Things to do at Honey Island Swamp

Honey Island Swamp sits on the Pearl River near Slidell, east of New Orleans rather than south like the more commonly marketed Barataria side of the wetlands, and it is the swamp closest to the city on that side of Lake Pontchartrain. Allow roughly an hour's drive each way, plus a boat tour of around 90 minutes, run either as a flat-bottomed skiff or an airboat by operators based around Slidell.

What you actually see is cypress trees draped in Spanish moss, herons, egrets and alligators sunning on the banks or logs; alligators move far less in the cold months, roughly December to February, so a summer or early autumn booking gives better odds of sightings.

Tours run year-round, typically several times a day, with prices generally in the USD 40-70 range per adult depending on boat type and operator.