New Orleans Airport
Welcome To Jefferson Parish
A Message from the Jefferson Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.
Dear Travelers:
Welcome to Jefferson Parish! The Jefferson Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc., is your resource for discovering a variety of attractions, activities, cuisines and experiences in Jefferson Parish. Neighboring New Orleans, we are the state’s largest parish, sprawling over 60 miles from the Gulf of Mexico to the shores of beautiful Lake Pontchartrain. We are also the most diverse.
Celebrating our 200th birthday on February 11, 2025, the destination is planning special events, and businesses will offer special discounts and promotions! Join us as we commemorate 200 years of the resilience and determination that have shaped our community and to celebrate the diverse cultures that enrich our daily lives.
We invite you to step back in time by exploring our historic districts, each representative of our heritage and the cultural influences of the region.
Delight your taste buds along our Louisiana Oyster Trail, where the oysters are a delicacy regardless of how you like them: charbroiled, deep fried or raw on the half shell. Shop our beautiful, tree-lined Metairie Road boutiques, revel in the hustle and bustle of modern malls or stroll along quaint farms, fisheries and art markets for your special keepsake.
No visit to southeast Louisiana is complete without a trip to Cajun scenic hideaways and swamps. The tranquility of the moss-draped cypress trees and blooms of the Louisiana iris is equally matched by the thrill of an airboat ride through the bayous. Kick off your shoes and dance to the sounds of the zydeco or fiddle. Visit with the locals while learning the traditions and intrigue of this picturesque region.
Festivals abound in Jefferson Parish. Come celebrate life, culture, music, carnival, cuisine and more at one of our year-round festivals. From the
pageantry of carnival to the Cajun, German and Italian heritage of our neighborhoods, immerse yourself in our culture and traditions.
Fishing and outdoor recreation are a way of life in Louisiana, and Jefferson Parish is a cut above. Offering inland and off-shore fishing, a national park and preserve and two state parks featuring camping, paddling, nature and bird watching trails, and seven miles of sandy beach for fun in the sun on Grand Isle, we’ve got the great outdoors covered!
We invite you to enjoy all we have to offer. Whether you’re planning a family vacation, an adventurous get-away or a business trip, Jefferson Parish offers you all the comforts, entertainment and amenities to make your stay memorable.
Happy Travels,
Violet Peters President & CEO Jefferson Convention &
Visitors Bureau, Inc.
Terrie Birkel COO/VP of Marketing
Charlene Hale Director of Partnerships & Travel Media
Kristine Mejia Partner Services Coordinator
Kimberly Ferrante President/CEO
Adam Pitluk
Group Publisher
David Halloran Creative Director
Becky Williams Copy Editor
Heide Brandes, Mark Stuertz Contributors
About Us
Midwest Luxury Publishing d/b/a Southern Luxury Publishing, is a full-service communications outfit made up of experienced industry experts. We are your turnkey provider for all your publishing needs.
Contact the Publisher info@midwestluxurypublishing.com midwestluxurypublishing.com 917.447.7731
2024-2025 Visit Jefferson Parish Guide is published by The Jefferson Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, Inc. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, in whole or in part, without the express prior written permission of the publisher.
The Jefferson Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. (JCVB) does not warrant the quality, reputation or availability of the services or products offered within this guide.
Our Vision
As a brand-driven and destination leader, the Jefferson Convention and Visitors Bureau, Inc (JCVB) is innovative and influential in bringing new visitor business to the Parish tourism/hospitality industry and host communities.
Our Mission
The mission of the Jefferson Convention and Visitors Bureau, Inc (JCVB) is to actively partner with the tourism and hospitality industry by marketing and selling the destination brand experience resulting in additional spending by leisure and group travel visitors leading to enhanced community economic vitality and resident quality of place.
Our Promise
Jefferson Parish, with its key gateways of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and Interstate 10, offers unique and affordable family-oriented dining and shopping and immersive nature-based recreational and group event experiences. Comprised of the Mississippi East and West Banks and the Gulf Coast, the area showcases lively suburban business districts and historic neighborhood communities, espousing a distinct character of friendliness, fun and relaxation. Jefferson Parish is assuredly the real connection to the Louisiana family entertainment lifestyle.
Accredited
The Visit Jefferson Parish team successfully completed the reaccreditation process for the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) by Destinations International. This esteemed global recognition signifies that the JCVB meets the performance standards in destination marketing and management. We are committed to upholding these standards and to being effective leaders in our industry.
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Visit Jefferson Parish
On The Cover: Seither’s Seafood, Harahan
JEFFERSON PARISH MARDI GRAS
Pre-Carnival Season Parade
Little Rascals Sunday, February 16, 2025, Noon
Carnival Season Parades
Krewe Of Excalibur Family Gras Friday, February 21, 2025, 7:00 PM
Magical Krewe Of Madhatters Family Gras Saturday, February 22, 2025, 5:00 PM
Krewe Of Atlas Family Gras Sunday, February 23, 2025, 4:00 PM
Mystic Krewe Of Music (Westbank) Monday, February 24, 2025, 6:00 PM
The Krewe Of Nandi (Westbank) Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 6:00 PM
Krewe Of Symphony Thursday, February 27, 2025, 6:30 PM
Krewe of Isis (Kenner) Saturday, March 1, 2025, 6:00 PM
Krewe Of Athena Sunday, March 2, 2025, 5:30 PM
Krewe Of Centurions Lundi Gras Monday, March 3, 2025, 6:00 PM
Krewe Of Kings Lundi Gras Monday, March 3, 2025, Follows Centurions
Krewe Of Argus Fat Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 11:00 AM
Elks Krewe Of Jeffersonians Fat Tuesday, March 4, 2025, Follows Argus
Post-Carnival Season Parades
St. Patrick’s, Metarie Road Sunday, March 16, 2025, Noon
Louisiana Irish-Italian Sunday, March 23, 2025, Noon
Parade Route and Schedule Notice: Parades, dates, times and routes are provisional and subject to change. Up-to-date Carnival parade information can be found at VisitJeffersonParish.com/MardiGras.
Concerts & Parades
February 21-23, 2025
For more information, visit www.FamilyGras.com
Parades February 21-March 4, 2025 Marching band competition.
Metairie Mardi Gras
Seersucker
October 2024
October 4-6
Gretna Heritage Festival
Gretna
Revel on the River with live performances on multiple stages, craft beer gardens, cultural villages, a kids’ village, food and crafts.
October 5-6
Que Pasa Festival
Lafreniere Park, Metairie
Uniting people through music, food & dance. Celebration of Hispanic heritage and culture in Louisiana.
October 11-13
Pho Fest and Nola Nite Market
Westwego
Enjoy food and entertainment celebrating Asian heritage and culture in Louisiana.
October 18-20
Cochon de lait Festival, St. Edward Parish Fair
Metairie
Enjoy cochon de lait, the art of cooking a pig over open hardwood fire, with amusement rides, traditional fair foods & live bands.
October 19
Boo-2-U and Trunk or Treat
Lafreniere Park, Metairie
Children’s activities, games & trunk or treating.
October 20
Tour de Jefferson
Marrero
Family-friendly biking event!
Celebrating its 18th year in 2024, Tour de Jefferson is a unique way to experience the scenery of Louisiana’s heartland.
October 24
Top Taco Festival
Lafreniere Park, Metairie
At this annual event, restaurants compete to be the BEST taco in New Orleans! Great food, drinks & live music.
October 26
Trick or Treat Bash
Westwego Farmers & Fisheries Market, Westwego
There’s Halloween fun for everyone with food & crafts, live music and candy for the kids.
October 31
Lafitte Trick or Treating
Lafitte
Trick or treat around the town of Lafitte beginning at dusk.
November
November 2-3
New Orleans Champion Cup Soccer
Lafreniere Park, Metairie
Champions Cup weekend will feature competition for all levels of 9U-14U age groups.
November 5-9
Taste of the Louisiana Oyster Trail
Parish-wide
Experience a celebration of this local delicacy! Enjoy discounts at participating restaurants.
November 29
Gretna’s Light up the Huey Long Avenue Lights Display
Downtown Gretna
Enjoy activities & shopping as downtown Gretna lights the way for Popa Noel and all to visit.
November 29-December 24
Shop Jefferson
Parish-wide: shop boutiques, malls & specialty shops during the holiday season for promotions & discounts while enjoying holiday events.
December
Shop Jefferson, parish-wide holiday shopping through December 24.
December 1-30
Christmas in the Park
Lafreniere Park, Metairie Lafreniere Park sparkles for the holidays with thousands of twinkling lights and displays.
December 1-31
Gretna Holiday Lights Display, Dining & Activities
Gretna
Thousands of lights adorn oak trees and street lights. Also enjoy a live nativity scene, caroling & shopping.
Gretna Heritage Festival
December 1-24
Kenner Holiday Lights Display and holiday activities
Rivertown Historic District
Twinkling lights adorn the Rivertown historic district and Kenner City Park: also enjoy weekend activities.
December 31
The Loft 18
Metairie
Ring in the New Year with great food, cocktails & friends.
January 2025
January 6
Mardi Gras Season begins, Twelfth night
Twelfth night marks the official beginning of the Mardi Gras season!
January 20
Martin Luther King Day
Parade, Jefferson Highway to Rev. Richard Wilson Drive
South Kenner
Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and equality.
February
February 9
Super Bowl LIX
New Orleans
Enjoy the thrill of the 59th Super Bowl in the historic Caesar’s Superdome in downtown New Orleans. Fans from all over the country will converge to celebrate the 2025 champions!
February 11
Light the Night and Birthday Party Bicentennial Celebration
Jefferson Parish
Join us in celebrating Jefferson Parish’s 200th birthday with a lighting ceremony and party.
February 14
Gretna Green Blacksmith
Valentine’s Day Weddings
Gretna
Relive yesteryear’s charm of a romantic runaway marriage by marrying at the Gretna Green Blacksmith Shop.
February 16-March 4
Mardi Gras Parades
Metairie & Marrero
Bring the whole family and celebrate the spectacle of Mardi Gras.
