must be historically correct when restored and painted.
On St. Patrick's Day we found a little local pub... The Kerry Irish Pub on Decatur St. and enjoyed live Irish music. It was great! We also enjoyed a couple evening meals and drinks back in Mandeville, on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain.
We never saw much of Fontainebleau State Park... too busy seeing the City
It was very wet when we were there, practically flooded. The park has several trails and a boat launch on the lake. We didn't do it justice.
Day 124, Camp 30
Fontainebleau State Park
Mandeville, LA
New Orleans
ALL PHOTOS RELATED TO THIS BLOG
ARE AVAILABLE FOR VIEW AT:
Picasa Web Albums - Phantom
We pulled out of Gulfport and took I-10 West into Louisiana, taking the split onto I-12 to the North side of Lake Pontchartrain, Fontainebleau State Park, Mandeville, LA... a mere 76 miles. We used this campground as a convenient base from which to visit New Orleans. At the advice of the park ranger, we drove the causeway into the city, ($3 round trip, collected only on the southbound run)... and parked free at the Art Museum on N. Carrollton. The Canal Street Street Car route ends here, so you just hop on, pay your $1.25 and ride all the way down to the river. Makes it easy to get back to your car at night, (but pay attention to the frequency times... they get further apart after 6 pm or so).
The causeway over Lake Pontchartrain is a trip all in itself! It's 23 miles long... the longest bridge over water in the world! From the center, you can just barely see the other side.
We made it our mission to walk every street in the French Quarter... an area 13 x 7 blocks.... horizontal and vertical, criss-crossing the area for 3 days! There are so very many bars, clubs, shops, art galleries, a few 'gentlemen's clubs' and many wonderful restaurants. It's rather overwhelming. I saw the largest collection or original photographs by historically significant photographers that I have ever seen in one place... prices from $1,400 to $85,000! The 'Vieux Carre' (Old Square) is not for everyone... it can be dirty and gritty, but it is certainly unique in all of America. Some buildings date to the 1700's. The pirate Jean Laffite had a blacksmith shop... still standing, now a bar... with original fireplace!.. amazing. We enjoyed ourselves immensely. One day we took a little side trip on the way into town. We caught the St; Charles Street Car to see the 'Garden District'... with its many gorgeous houses... neat. Another day we took the free ferry across the Mississippi to Algiers Point. This is a little, quiet, quaint countrified village so different from the bustle of New Orleans. It is here that all the floats for Mardi Gras are made. The houses in the historic downtown area date to the 1700's and must be historically correct when restored and painted.
On St. Patrick's Day we found a little local pub... The Kerry Irish Pub on Decatur St. and enjoyed live Irish music. It was great! We also enjoyed a couple evening meals and drinks back in Mandeville, on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain.
We never saw much of Fontainebleau State Park... too busy seeing the City
It was very wet when we were there, practically flooded. The park has several trails and a boat launch on the lake. We didn't do it justice.Total Comments 0
