Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¼´Ê±¿ª½±

Log Bench On Shore Of Bayou St. John, New Orleans.

© Chuck Wagner/Shutterstock

Bayou St John

New Orleans


Back in the day, this was a true bayou – an overgrown morass of Spanish moss and prowling alligators. Native Americans, fur trappers and smugglers would use the waterway as a natural road that led over the dark wetlands to the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. Today, the bayou has been partially dredged and beautified into a narrow green space that makes for a breezy, altogether pleasant green ribbon that snakes across the center of the city.

Don't swim here – the bottom is shallow, has sharp rubble underfoot and there are still alligators here!


Contact

Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¼´Ê±¿ª½±'s must-see attractions

Nearby New Orleans attractions

1. Pitot House

0.08 MILES

The Pitot House, perched prettily beside Bayou St John, is an excellent example of classical French New Orleans architecture. Constructed circa 1799, it's…

2. City Park

0.1 MILES

Live oaks, Spanish moss and lazy bayous frame this masterpiece of urban planning. Three miles long and 1 mile wide, dotted with gardens, waterways and…

3. Singing Oak

0.21 MILES

This oak tree near Big Lake in City Park stands festooned with chimes, some up to 14ft in length. Standing under the tree during the slightest breeze is…

4. Our Lady of the Rosary Rectory

0.21 MILES

Built around 1834 as the home of Evariste Blanc, Our Lady of the Rosary Rectory exhibits a combination of styles characteristic of the region. The high…

5. St Louis Cemetery No 3

0.3 MILES

This long but compact cemetery was established in 1854 at the site of the old Bayou Cemetery and is worth strolling through for a few minutes (longer if…

7. New Orleans Museum of Art

0.32 MILES

Inside City Park, this elegant museum was opened in 1911 and is well worth a visit for its special exhibitions, gorgeous marble atrium and top-floor…

8. Sanctuary

0.37 MILES

This historic house was built by Evariste Blanc from 1816 to 1822 on land originally granted in 1720 to French Canadians. The once-swampy property was…