February 21-23
Family Gras Festival
Metairie
A celebration of family, food, music & parades! Enjoy live performances by national & local artists, food, a kid’s court and Mardi Gras parades rolling next to the festival site.
March
March 3
Lundi Gras
Kenner’s Rivertown Historic District
The courts of the Krewe of Argus and the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club of New Orleans meet with royal toast, music, food & fun.
March 10
Park to Park 10K
Metairie
Participate in the 10K or come out to celebrate Jefferson Parish’s bicentennial! 10k race between two local parks and after party. Fun activities, food & entertainment.
March 17
St. Patrick’s Parade
Metairie Road, Metairie
Celebrate the luck of the Irish with floats, bands, marching clubs, and all the carrots, cabbage, potatoes & beads you can catch.
March 23
Louisiana Irish-Italian Parade
Metairie
Bring the family and come celebrate the rich Irish-Italian culture of Louisiana with 100 floats, marching bands, marching clubs dancers, beads & more.
March 29
Louisiana Crawfish Boil Championships
Marrero
Over 60 teams will vie for the top award at the Crawfish Boil Championship! Enjoy spicy crawfish while listening to live music and raising money for Immaculate Conception School.
Spring in the Swamp
Lafitte
Discover wild Louisiana at Barataria Preserve’s Spring in the Swamp.
Krewe of Excalibur
Christmas Lights, Lafreniere Park
March 28-30
Italian Heritage Festival
Kenner
Enjoy traditional Italian live music, food, crafts & more.
April
April 4-6
Lafitte Seafood Fest
Lafitte
Take a trip down to historic Lafitte and enjoy a weekend full of live music, local food, swamp tours, kayak rentals, carnival rides & an art walk.
April 10-13
French Quarter Festival
New Orleans
Visitors and locals alike enjoy this free festival with over 20 stages and endless food options that takes place in the historic French Quarter.
April 20
Blessing of the Fleet
Lafitte
Enjoy an age-old tradition in a quaint fishing community. Beautifully decorated boats are blessed for a bountiful season, then sail the waters with local fishermen & revelers.
Farmers Markets
Gretna Farmers Market
June–October. Every Saturday (except the Saturday of Gretna Fest) 8 a.m.-12 p.m., Gretna
Harahan Farmers Market
Every Sunday, 9 a.m.-1 p,m., Harahan
Jean Lafitte Town Market
Jules Nunez Pavilion. Dates/times vary, Lafitte
Lafreniere Park Farmer’s Market & Art Market
Every Wednesday, 2 p.m.-7 p.m., Metairie
Old Metairie Farmers
Art Market
First Tuesday of the month, 2:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., Bayou Metairie Park
The Market at Kenner City Park
Thursdays, 12 p.m.-6 p.m., 2nd & last Saturday of the month, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Kenner City Park
Westwego Farmers Market
2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Westwego
Westwego Shrimp Lot
Monday–Sunday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. (hours vary by vendor), Westwego
April 21-27
Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Avondale
See the best golfers on tour compete at the Zurich Classic. Food, entertainment & professional golfers.
April 24-May 4
N.O. Jazz & Heritage Festival
New Orleans
The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is an annual two-weekend event featuring a variety of rich music, local culture and food in the heart of New Orleans.
April 25 & 26
Migratory Bird Festival
Grand Isle
Grand Isle is an essential stop for songbirds during their spring and fall migrations across the Gulf of Mexico.
May
May 3 & 4
Cinco de Mayo Fest
Metairie
Louisiana's largest Cinco de Mayo Festival presented by Avión and Modelo Especial! Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with live music, amazing local food trucks, lucha libre and even bull riding.
May 10
German American Maifest Gretna
Enjoy Gretna’s celebration of spring event with artists, crafters & gardeners displaying and selling their work.
May 23-26
Memorial Day Weekend Grand Isle
June/July
June 4-7
Swollfest Fishing Rodeo
Grand Isle
Premier charitable fishing rodeo featuring competition with a cause & fun activities for the family.
July 3
Uncle Sam Jam Festival Lafreniere Park, Metairie Celebrate Independence Day with live music featuring national & local artists, food & fireworks.
July 17-19
Island Strong Music Festival Grand Isle
The fourth-annual Island Strong Music Fest celebrates Grand Isle’s recovery with a live music festival & local food.
July 24-26
Int’l Tarpon Rodeo Grand Isle
The oldest fishing tournament in the U.S. featuring fishing, live music, food, crab racing (kids) and summer fun.
August/September
September 13
Hispanic Heritage Fair
Kenner
Come to the celebration of Hispanic culture and heritage with music, dance & food.
September 20-21
Westbank Heritage Festival Westwego
Local arts, food & crafts vendors with zydeco, jazz, blues, R&B, country, rap & gospel music acts.
Event dates/times are subject to change. Scan the QR coce or visit visitjeffersonparish.com for more information.
Our World The is Oyster
And that’s just the beginning of the international cuisine in Jefferson Parish (but you really have to try the oysters).
By Mark Stuertz
Question: If you’re a sophisticated foodie who loves everything from coq au vin to stir-fried bamboo worms (expressing a flavor that is often compared to potato chips), what could Jefferson Parish possibly offer you? Answer: multiple options.
To be sure, while Jefferson Parish menus don’t generally feature fried bamboo worms (betcha can’t eat just one), they do have other pieces of exotica to whet the culinary sophisticate’s appetite, namely alligator. Exhibit A: Drago’s Seafood Restaurant in Metairie offers diners mouthwatering Blackened Gator Tacos with arugula and Cajun aioli—plus fried gator bites—while Restaurant des Familles in Crown Point features Alligator-Stuffed Mushrooms in a tangy tomato-based alligator sauce piquant. They're sublime (and a delicacy you won’t soon find anywhere else on the planet).
And while alligators feast primarily on fish, turtles and other aquatic life (hence the slightly fishy marine layer peeking through their chicken-like flavor profiles), they also have a jones for marshmallows. Don’t believe it? Try this: Trawl through Jefferson Parish’s visually compelling swamps, belt out a Cajun alligator yodel (does Duck Commander sell these?) and wait as these broadheaded, snaggle-toothed reptiles converge on the hull of whatever craft is keeping you from the drink. Toss a few marshmallows into the water and watch them nosh with the kinetic gusto of a 7-year-old devouring a Twinkie.
This is no surprise. The original recipe for the marshmallow included a paste derived from the roots of the mallow plant, which grows in brackish swamps and marshes—hence the name. Think
of the marshmallow as a quasi-farm-to-table delicacy for these semiaquatic brutes. And lest you fret that marshmallows pose a mortal threat to their dental work, know that alligators can regenerate their megawatt smiles once a year, Tom Cruise-like. Jefferson Parish cuisine is powerful stuff, indeed.
Variety is the Spice
Hugging New Orleans on the east and west banks of the Mississippi River, Jefferson Parish is primarily a seafood-driven fare-scape, dancing with Cajun and Creole influences and the cookery virtuosity flowing from the Big Easy. But it’s more. Their dining scene exhibits cooking prowess inspired by virtually every culinary hotspot the whole world over. In addition to Creole and Cajun, visitors will discover top-flight Italian, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Mexican, Thai and Japanese cuisines.
And of course, there are oysters. Lots of oysters. So many, in fact, that Visit Jefferson Parish, the area’s convention and visitors bureau, established the Louisiana Oyster Trail in 2012. With 16 participating restaurants, including Drago’s and Restaurant des Families, the trail heightens awareness of Louisiana oysters and seafood, the rigorous inspection processes that ensure food safety and the engaging vibe of each participating member.
Each trail restaurant displays an oyster sculpture at its entrance, beautified by a Jefferson Parish artist of the trail member’s choosing. This level of creativity and energy fortifies Jefferson Parish’s status as a destination for a wide variety of captivating flavors. Whatever you’re in the mood for, you’ll find a local spot that delivers, to the hilt.
Seither's Kung Fu Tuna: seared ahi tuna, snow crab salad, shrimp and avocado
You’ll want to sop up every drop of gold.
Mass Appeal
Jefferson Parish dining and flavor experiences engage everyone, from the young and the seasoned to the cultivated and the uninitiated. Prime example: the sno-ball. Commonly confused with the snow cone, a coarse and crunchy ice-flow drenched in flavored syrup, the sno-ball is delicately fine and fluffy, almost creamy. Think of it as an icy souffle in a cup, without the looming danger of collapse.
That’s where Droopy’s comes in. For more than 30 years, this bright blue sno-ball stand has been delivering folded granular silk with a Mount Hood apex reaching beyond the rim of the cup. This cool refreshment costs less than a day’s air conditioning and it comes in colors that would make a Las Vegas neon sign blush.
We thrust a plastic spoon into the sour watermelon and another into the Droopy’s special, a flavor mix that is top-secret but is reminiscent of cotton candy, a flavor that is also available straight. Maybe that’s why Droopy’s was voted Jefferson Parish’s “Best in Sno” in 2022, 2023 and 2024 for “The Droopy,” made with fresh cream. Pro-tip: Be sure to employ a palate cleanser when you toggle between the Piña Colada and the Dill Pickle sno-balls.
But what explains Seither’s? Maybe it’s the “love dust,” which is not, as you might imagine, a primer for bedroom detonations. It’s a kickstarter for flavor explosions. Tucked in a light industrial district in Harahan, Seither’s (featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) is most effectively located not by GPS, but by smell. Custom-built boilers in the back of this dive—as well as pots in the shanty-like boiler room—churn out clouds of heady aroma from simmering crab, shrimp and crawdads laced with Seither’s custom-blended crab boil.
At Seither’s, hungry explorers will discover the formidable Tower O‘ Rings, hand-cut and battered onion rings that will eviscerate any hunger pang you can throw at them; crispy fried seafood platters; and the Delacroix Nachos packed with blackened gulf fish, boiled shrimp and snow crab salad.
But the capstone moment at Seither’s is when you go pagan and say a prayer before the Totem Pole. It’s a culinary shrine founded on fried eggplant sandwiched between dabs of crab stuffing seasoned with “love dust,” and a fried crab, all crowned with a shrimp kabob dusted in parmesan. It’s a tribute to founder Jason Seither’s creativity, which extends to po’ boys.
