Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve

If you are interested in a place to see the natural history of an area of an area and also have the bio experience this is the place to come. It's a beautiful National Park and you should never miss a National Park while travelling if you have the opportunity.It's a huge area, bring a lunch and keep an eye open for egrets, herons, alligators, armadillos and other animals that live in this area. If you're lucky you might even spot some eagles and other large creatures. But remember this is nature, give them plenty of room, don't try and pet them.

Great little museum at the visitors center. Lots of trails though some were closed. Boardwalk over the Cyprus swamp foul use a little TLC but we enjoyed in. The ground level trails were very well maintained and easily navigable.

I am a huge fan of gators. I mean huge. I love them so much and i'm not even sure why honestly. This trip to New Orleans was one of the first where I hadn't spotted one in the wild and I was getting a bit antsy about it. Chas said he knew a place he wanted to check out where he thought we could see some gators. It was only 1 that day, but it was awesome.Lots of snakes, frogs, birds...plenty to see on these trails and it was all free. Got some exercise in and got to see some beautiful surroundings and awesome animals. Easily 5 star, no questions asked.

I love this place! We started in the indoor museum. It was very informative about the effects the floods and hurricanes have had and continue to have on Louisiana. We then went to walk the trails and were blessed to meet a man who really enjoys nature. I was in Louisiana for most of the prior year and I really wanted to see gators but hadn't been able to, I got to see live gators!! The bridge wasn't far above them but I was told they don't climb quickly and they were just hanging out. I was so excited to be able to see these gators :)

This is one of my favorite spots to visit in the New Orleans area, and one of my favorite National Parks. When I lived in NOLA, I made always made sure to take any visitors out to this part of the bayou. Not that it is the main attraction, but I have always seen alligators in this park, the wildlife viewing is incredible.I recently sent my family there and we made this video. Check it out: https://youtu.be/LIHRiraH4-g

This place is amazing!! Just walking from the parking lot into the visitor center we saw like 5 different animals and 3 different mushrooms types. Highly recommend clean bathrooms great gift shop. Tons of wildlife great for kids and adults.

Loved it. The park ranger at the visitor center was really friendly and informative. Told us about a mama gator and her two babies with a hand drawn map. And they were awesome, right up next to the railing. Don't frighten them and don't try to lose your body parts.We went on a warmish humid day with some wind so the wind was nice. Recommend wearing loose fitting clothes if you want to walk the trail in entirety.Many nice places to take photos! Especially with swaying Spanish moss.

The visiting center is currently closed, and you can't do the guided tours at 10 a.m. Also, a part of the trail was closed due to conditions. However, it was a nice, short trail to be on! I really enjoyed the view and I really felt like I was in the middle of the swamp (because I definitely was). I didn't particularly feel safe on the trail because I was afraid an alligator was going to jump out and eat me, but that never happened. The trail is large enough for people to pass on opposite sides. They also have benches to stop and sit at. A great place to come for a calm stroll.

Ranger Jack took us on an hour-long Wetlands Walking Tour. Saw spiders lizards frogs snakes and a gator

The park's visitor center is a couple of buildings on high supports above the swamp, and when wandering the boardwalks, you won't wonder whether you are in legitimate Louisiana bayou country. It isn't too far from New Orleans, either, probably a half hour drive sans traffic.When I visited after an unusually cold spell, it was predictably quiet, but beyond that the visitor center was open, but completely unmanned, which was weird. Many of their trails were closed, as well. I imagine it has something to offer in all seasons, though.