28 Best Things to Do in New Orleans Beyond Bourbon Street | Condé Nast Traveler

"When the muggy summer weather (or a gator popping up in the Bayou St. John neighborhood) isn’t reminding you, it’s sometimes easy to forget that New Orleans is essentially built on swampland. You don’t need to stray far from downtown for a reminder. Wild Louisiana can pick you up in the French Quarter and drive you to their launch spot in the wild bayou, less than 30 minutes away. Here, their expert guides will lead a casual kayaking expedition around the Maurepas swamps (formally The Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area). The biggest alligators in the swamp can reach 10 feet in length, and although I didn’t see any that size, it was amazing to get up close to babies and slightly smaller gators. They’re docile and any trepidation evaporates quickly as the beauty and tranquility of the environment eases you into a relaxed state of mind." - Paul Oswell