Drago's revolutionary charbroiled oysters
“I push the limits of what can go on a po’ boy,” he says, “like sushi and potato chips and all kinds of crazy stuff. I did a gumbo po’ boy. There are endless possibilities.” Or twisted finesse.
Felipe’s Taqueria in Metairie offers visitors an astonishing array of street tacos that guests can personalize with a gallery of fresh ingredients—“small batch made from scratch,” as they say in the trade. Indulge in spicy chicken tinga, grilled steak, slow-braised Mexican pulled pork and breaded or grilled shrimp. To this add rice and beans, cheese, fresh cilantro, pickled jalapenos or fresh corn clean-shaven from the cob with a butcher knife in their frenetic kitchen.
Punch up your tacos or burritos with a mouth-tingling selection of fresh salsas, including the signature Baja sauce, an enticing blend of ranch dressing and Greek yogurt mayo with cumin, dill and chili pepper. All these creations are crafted from family recipes unearthed in the Oaxaca region of Mexico. Fire up this freshness with a hand-crafted Felipe margarita, a pleasantly buzzy blend of freshly squeezed key limes, triple sec, simple syrup and 100% blue agave tequila. It’s a jet-fueled carousel.
“Our mission is to throw our neighborhood a party every day,” says co-owner Pike Howard. “What does that mean? Good food, music, the floors are clean, and everything is presentable.”
The World is My Oyster
Tommy Cvitanovich of Drago’s Seafood almost single-handedly revolutionized Louisiana cuisine. He was tinkering in the kitchen one day when he tossed an oyster on the grill and squirted garlicbutter sauce all over it. A flaming geyser flared from the mollusk, and the charbroiled oyster was born. Now these accidental delicacies are served all over the world.
“Even the blind squirrel can find a nut,” he says.
Drago’s was founded in 1969 by Drago and Klara Cvitanovich, Tommy’s parents. Their mission: provide delectable seafood and a good time to guests for a reasonable price. And did they ever succeed at this dynamic Metairie spot, which hosted a U.S. president.
At Drago’s, diners will find Cajun-baked fresh fish, Lobster Marco stuffed with fresh sauteed shrimp and velvety Crawfish Etouffee with a cloaked spicy prick emerging on the finish.
But the banner menu entrant is the original charbroiled oysters, plump, briny shellfish coaxed into
opulence with garlic butter sauce and melted Romano and parmesan cheeses, all dusted with dried parsley. They’re served with sliced French bread to mop up that butter and cheese once you’ve devoured the pearls. Order seconds on the bread. You’ll want to sop up every drop of gold.
Dining in Finery
Opened in 1993, Restaurant des Familles in Marrero was fabricated to resemble an Acadian-style house, with a steeply sloped roof and a covered porch. Wood accents are fashioned from cypress sinker logs that had been soaking in Louisiana swamps for hundreds of years. There’s a bog out back with alligators patrolling the waters—Louisiana prime. It was originally a white tablecloth dining house, but those accoutrements were yanked.
“We were scaring away the fishermen,” says owner Brooke Zar.
Yet tablecloths or not, this fare is top-notch—even for seasprayed anglers. Savor the rich and hearty Boudin Boulettes, stuffed with a mixture of de-cased pork sausage and rice before they’re deep-fried into bronze globes. Or jam your fork into the rich Crabmeat Remick—a facsimile of the dish created at the original Pontchartrain Hotel in New Orleans. A rich cream sauce with mozzarella and Parmigiano-Reggiano blankets muscular chunks of crabmeat for a bewitching kiss of briny sweetness. There’s even a sumptuous turtle soup made from Louisiana snapping turtles with diced boiled egg and the ghost of clove and nutmeg manifesting on the finale.
And because Jefferson Parish is a paragon of seafood with an eclectic nerve reverberating through its soul, it’s got to have sushi. Daiwa Marrero fills that bill with chefs carving, folding and pressing imaginative maki and inspired creations along its expansive sushi bar. Gems include the Kimchee Octopus Salad in a near-blistering kimchee sauce. Or try the Cajun Tuna, slices of seared satiny tuna topped with a savorous Cajun sauce that hits with a piercing prickle. The nigiri is strips of velvety flesh with an engaging marine wisp. The buttery uni, flown in from Japan, is smooth and lustrous on the tongue.
Zea in Kenner cools the sultry Jefferson Parish air shroud with frozen boozy specialties: the Strawberry Bourbon Smash and the Nostalgic Nectar, frozen lemonade with a dash of ginger. Think of these as homeopathic heat exhaustion remedies. Zea is a global culinary amalgam (Mediterranean, Asian,
Nostalgic nectar lemonade at Zea
New Orleans-style BBQ shrimp with jalepeño-cheddar grits at Restaurant des Familles, Crown Point
Jefferson Parish Visitor
with a little New Orleans quirk) built around a French rotisserie that spit-roasts chicken, sirloin, ribeye and ribs. You can almost smell the carnivore diet cognoscente fervently converging on the place.
The Thai Rib Stack, rubbed in Thai spices and slopped with a sweet-spicy soy glaze (the ginger squeals for notice), is potato chip addictive. And don’t miss the Redfish Avriel, a filet on the “half shell” (char-crispy fish skin) topped with artichokes and spinach ribbons garbed in a lemon beurre blanc dalliance with California chardonnay—a NOLA twang with a New American inflection.
For Hall of Fame flamboyance, it’s got to be Impastato’s in Metairie. Impastato’s is where fine Italian and Creole-Italian cuisine meet gridiron passion. The walls are covered in celebrity photos. They compete shoulder pad to shoulder pad with football jerseys, helmets and photos of NFL greats like Troy Aikman, Joe Montana 1966 Heisman Trophy winner Steve Spurrier and of course, Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Established in 1979 and headed by Sicilian-born Joe Impastato, who flaunts a Super Bowl XLIV ring given to him by the late New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson, Impastato’s is a classic. Joe points to a framed collection of tickets posted in the dining room—45 in all—from Super Bowls he has attended.
Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles. Dive into the Oysters Fitzgerald, a half-dozen fried Gulf oysters with creamed spinach and crispy bacon luxuriating in lemon garlic aioli.
Football flavors invade the menu too, with monikers like Veal Payton, breaded and pan-fried veal in lemon butter, artichoke hearts, crabmeat and shrimp. Start with the exuberant house salad, artichoke hearts, imported salami and cheeses, black olives and anchovies topped with a frontline of glistening tomato wedges. The rowdy Soft-Shell Crab Marcello sports a golden-fried soft shell sprawl slathered in lemon-butter sauce and crowned with crabmeat and shrimp. To paraphrase football great John Madden: “Here’s a crab who can use his arms and legs at the same time.”
For a Texas-sized steer festival, there’s no better temple for brutish appetites than Austin’s Seafood & Steakhouse. The environs are elegant, with a bar drenched in cobalt blue illumination and artwork depicting music greats like BB King,
Headliners include a kink in the surf and turf lexicon: Barbecue Twin Filets, a delicately tender flame-broiled tenderloin duo served over garlic mashed potatoes and saddled with barbecued jumbo shrimp: white tablecloth glory. Or try the sizzling Prime Bone-In Cowboy Ribeye, sweating puddles of butter in the ridges and creases—umami on afterburners. Austin’s is a component of Ed McIntyre’s Mr. Ed’s Restaurant Group. Delicious, of course, of course.
Come Hungry, Leave Happy
Plunge into the dives and grande cuisine sanctuaries of Jefferson Parish, where you’ll discover feasting experiences that are on a different level. It’s where the flavors of the distinctive parish coalesce with the allure of New Orleans to create a culinary Elysium. So, pack your bags, your appetites and your Creole Clouds marshmallows (puffed right here in Metairie) and head to the parish that elevates simple eating to a diversified, choreographed cavort. The gators and their freshly regenerated pearly whites are waiting.
Austin’s Seafood & Steakhouse, Metairie
Cruising through the bayous with Airboat Adventures Swamp Tours
Back on the Bayou
The best, most historical and multicultural part of my Louisiana holiday happened outside of New Orleans.
By Heide Brandes
As I stepped off the plane at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, the humid air wrapped around me like a warm blanket, welcoming me to Louisiana. But I wasn’t here for the usual New Orleans jazz, boozy adventures on Bourbon Street or beignets (well, maybe for the beignets). My destination was Jefferson Parish, an area just outside the Big Easy where the airport is located, which promised a unique blend of history, culture and outdoor adventures.
“You’re in for a treat,” my ride share driver, a lifelong Jefferson Parish resident named Tarsha, told me. “We’ve got a little bit of everything here.”
She wasn’t exaggerating. Over the next three days, I discovered that Jefferson Parish is a destination of diverse experiences, each more exciting than the last. From historic districts to high- and low-octane adventures; from shopping to go-kart racing; from alligator kissing to fishing, this often-overlooked gem of Louisiana has a flavor all its own.
Step Back in Time
The boxers stand in a perpetual fight along the levee in Rivertown in Kenner, a charming historic district that transports visitors back to the early 1900s. Walking down the quaint streets lined with beautifully preserved buildings, I felt like I had stepped into a time machine.
The statue of boxers standing tall and proud pays tribute to legendary New Orleans native Pete Herman, who was the world bantamweight champion from 1917 to 1922. Created by sculptor
Kim Bernadas and unveiled in 2018, the statue became an instant hit with locals and visitors alike. This seven-foot-tall bronze beauty serves as a powerful reminder of Kenner’s rich sports history, but Rivertown offers more than art.
“Rivertown is the heart of Kenner,” says Charlene Hale, director of partnerships and travel media for the Jefferson Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It’s one of our many historic districts where our history comes alive.”
We immersed ourselves in science and space exploration at the Kenner Planetarium and Space Science complex, where we walked through the NASA International Space Station prototype and rocked out to a mind-bending laser light show featuring the music of Tool and Taylor Swift in the 50-foot arched MegaDome Cinema. Weather, biology and physics all become fun for both adults like me and for kids. Back on earth, Rivertown is also home to the Treasures of the Gulf museum, which offers a fascinating look at the maritime history of the region.
In Westwego, we explored the famous Shrimp Lot and its numerous bustling stalls of live blue crabs and gulf shrimp, and I managed to get pinched by one of those crabs when I carelessly snatched one up. I also came home with 20 pounds of fresh shrimp, which the vendors expertly boxed up so I could check my haul onto the plane back to Oklahoma City.
While I didn’t have time to visit Gretna, another historic district in Jefferson Parish that legend says is named for an 1830s play about runaway marriages that were often performed in the city, I put it on the list for next time. The Gretna Historical Society Museum, housed within a historic Creole cottage, and The
The space station prototype insde Kenner Planetarium and Space Science complex
German-American Cultural Center and Museum in Gretna sound particularly intriguing for history buffs and are on my must-see list for my next visit.
For those who love retail therapy, Jefferson Parish doesn’t disappoint. From the Lakeside Shopping Center, a sprawling complex with more than 100 stores and eateries, to the high-end fashion to local boutiques in Metairie and historic Old Metairie, I found everything I was looking for—and then some.
“Lakeside is great, but don’t miss out on Metairie Road,” Hale says. “It’s got some of the most unique shops in the area.”
Nature’s Playground
Jefferson Parish is a destination for outdoor enthusiasts, thanks to the abundance of green spaces and outdoor activities. In Lafreniere Park, a 155-acre oasis in the heart of Metairie, visitors can explore open green spaces, take in the landscaped gardens, fish in the ponds, walk or run on the two-mile trail, explore an ecological marsh environment or spend the day on the frisbee golf course. The park also has a carousel, soccer fields, a conference center, a dog park and a children’s spray park
“When I was growing up, this was all just overgrown woods,” Hale says. “Now, it’s like our big backyard, and people come here for concerts in the Concert Meadow. There’s always something happening here.”
For water enthusiasts, the parish offers numerous kayak launches, including a brand new one at Parc des Familles in Marrero. The park, famous for its championship frisbee golf course, also features kayaking and fishing on its bayous.
State Parks and Wildlife Make It Wild
Capitalizing on Louisiana’s natural beauty, Jefferson Parish boasts several state parks that instantly transport visitors into
a world where the hustle and bustle of city life ceases to exist (even though we’re only about 15 miles from New Orleans).
The crown jewel among these natural treasures is undoubtedly Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, a sprawling wild space that offers visitors a unique glimpse into the rich ecosystems of the Mississippi River Delta region via the boardwalks and trails that wind through the park’s lush landscapes.
The Barataria Preserve’s boardwalk trail is a particular highlight, snaking its way through mysterious swamps and marshes. As you stroll along the elevated wooden path, ancient cypress trees draped in Spanish moss, their gnarly knees reaching out of the water, seem like something from a fairy tale.
For those looking to delve deeper into the parish’s natural wonders, the park offers a variety of other trails catering to all levels of hikers. The Palmetto Trail, for instance, traverses through a palm-cypress swamp, while the Bayou Coquille Trail offers a journey through multiple habitats, from hardwood forests to marsh landscapes. Each trail tells its own story of the region’s ecology and history, with informative signs along the way that unravel the complex web of life that thrives in these wetlands.
In nearby Westwego, Bayou Segnette State Park offers another slice of Louisiana that’s not to be missed. This 676-acre park is a blend of swampy wilderness and modern amenities, making it a favorite among both fishing enthusiasts and comfort-seekers. Its unique over-water stilted cabins include a private balcony over the bayou for an unparalleled immersion into the wetland ecosystem.
Outdoor Adventure
As I sped around the sharp corners at the NOLA Motor Speedway, racing against my friends for the top spot in the go-kart race, I found Jefferson Parish has its “fast and furious” side, too. The NOLA Motorsports Park in Avondale is a state-of-
One of the many trails cutting through Barataria Preserve
Speeding around NOLA Motorsport
the-art facility and a petrolhead’s paradise, boasting a 2.75-mile road course that has hosted everything from professional races to amateur track days. Visitors can satisfy their need for speed on the park’s go-kart tracks, including North America’s longest karting circuit at a whopping 30 feet wide and nearly a mile long.
For those who prefer to leave the driving to others, the park offers ride-along experiences with professional drivers. But what really sets NOLA Motorsports Park apart is its versatility—one day it might be hosting a major racing event, and the next it could be the backdrop for a Hollywood movie shoot.
After losing the race at NOLA Motor Speedway, we embarked on a thrill-seeking adventure of another kind with Airboat Adventures Swamp Tours in Lafitte. As we sped through a 20,000-acre tract of tidewater cypress swamp on a classic airboat, Captain Jay regaled us with the history of the area and the unique challenges of maintaining the pristine waters as he lured dozens of alligators and birdlife to the boat. At one point, he leaned down to one particularly large gator and kissed it on its snout. I just laughed as I sipped my fresh daiquiri.
You can’t come to Jefferson Parish without fishing for the famous redfish or trout in the area. Booking a seaplane fishing charter is a bucket-list experience that combines the thrill of flying over the Gulf of Mexico with the relaxation of fishing.
Fishing doesn’t end there. After a solid night's sleep and a hearty breakfast at the Cajun Vista Lodge in Barataria, Captain Bobby with Bourgeois Fishing Charter led us out in the waters at dawn for another fishing adventure. And I hooked my buddy in the arm on my first cast, Captain Bobby was kind enough to cast for me for the rest of the day, but the thrill of pulling in two
mighty redfish all by myself was one of the highlights of my trip. He even cleaned them and packed up our catch to take home.
While I didn’t have time for it on this trip, the Total Cajun Experience caught my eye for next time. A day of crabbing and fishing, followed by a “Catch & Cook” meal: Sign me up!
Party Central
If there’s one thing Jefferson Parish knows how to do, it’s throw a party, the likes of which make neighboring New Orleans jealous. Home to numerous festivals, like Family Gras, Gretna Heritage Festival, Uncle Sam Jam and the Bridge City Gumbo Festival, the parish has a festival for every season.
“Our festivals are the best way to experience the real Jefferson Parish,” Hale says. “And the best part? They’re all free or very reasonably priced!”
After long days of exploration, I was grateful for the comfortable and conveniently located accommodations in Jefferson Parish. I stayed at the Marriott Lakeway in Metairie and the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel New Orleans Airport, which offered valet parking and easy access to a variety of restaurants.
“Our hotels are perfect for travelers who want to explore both Jefferson Parish and New Orleans,” Hale says. “You’re close to everything, but away from the hustle and bustle of the city.”
If food is the main reason for your visit to Jefferson Parish, you won’t be disappointed. From the classic Cajun/Italian fare at the famous Impastatos in Metairie and the French rotisserie and craft cocktails at Zea’s in Kenner to the hand-crafted authentic Mexican fare at local-favorite Felipe’s Taqueria and the succulent sushi at Diawa in Marrero, the food is more diverse than just fried seafood and gumbo (see story on page 9).
Of course, if that’s what you’re craving, you can’t go wrong with the classic Cajun-Creole dishes at Restaurant des Familles in Marrero or the charbroiled oysters at Drago’s Seafood Restaurant in Metairie.
A Promise to Return
As my trip came to an end, I found myself wishing for more time. I hadn’t made it to Grand Isle’s sandy beaches or tried my luck at the new Treasure Chest Casino. But that’s the beauty of Jefferson Parish—there’s always a reason to come back, and they’re always ready to receive you with Southern hospitality.
For travelers looking to experience the many facets of Louisiana off Bourbon Street, you can’t go wrong with visiting Jefferson Parish. It’s a place where history and modernity coexist, where nature and culture intertwine and where every visitor is treated like family. So pack your bags, bring your sense of adventure (and of humor) and prepare to fall in love with Jefferson Parish. Trust me—one visit is never enough.
On the hunt for red drum with Captain Bobby and Bourgeois Fishing Charter
DINING
Pull-out dining guide to the hottest eateries & bars
Jefferson Parish is a culinary epicenter, offering a variety of cuisine derived from our diverse culture and heritage. From Cajun and Creole to Caribbean, Italian, German, Mexican, Spanish, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern and French influences, your tastebuds will be celebrating! Experience the Jefferson Parish Louisiana Oyster Trail featuring Jefferson Parish restaurants serving Louisiana oysters in a variety of ways. Taste the local flavor, and as “lagniappe” (a little something extra), enjoy the whimsy of each participating restaurant’s three-foot-tall oyster sculpture hand-painted with flair by a local artist!
Gattuso’s Neighborhood Restaurant, Bar & Catering, Gretna
Jefferson Parish Visitor Guide
A TAVOLA RESTAURANT
3413 Veterans Memorial Boulevard
Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 577-2235
www.atavo.la
Modern Italian cuisine in a lively, family-friendly setting offering a spacious patio & lively bar.
ACME OYSTER HOUSE
3000 Veterans Memorial Boulevard
Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 309-4056
www.AcmeOyster.com
Oysters on the half shell, fried seafood platters & crabs.
AMORE BAKERY & CAFÉ
307 Huey P. Long Avenue
Gretna, LA 70053 (504) 322-2122
www.amorebakeryandcafe.com
We offer delicious pastries, specialty coffees & gelato!
AUSTIN’S RESTAURANT
5101 West Esplanade Avenue
Metairie, LA 70006 (504) 888-5533
www.austinsno.com
Casual, upscale dining in the heart of Metairie, offering fine steaks & fresh Louisiana seafood.
BEAR’S POBOYS
AT GENNARO’S
3206 Metairie Road
Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 833-9226
www.bearspoboys.com
Voted best roast beef poboy in Metairie!
BOBBY HEBERT’S CAJUN
CANNON RESTAURANT
4101 Veterans Memorial Boulevard
Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 324-6841
www.bobbyheberts.com
Combining Louisiana sports & authentic Louisiana food culture. Banquet space available.
BOULEVARD
AMERICAN BISTRO
4241 Veterans Memorial Boulevard
Suite 7
Metairie, LA 70006 (504) 889-2301
www.boulevardbistro.com
Classic American bistro offering specialty cocktails & quality hand-crafted cuisine.
BOULEVARD
AMERICAN BISTRO
5171 Citrus Boulevard
New Orleans, LA 70123 (504) 410-5171
www.boulevardbistro.com
A restaurant concept that was built to meet the community’s need for classic American dishes, exceptional service & consistent quality.
CAUSEWAY BAR & GRILL
2800 North Causeway Boulevard
Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 838-9128
www.causewaybarandgrill.com
“Causeway Bar & GrillHomegrown, homemade, taste the difference.”
CHEF RON’S GUMBO STOP
2309 North Causeway Boulevard
Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 835-2022
www.gumbostop.com
Home of the stuffed gumbo & gumbo toppers! Cozy location with outdoor seating.
DAIWA SUSHI BAR & JAPANESE CUISINE
5033 Lapalco Boulevard Marrero, LA 70072 (504) 875-4203
www.daiwamarrero.com
Family friendly Japanese restaurant serving traditional hand-crafted sushi & sake.
DEANIE’S SEAFOOD
1713 Lake Avenue Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 834-1225
www.deanies.com
Large portions of the best boiled, broiled & fried Louisiana seafood in a fun & casual atmosphere.
DON’S SEAFOOD
4801 Veterans Memorial Boulevard Metairie, LA 70006 (504) 889-1550
www.donsseafoodonline.com
A local favorite serving the freshest boiled & fried Louisiana seafood & steak.
DRAGO’S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
3232 North Arnoult Road
Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 888-9254
www.dragosrestaurant.com
Home of the original charbroiled oyster! Casual family restaurant.
DROOPY’S SNOWBALLS
1133 Hickory Avenue Harahan, LA 70123 (504) 273-9325
Made with the finest ice, Droopy’s snowballs were voted Jefferson Parish’s “Best in Sno” in 2022, 2023 and 2024!
FAT BOY’S PIZZA OLD METAIRIE
2565 Metairie Road
Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 345-2182
www.fatboyspizzanola.com
This local favorite makes BIG pizza. Their large pies measure 30 inches across!
FELIPE’S TAQUERIA
2004 Metairie Road
Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 676-5574
www.felipestaqueria.com
Award-winning Mexican food and the best margaritas that are fast, fresh, family friendly, and a great value. Online takeout & delivery available.
FISHERMAN’S COVE
3201 Williams Boulevard Kenner, LA 70065 (504) 443-3474
www.fishermanscoveseafood.com
Seafood retail store offering prepared Louisiana dishes & fresh local seafood. Shipping available.
GALLEY SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
2535 Metairie Road Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 832-0955
www.thegalleyseafood.net
Serving boiled, grilled & fried seafood & our local favorite, soft shell crab!
Daiwa Sushi Bar & Japanese Cuisine, Marrero
GATTUSO’S NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT, BAR & CATERING
435 Huey P. Long Avenue Gretna, LA 70053 (504) 368-1114
www.gattusos.net
Family restaurant with dog-friendly courtyard. Daily happy hour: 1/2 price select apps & drink specials.
HARBOR SEAFOOD & OYSTER
BAR RESTAURANT
3207 Williams Boulevard Kenner, LA 70065 (504) 443-6454
www.harborseafoodandoysterbar.com
Neighborhood seafood restaurant offering the highest quality of seafood for over 30 years.
HAYDEL’S BAKERY
4037 Jefferson Highway Jefferson, LA 70121 (504) 837-0190
www.haydelbakery.com
Full-line retail bakery with mail order products.
HOG ALLEY LOUNGE
115 Focis Street
Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 301-4960
www.facebook.com/ hogalleylounge/ Cocktails, food & fun in the heart of Old Metairie.
IMPASTATO’S RESTAURANT
3400 16th Street
Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 455-1545
www.impastatos.com
Authentic Italian dishes and Louisiana seafood specialties created by Sicilian born Chef/Owner Joe Impastato.
KENNER SEAFOOD MARKET, RESTAURANT & CATERING
3140 Loyola Drive
Kenner, LA 70065 (504) 466-4701
www.kennerseafood.net
Eat like a local for real Creole cooking or let them cater your next party or event.
LA MADELEINE FRENCH
BAKERY & CAFE
1200 South Clearview Parkway Suite 1314
Harahan, LA 70123 (504) 818-2451
www.lamadeleine.com
Quaint French cafe chain serving rustic country fare, espresso & fresh-baked baguettes.
LAS CRUCES TEX MEX
2935 Airline Drive
Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 383-6800
www.lascrucestexmex.com
Family-friendly space featuring quality Tex-Mex cuisine & craft cocktails.
LUCKY DOGS
900 Airline Drive Kenner, LA 70062 (504) 524-6010
www.luckydogsinc.com
Fast food hot dog kiosks at New Orleans Airport & throughout the French Quarter.
LUCY’S RETIRED SURFERS
BAR & RESTAURANT
701 Tchoupitoulas Street
New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 523-8995
www.lucyssurf.com
Our laid-back family- and dogfriendly bar & restaurant embodies the easy attitude of retired surfers around the world!
MARK TWAIN’S
PIZZA LANDING
2035 Metairie Road
Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 832-8032
www.marktwainpizza.com
Local family-friendly eatery offering pizza with an optional gluten-free crust, po’ boys & salads.
MARKET WEGO
100 Westbank Expressway Westwego, LA 70094 (504) 908-7564
www.marketwego.com
A true Cajun experience filled with local flavors, nestled by the bayou.
MARTIN’S
714 Elmeer Avenue
Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 896-7300
www.martinwine.com
Martin’s has offered great food, wine, spirits & events since 1946!
MOSCA’S RESTAURANT
4137 US-90 West Avondale, LA 70094 (504) 436-8950
www.moscasrestaurant.com
Nothing-fancy place serving hearty portions of family-style Italian fare since 1946.
OLIVE BRANCH CAFÉ
1995 Barataria Boulevard
Marrero, LA 70072 (504) 348-2008
www.olivebranchcafe.com
Family-owned local favorite serving a wide variety of pizza & Italian dishes.
PERINO’S BOILING
POT RESTAURANT
3754 Westbank Expressway
Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 340-5560
www.perinosboilingpot.com
Local favorite offering the freshest Louisiana seafood to parties of all sizes.
R&O’S RESTAURANT
216 Metairie Hammond Highway
Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 831-1248
www.r-opizza.com
Family-friendly restaurant in Historic Bucktown offering poboys, seafood & pizzas.
RAISING CANE’S CHICKEN FINGERS
• 4036 Veterans Memorial Boulevard
Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 297-1632
• 4817 Lapalco Boulevard Marrero, LA 70072 (504) 328-9550
• 919 South Clearview Parkway Jefferson, LA 70121 (504) 216-1426
• 3344 Williams Boulevard Kenner, LA 70065 (504) 466-5110
• 1735 Manhattan Boulevard Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 297-3600
• 5817 Airline Drive Metairie, LA 70003 (504) 733-1051
• 212 Veterans Memorial Boulevard Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 838-0493
www.raisingcanes.com
Raising Cane’s has “One Love” and that is serving the highest quality, fresh, never frozen, chicken fingers you’ve ever had.
RED MAPLE RESTAURANT
1036 Lafayette Street
Gretna, LA 70053 (504) 367-0935
www.theredmaple.com
Heart and soul of fine & casual dining in Historic Gretna.
RESTAURANT
DES FAMILLES
7163 Barataria Boulevard Marrero, LA 70072
(504) 689-7834
www.restaurantdesfamilles.com
Classic Cajun/Creole fare served in a unique setting along the bayou.
SEGNETTE LANDING
RESTAURANT
450 Laroussini Street Westwego, LA 70094 (504) 900-1901
www.segnettelanding.com
Rich Louisiana cuisine and ambience unique to this state.
SEITHER’S SEAFOOD
279 Hickory Avenue Harahan, LA 70123 (504) 738-1116
www.seithersseafood.com
Casual restaurant & fresh-fish market making local seafood specialties & live local music on the weekends.
SHORT STOP POBOYS
119 Transcontinental Drive Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 885-4572
www.shortstoppoboys.com
A great casual atmosphere to gather for New Orleans poboys & Southern comfort food.
SOUTHERNS
4620 Veterans Memorial Boulevard Metairie, LA 70006 (504) 258-1652
www.southernsfood.com
Full-service restaurant and catering company serving award-winning chicken sandwiches, burgers & more!
THE COURT OF TWO SISTERS
613 Royal Street
New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 522-7261
www.courtoftwosisters.com
Jazz brunch and Creole dinner in a spacious wisteria-covered French Quarter courtyard.
URBAN SOUTH BREWERY 1645 Tchoupitoulas Street
New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 267-4852
www.urbansouth.com
Official beer of the Oyster Trail Boldly brewing world-class beverages with urban soul & Southern heart.
VINCENT’S
ITALIAN CUISINE 4411 Chastant Street Metairie, LA 70006 (504) 885-2984
www.vincentsitaliancuisine.com
Award-winning Italian cuisine & seafood; voted best in town every year!
ZEA ROTISSERIE & BAR
• 1325 West Esplanade Avenue Kenner, LA 70065 (504) 468-7733
• 1655 Hickory Avenue Harahan, LA 70123 (504) 738-0799
www.zearestaurants.com
A polished, casual restaurant with a distinctly bold menu of freshlyprepared “Modern American” dishes & craft cocktails.
Seither’s Seafood Restaurant
Zea Rotisserie & Bar
GREAT OUTDOORS
Outdoors, Recreation & Fishing
A diverse landscape offers outdoor experiences for everyone from the professional sportsman to the family seeking fun in the sun! Just minutes from downtown, fish the bayous of Barataria, hike the hidden wetlands, experience the thrill of airboating or play a round of golf, explore biking trails and kayaking, go crabbing or camp under the stars on the beaches of Grand Isle.
Bayou Segnette State Park, Westwego
ANTHONY’S MISSING PIECES PLAYGROUND
67 Baron Lane
Kenner, LA 70065 (504) 468-7211
www.uanlimitedplay.org/ playground/kenner-inclusiveplayground/ Fully handicap-accessible park with over 8,000 square feet of safety surface.
BARATARIA PRESERVE OF JEAN LAFITTE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK & PRESERVE
6588 Barataria Boulevard Marrero, LA 70072 (504) 689-3690
www.nps.gov/jela
Protecting the natural wetlands of Southeast Louisiana; hiking, bird watching & exhibit center.
BAYOU ADVENTURE (504) 754-5300 www.bayouadventure.com
Self-serve kayak rental kiosks (2 locations)
• Parc Des Familles 6101 Leo Kerner Lafitte Parkway Marrero, LA 70072 (at the kayak launch near the fishing pier)
• Grand Isle Kayak Launch 135 LSU Drive Grand Isle, LA 70358 (end of Ludwig Drive near the LDWF Complex)
Effortless self-serve rentals for spontaneous explorations and unforgettable bayou adventures. Visit website for reservations.
BAYOU SEGNETTE STATE PARK
7777 Westbank Expressway Westwego, LA 70094 (504) 736-7140
www.lastateparks.com/ parks-preserves/ bayou-segnette-state-park
Boating, fishing, picnicking, wave pool, camping & cabin rentals.
BONNABEL BOAT LAUNCH/FISHING PIER 1599 Bonnable Boulevard Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 833-3591
Fishing pier, kid’s playground, dog park & boat launch.
BUCKTOWN MARINA
325 Metairie Hammond Highway Metairie, LA 70067 (504) 736-6999
www.jeffparish.gov
70 boat slips, 2 floating piers, boardwalk & greenspace.
CAJUN VISTA FISHING LODGE
2783 Privateer Boulevard
Barataria, LA 70036 (504) 341-5614
www.neworleansfishing.com
Charming historic lodge, Cajun cuisine and thrilling fishing charters 30 minutes from New Orleans.
GRAND ISLE STATE PARK
108 Admiral Craik Drive Grand Isle, LA 70358 (985) 787-2559
www.lastateparks.com/ parks-preserves/ grand-isle-state-park
One mile of beachfront! 900-footlong public fishing pier, observation tower & camping.
JEFFERSON PARISH PARKS & RECREATION
6921 Saints Drive Metairie, LA 70003 (504) 736-6999
www.jeffparish.gov/ 422/parks-recreation Parks, playgrounds, & athletic facilities.
JULES NUNEZ SEAFOOD PAVILION AND AJ & SHERON FABRE MARKET
920 Jean Lafitte Boulevard Lafitte, LA 70067 (504) 689-2208
www.townofjeanlafitte.com
Lafitte waterway, fisheries & seafood market.
KENNER PARKS AND RECREATION
2001 34th Street Kenner, LA 70065 (504) 468-7211
www.kenner.la.us
Parks, playgrounds & athletic facilities.
LAFITTE BARATARIA MUSEUM & WETLAND TRACE
4917 City Park Drive Lafitte, LA 70067 (504) 689-7888
www.townofjeanlafitte.com
See authentic Cajun living. Hike over a 41-acre, moss-covered swamp. View wildlife & marsh vegetation.
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve, Marerro
LAFRENIERE PARK
3000 Downs Boulevard Metairie, LA 70003 (504) 838-4389
www.lafrenierepark.org
155-acre public park. Lagoon, playground, dog park, carousel, soccer fields, fitness path & concessions.
LASALLE PARK
6600 Airline Drive
Metairie, LA 70003 (504) 731-4726
www.jeffparish.gov
Public baseball quadraplex, soccer fields, agrarian garden, outdoor environmental classroom & nature boardwalk.
LOUISIANA CHARTER BOAT ASSOCIATION (L.C.B.A.) (504) 430-1737
www.louisianacharterfishing.com
Your guide to professional charter boats in Louisiana.
PARC DES FAMILLES
6101 Leo Kerner Lafitte Parkway Marrero, LA 70072 (504) 736-6999
www.jeffparish.gov
Baseball quadraplex, boardwalk, splash park, dog park & premier disc golf course.
PONTCHARTRAIN CONSERVANCY
8001 Lakeshore Drive
New Orleans, LA 70124 (504) 836-2215
www.saveourlake.org
The new Canal Lighthouse & Museum is open 7 days a week!
SEA MAC'S CHARTERS 1618 LA-1
Grand Isle, LA 70358 (318) 732-2515
www.seamacscharters.com
Premier Grand Isle fishing guide
Parc des Familles, Marrero
ATTRACTIONS & SHOPPING
Jefferson Parish is home to three historic districts, two award-winning theaters, museums, two state parks, a national park and preserve, swamps and bayous, karting and motocross racing, indoor and outdoor recreational venues and a variety of shopping from sprawling malls with over 120 shops. Make sure to experience our boutiques and specialty shops, and our fisheries and farmers markets. There is no shortage of activities to revel in!
Westwego Shrimp Lot
ADVENTURE QUEST LASER TAG
1200 South Clearview Parkway, Suite 1106
Harahan, LA 70123 (504) 207-4444
www.lasertagnola.com
Escape to fun! Lasertag, bumper cars, arcade, gold & maze!
ADVENTURES IN NEW ORLEANS TOURS
414 Canal Street
New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 523-9745
www.neworleansadventuretours.com
An adventure in the swamps and bayous of Louisiana.
AIRBOAT ADVENTURES
5145 Fleming Park Road Lafitte, LA 70067 (504) 689-2005
www.airboatadventures.com
Call Airboat Adventures today for your high-speed swamp tour!
CAJUN ENCOUNTERS TOUR COMPANY
55345 US-90
Slidell, LA 70461 (866) 928-6877
www.cajunencounters.com
Local, family-owned company
offering city bus, plantation & swamp tours.
CHATEAU
GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB
3600 Chateau Boulevard Kenner, LA 70065 (504) 467-1351
www.chateaugcc.com
50,000 sq. ft. clubhouse with competitive 72 par 18 hole course, tennis, swimming, dining & beautiful function space.
CLEARVIEW CITY CENTER
4436 Veterans Memorial Boulevard Metairie, LA 70006 (504) 885-0202
www.clearviewcitycenter.com
Restaurants & anchor stores: Target, Ochsner Medical Complex, AMC Dine-In Palace Theatre, The Metro at Clearview, Contemporary Luxury Urban Living (Preleasing Now, Opening Late 2024).
COLONIAL
BOWLING LANES
6601 Jefferson Highway
New Orleans, LA 70123 (504) 737-2400
www.colonialbowling.net
Family-owned bowling center with 24 lanes, a bar, lunch specials & league play.
DESTREHAN PLANTATION
13034 River Road
Destrehan, LA 70047 (985) 764-9315
www.destrehanplantation.org
The oldest documented plantation home in the lower Mississippi River Valley, open for tours 7 days a week, excluding holidays.
GAME ON SOCIAL HUB
2421 Veterans Memorial Boulevard Kenner, LA 70062 (504) 469-7475
www.gameonsocialhub.com
An interactive social experience: 34,000 sq. ft. encompassing a full restaurant, bar, bowling, laser tag, axe throwing & arcade.
GERMAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER AND MUSEUM
519 Huey P. Long Avenue Gretna, LA 70053 (504) 363-4202
www.gacc-nola.org
Interprets the German immigrant contribution to Louisiana, 1720s to present.
GRETNA BMX
800 Gretna Boulevard Gretna, LA 70053 (504) 371-5197
www.usabmx.com
Bicycle Motorcross Racetrack for all ages. Spectators welcome.
GRETNA CULTURAL CENTER FOR THE ARTS
740 4th Street Gretna, LA 70053 (504) 363-1580
www.gretnala.com
Venue rental for special events and theater for live performances.
GRETNA FARMERS MARKET & ART WALK
739 Third Street Gretna, LA 70053 (504) 361-1822
www.gretnafarmersmarket.org
Free fun for the entire family & pet friendly!
HARAHAN FARMERS MARKET
6601 10th Street
Harahan, LA 70123 (504) 259-6594
Held on Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Harahan Playground.
JEAN LAFITTE HARBOR
4932 Kenal Road Lafitte, LA 70067 (504) 689-2013
www.jeanlafitteharbor.com
Total Cajun Experiences, swamp tours, cabin rentals, fishing charters—a one-stop shop outdoor recreational resort.
Treasure Chest Casino, Kenner
Airboat Adventures, Lafitte
JEAN LAFITTE SWAMP & AIRBOAT TOURS
6601 Leo Kerner Lafitte Parkway Marrero, LA 70072 (504) 689-4186
www.jeanlafitteswamptour.com
Our swamp & airboat tours meander down bayous abundant with wildlife & plant life.
JEFFERSON INDOOR RANGE & MACHINE GUN TOURS
6719 Airline Drive
Metairie, LA 70003 (504) 218-7822
www.jeffersonindoor.com
Enjoy shooting a variety of exotic machine guns for ultimate entertainment.
JEFFERSON PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
6400 Airline Drive
Metairie, LA 70003 (504) 731-4700
www.jeffersonpac.com
1,041-seat state-of-the-art venue hosting concerts, theater, private/ corporate/community events & more!
JEFFERSON PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY
6400 Airline Highway Metairie, LA 70003 (504) 885-2000
www.jpas.org
Professional live performing arts entertainment.
LOUISIANA CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
15 Henry Thomas Drive
New Orleans, LA 70124 (504) 523-1357
www.lcm.org
“Whoa, what is that?” Indoor and outdoor experiences are fully accessible for every single amazing kid!
LOUISIANA TOUR COMPANY
9706 Barataria Boulevard Marrero, LA 70072 (504) 689-3599
www.louisianaswamp.com
One tour company for the most popular swamp tours, plantation tours & city tours.
MARDI GRAS WORLD
1380 Port of New Orleans Place
PADDLEWHEELER
CREOLE QUEEN
#1 Poydras
New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 529-4567
www.creolequeen.com
See New Orleans from a unique point of view on an authentic paddlewheeler!
PELICAN NEW ORLEANS TOURS
600 Oak Harbor Boulevard, Suite 103
Slidell, LA 70461 (504) 503-0420
www.pelicanneworleans.com
Local, family-owned hospitality company.
RIVERTOWN MUSEUMS & KENNER PLANETARIUM
2020 Fourth Street
K1 SPEED
800 Webb Street
New Orleans, LA 70121 (504) 943-6040
www.k1speed.com
Indoor racing facility featuring electric go-karting, arcade, lounge area, food options & party rooms.
LAFRENIERE PARK FARMERS
ART MARKET
3000 Downs Boulevard
Metairie, LA 70003 (504) 544-1044
Fresh fruit, vegetables, breads, meats, French food, Mexican food, crawfish pies, eggs, jams & jellies!
LAKESIDE SHOPPING CENTER
3301 Veterans Memorial Boulevard
Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 835-8000
www.lakesideshopping.com
Premiere shopping district boasting exclusive stores found nowhere else across the Gulf Coast region.
LOFT18
3128 Metairie Road
Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 827-1059
www.loft18.com
A premier indoor golf and entertainment center.
New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 361-7821
www.mardigrasneworleans.com
Come see where Mardi Gras is made!
MOVIE POSTER ARCHIVES GALLERY & GIFTS
2112 Belle Chasse Highway Suite 8-131 Gretna, LA 70056 (225) 283-4498
www.movieposterarchives.org
There’s no place like home...or Movie Poster Archives Gallery & Gifts!
NOLA GOLD RUGBY
6000 Airline Drive Metairie, LA 70003 (504) 507-8429
www.nolagoldrugby.com
“NOLA Gold, Your Major League Rugby Team, is Back in 2024!”
NOLA MOTORSPORTS PARK
11075 Nicolle Boulevard Avondale, LA 70094 (504) 302-4875
www.nolamotor.com
Go-karting, professional racing, track days, events and more...Geaux faster NOLA!
OAKWOOD CENTER
197 Westbank Expressway, Suite 33 Gretna, LA 70053 (504) 218-0501
www.oakwoodcenter.com
Shopping center anchored by Dillard’s, JC Penney, Dick’s Sporting Goods & H&M.
Kenner, LA 70062 (504) 468-7231
www.kenner.la.us/271/Rivertown “Rivertown, a 16-block Main Street USA Historic District with museums, shopping & dining.
• Heritage Park
• LaSalle’s Landing
• Kenner Planetarium & MegaDome Cinema
• Space Center Science Complex
• Planetarium & Science Complex are opened to the public on Saturdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Groups of 10 or more by appointment only, TuesdayFriday. Visit website or call to purchase tickets.
RIVERTOWN THEATERS FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
325 Minor Street
Kenner, LA 70062 (504) 461-9475
www.rivertowntheaters.com
A wide range of professional theatrical performances, from musicals to children’s theatre.
ST. JOSEPH AND FELICITY PLANTATIONS
3535 Highway 18
Vacherie, LA 70090 (225) 265-4078
www.stjosephplantation.com
Fully intact sugarcane farm: manor home, original cabins, blacksmith shop & schoolhouse.
Lakeside Shopping Center, Metairie
B O O K Y O U R A D V E N T U R E T O D AY !
Harahan, LA Walk-Ins Welcome
STONEBRIDGE GOLF CLUB OF NEW ORLEANS
1500 Stonebridge Drive Gretna, LA 70056 (504) 394-1300
www.golfstonebridge.com
Premier links-style golf course with amazing ballroom to host weddings, corporate events and parties!
THE NATIONAL WORLD WAR II MUSEUM
945 Magazine Street New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 528-1944
www.NationalWW2Museum.org
Personal stories, historic artifacts & interactive displays in the country’s official World War II Museum.
THE WESTWEGO CULTURAL CENTER
177 Sala Avenue Westwego, LA 70094 (504) 885-2000 www.jpas.org
A season of spectacular Comedy, Improv & Stand Up laughs. Rentals available.
TPC LOUISIANA
11001 Lapalco Boulevard Avondale, LA 70094 (504) 436-8953
www.tpc.com/louisiana
Live the PGA Tour experience. Home of the Zurich Classic.
TREASURE CHEST CASINO
4540 Willams Boulevard Kenner, LA 70065 (504) 443-8000
www.treasurechest.com
Welcome to where you want to be for plenty of casino action, four unique restaurants, plus meeting & event space.
ULTIMATE SWAMP ADVENTURES
450 Laroussini Street
Westwego, LA 70094 (504) 566-1290
www.ultimateswamptour.com
Swamp and airboat tours in swamp closest to New Orleans.
WESTWEGO FARMERS & FISHERIES MARKET
484 Sala Avenue and Fourth Street Westwego, LA 70094 (504) 341-9083
www.visitwestwego.com
This open air market provides concerts, festivals, fairs, cook-offs & many community events.
WESTWEGO HISTORICAL MUSEUM
275 Sala Avenue Westwego, LA 70094 (504) 341-3161
www.visitwestwego.com
Visit the best-kept secret, the Westwego Historical Museum!
WESTWEGO PERFORMING ARTS THEATRE
177 A-Sala Avenue Westwego, LA 70094 (504) 885-2000
www.jpas.org
A season of spectacular theatre is waiting for you! Private rental available.
WESTWEGO SHRIMP LOT
100 Westbank Expressway Westwego, LA 70094 (504) 650-3490
Since 1978, an iconic open air seafood market.
Gretna Green Blacksmith Shop
HOTELS & HOUSING
From value-priced to deluxe accommodations, Jefferson Parish hotels are designed to help guests rest easy. They offer comfortable and affordable accommodations convenient to restaurants, entertainment, shopping and attractions. Many hotels offer complimentary parking, breakfast and airport shuttle. Prefer a more unique stay? The tranquility of a cabin along the Bayou Segnette or a raised camp off the beaches of Grand Isle, or waterways of Lafitte are ideal getaways!
Bucktown Marsh Boardwalk, Metairie
1ST LAKE PROPERTIES, INC.
4971 West Napoleon Avenue Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 455-5059
www.1stlake.com
We offer over 9,500 quality apartments and over 70 great locations.
BEST WESTERN BAYOU INN
9008 Westbank Expressway
Westwego, LA 70094 (504) 301-1150
www.bestwestern.com/bayouinn
Conveniently located near Alario Center & French Quarter. Complimentary HOT breakfast and Wi-Fi.
BEST WESTERN PLUS WESTBANK
1700 Lapalco Boulevard
Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 366-5369
www.bestwesternwestbank.com
Beautifully appointed guest rooms with charming courtyard and exceptional guest service.
BRENT HOUSE HOTEL
1512 Jefferson Highway Jefferson, LA 70121 (504) 835-5411
www.brenthouse.com
Free covered parking & Wi-Fi, on-site bistro, Smoothie King & PJs Coffee.
CANDLEWOOD SUITES AVONDALE
3079 Highway 90 Avondale, LA 70094 (504) 875-3500
www.candlewoodsuites.com/ hotels/us/en/avondale/ msyav/hoteldetail
Extended stay hotel with all the amenities of home!
CLARION HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER NEW
ORLEANS AIRPORT
2829 Williams Boulevard Kenner, LA 70062 (504) 467-5611
www.choicehotels.com/la418
Full-service amenities, convenient location 2 mi. from Airport off I-10.
Floating Cabins, Bayou Segnette State Park, Westwego
Century of Sentries Park, Kenner
COMFORT INN & SUITES AT COPELAND TOWER
2601 Severn Avenue, Building A Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 526-4595
www.nolahotels.com
Free covered parking, steps away from great shopping, 15 minutes from airport, French Quarter, Superdome & cruise terminal.
COMFORT INN-MARRERO-
NEW ORLEANS WEST
6751 Westbank Expressway Marrero, LA 70072
(504) 267-0701
www.choicehotels.com/louisiana/ marrero/comfort-inn-hotels/la174
Friendly customer service, a variety of amenities & easy access to local attractions.
COMFORT SUITES-HARVEYNEW
ORLEANS WEST
1611 Elton Court Road Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 361-9110
www.choicehotels.com/louisiana/ harvey/comfort-suites-hotels/la181
Relaxing, conveniently located suite hotel offering parking & cruise packages.
CONTEMPRA INN
2820 Williams Boulevard Kenner, LA 70062 (504) 468-7700
www.contemprainn.com
Clean, quiet and smoke-free suburban motel with valuepriced rooms.
Jefferson Performing Arts Center, Metairie
COUNTRY INN & SUITES BY RADISSON, METAIRIE
2713 North Causeway Boulevard Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 835-4141
www.choicehotels.com/la498 Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Metairie offers complimentary hot breakfast & free parking.
COURTYARD NEW ORLEANS METAIRIE
2 Galleria Boulevard Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 838-3800
www.courtyardneworleansmetairie.com When it comes to vacation travel, we offer a refreshing way to unwind.
Boating, Grand Isle
DOUBLETREE BY HILTON NEW ORLEANS AIRPORT
2150 Veterans Memorial Boulevard Kenner, LA 70062 (504) 467-3111
www.neworleansairport.doubletree.com
Hot breakfast buffet; room service from 11 a.m to 11 p.m.; market open 24/7.
EXTENDED STAY
AMERICA
2232 Veterans Memorial Boulevard Kenner, LA 70062 (504) 303-4765
www.extendedstayamerica.com
Affordable, pet-friendly, extended stay hotel offering clean rooms with kitchens.
HAMPTON INN & SUITES
HARVEY
1651 5th Street
Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 324-5688
www.harveysuites.hamptoninn.com 10 minutes to downtown, indoor pool, fitness center, free hot breakfast & WiFi.
HAMPTON INN & SUITES
NEW ORLEANS – ELMWOOD
5150 Mounes Street
Harahan, LA 70123 (504) 733-5646
www.hamptoninn.com/hi/ neworleanselmwood
Conveniently located in the Elmwood Business Park with complimentary hot breakfast, hi-speed wireless internet & parking.
HAMPTON INN METAIRIE
2730 North Causeway Boulevard Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 831-7676
www.metairie.hamptoninn.com
Traditional hotel with an outdoor pool & a gym, plus free hot breakfast & a 24/7 airport shuttle.
HILTON GARDEN INN NEW ORLEANS AIRPORT
4535 Williams Boulevard Kenner, LA 70065 (504) 305-5400
www.neworleansairport. stayhgi.com
Conveniently located by the airport, downtown & casino. Stay & play by the lake.
HILTON NEW ORLEANS AIRPORT
901 Airline Drive Kenner, LA 70062 (504) 469-5000
www.neworleansairport.hilton.com
Airport property designed to accommodate business & leisure guests. Free airport shuttle.
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS, HARVEY - MARRERO
2433 Manhattan Boulevard Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 366-5055
www.hiexpress.com/harveyla
Recently completed full renovation in guest rooms, lobby & breakfast area.
HOLIDAY INN METAIRIE NEW ORLEANS
2261 North Causeway Boulevard
Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 373-5946
www.holidayinn.com/ metairiela
Conveniently located in the “Heart of Metairie”, offering boundless amenities!
Oyster Sculpture & Mural, Fat City/Metairie
HOLIDAY INN NEW ORLEANS AIRPORT NORTH
1300 Veterans Memorial Boulevard Kenner, LA 70062 (504) 325-5720
www.holidayinn.com/nolaairport New, conveniently located hotel is adjacent to the airport & has 121 comfortable rooms.
HOME 2 SUITES BY HILTON HARVEY
1701 11th Street Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 962-7222
www.hilton.com/en/hotels/ msyhtht-home2-suites-harvey/ Conveniently located, petfriendly suites with kitchens, complimentary Wi-Fi & breakfast.
NEW ORLEANS MARRIOTT METAIRIE AT LAKEWAY
3838 North Causeway Boulevard Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 836-5253
www.metairiemarriott.com
Contemporary hotel offering Starbucks, breathtaking views & 10,000 square feet of meeting space.
SHERATON METAIRIENEW ORLEANS
4 Galleria Boulevard Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 837-6707
www.marriot.com/msyms
Upscale full-service hotel in convenient location.
SUBURBAN EXTENDED STAY HOTEL OF AVONDALE
3051 Highway 90 Avondale, LA 70094 (504) 324-4900
www.suburbanhotels.com/ hotel-avondale-louisiana-LA170 Award-winning extended stay hotel offering suites with full kitchens.
TOWNEPLACE SUITES BY MARRIOTT NEW ORLEANS/METAIRIE
5424 Citrus Boulevard Harahan, LA 70123 (504) 818-2400
RAMADA METAIRIE NEW ORLEANS AIRPORT
3400 South I-10 Service Road West Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 833-8201
www.ramadametairie.com
Conveniently located, full-service hotel offers free parking, pool & 24-hour IHOP Restaurant.
RESIDENCE INN METAIRIE
3 Galleria Boulevard Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 832-0888
www.marriott.com/msyrm It’s not a room. It’s a Residence.
www.marriott.com/msytm Enjoy 124 luxurious suites featuring full size kitchens. Pet-friendly hotel.
TOWNEPLACE SUITES NEW ORLEANS HARVEY / WESTBANK
1800 Central Boulevard Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 495-1144
www.marriott.com/MSYHV
Conveniently located hotel offering spacious suites with fully equipped kitchens.
EVENT PLANNING
Convention Facilities, Caterers & Business Services
With over 8,500 hotel rooms, an international airport, two convention centers and various venues from quaint and comfortable to big and bold, Jefferson Parish is the perfect location to hold your meeting or event. Professional caterers offer authentic Louisiana fare and hospitality to create the ideal event, along with specialists in print, event build-out, live entertainment, equipment rental, audio/visual, PR services and photography.
Sunpie Barnes Duo
ALARIO CENTER
2000 Segnette Boulevard Westwego, LA 70094 (504) 349-5525
www.alariocenter.com
Hosting sporting, community, cultural, and retail events & banquets.
ARC DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS
3521 20th Street
Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 838-8300
www.e-arc.com
Providing document services since 1988.
BAG OF DONUTS
4828 Hastings Street
Metairie, LA 70006 (866) BOD-NOLA
www.bagofdonuts.com
A New Orleans party band & the creators of Super Pop!
BALCONY BALLROOM
4738 Utica Street
Metairie, LA 70006 (504) 885-8001
www.balconyballroom.com
It’s got love, romance & all that jazz!!
BARRECA’S FOOD SERVICES
4812 Cleary Avenue
Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 430-0079
davidbarr1@cox.net
Food & beverage service consulting.
BOX OF CARE GIFT COMPANY
1001 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Suite 105 Kenner, LA 70062 (504) 432-1427
www.boxofcare.com
Specializing in personal and corporate gifting that showcases items that are native to our area.
BUISSON CREATIVE
3330 North Causeway Boulevard, Suite 216 Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 378-3792
www.buissoncreative.com
A full-service advertising, public relations & government relations agency.
CALUDA’S COTTAGE CATERING & KING CAKES
1536 River Oaks Road West Harahan, LA 70123 (504) 343-5706
www.cottagecatering.com
Catering supplier that specializes in king cakes. Shipping options also available.
CARL MACK PRESENTS
318 North Rampart Street
New Orleans, LA 70112 (504) 949-4009
www.carlmack.com
New Orleans’ finest and largest event entertainment, production & costume company.
CORPORATE LIGHTING & AUDIO
5207 River Road Harahan, LA 70123 (504) 837-3947
www.corplighting.com
Specializing in activations, concerts, conferences, conventions & special events making lasting impressions on audiences.
CRESCENT CITY COCA-COLA BOTTLING COMPANY UNITED 5601 Citrus Boulevard Harahan, LA 70123 (504) 818-7300
www.cocacolaunited.com/ locations/new-orleans/ Buy, drink, enjoy! Group tours are available.
DESTINATION MARKETING CONSULTANTS
3532 Ridgeway Drive Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 616-4888
Marketing consulting for the hospitality & tourism industry.
DOCUMART
5624 Citrus Boulevard New Orleans, LA 70123 (504) 733-7377
www.documart.com
Full-service commercial printing, including brochures, banners & promotional items.
EVENT PRODUCERS
5724 Salmen Street Harahan, LA 70123 (504) 466-4066
www.eventproducers.com
A full-service event management, design & production company.
EXPOTEL HOSPITALITY
401 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Suite #102 Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 212-2744
www.expotelhospitality.com
Expotel Hospitality is a hotel ownership/management company committed to excellence of service.
FAMEAGENCY
3525 Hessmer Avenue, Suite 305 Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 883-2001
www.fameagency.com
Model/talent agency providing actors, models, specialty acts, convention hosts & more!
FORE! KIDS FOUNDATION
11005 Lapalco Boulevard Avondale, LA 70094 (504) 342-3000
www.zuichgolfclassic.com
Dedicated to raising funds for children’s charities through the Zurich Classic.
FRENCH QUARTERLY PUBLICATIONS/ MARDI GRAS PUBLICATIONS P.O. Box 10006 New Orleans, LA 70181 (504) 250-8784
www.frenchquarterly.com
Bringing you the best of the Greater New Orleans area and its neighboring parishes.
GREATER NEW ORLEANS HOTEL & LODGING ASSOCIATION
614 Canal Street, Suite 100 New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 525-2264
www.gnohla.com
Professional trade association of the Greater New Orleans area hotel & lodging industry.
GREATER NEW ORLEANS SPORTS FOUNDATION/ R & L CARRIERS
NEW ORLEANS BOWL
320 Metairie-Hammond Highway, Suite 300 Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 525-5678
www.gnosports.com
Non-profit organization attracting and managing sporting events in the region.
GRETNA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (GEDA) 327 Huey P. Long Avenue Gretna, LA 70053 (504) 361-7748
www.gedaweb.com/
Improving business through networking, promoting tourism, helping other non-profits.
HUFFT MARCHAND HOSPITALITY CATERING
619 Pink Street Suite B Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 766-6902
www.hufftmarchand.com
Delivery, food truck or fullservice staffed events from office lunches to backyard weddings!
Alario Center, Westwego
JEFFERSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
3421 North Causeway Boulevard, Suite 203
Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 835-3880
www.jeffersonchamber.org
Five-Star Chamber improving business and improving lives in Jefferson Parish.
JEFFERSON PARISH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (JEDCO)
700 Churchill Parkway Avondale, LA 70094 (504) 875-3908
www.jedco.org
Driving economic initiatives and creating opportunities for business growth in Jefferson Parish.
JEFFERSON PARISH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (JEDCO) CONFERENCE CENTER
701A Churchhill Parkway Fairfield, LA 70094 (504) 875-3908
www.jedco.org
State-of-the-art facility for corporate retreats, training/ seminars & receptions.
JEFFERSON PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM (JPPSS)
501 Manhattan Boulevard Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 349-7600
www.jpschools.org
Engaging, challenging and satisfying work for every student, every day.
JEFFERSON PARISH REGIONAL LIBRARY
4747 West Napoleon Avenue Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 838-1190
www.jplibrary.net
16 locations, including two large regional libraries, meeting space & weekly events.
LAZYEYE PHOTOGRAPHY
174 Avant Garde Circle Kenner, LA 70065 (504) 388-9947
www.lazyeyephoto.com
Premier commercial & event photography company specializing in festivals & corporate events.
LOUISIANA HOSPITALITY FOUNDATION
P.O. Box 24046 New Orleans, LA 70184 (504) 754-8900
www.louisianahospitality.org
Producers of the Fidelity Bank Champions Club at Zurich Classic, Gold Medal Chefs Gala & more.
LOUISIANA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, GREATER NEW ORLEANS CHAPTER
2700 North Arnoult Road Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 454-2277
www.lra.org
Promote, protect and serve the interests of the state’s food service & hospitality industry.
LOUISIANA RETAILERS ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 78039 Baton Rouge, LA 70837 (225) 344-9481
www.laretail.org
Louisiana Retailers Association represents the legislative, regulatory & political interests of the retail industry.
MESSINA’S CATERING & EVENTS
916 Dakin Street Jefferson, LA 70121 (504) 469-7373
www.messinascatering.com
Catering to your needs from private parties to major events. Celebrating over 50 years!
MOBILITY CITY
3501 Severn Avenue
Suite 3 B/C Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 608-1656
www.mobilitycity.com
A mobility equipment rental, repair & sales company.
MOXIE MEDIA
1301 Dealers Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70123 (504) 733-6907
www.moxienola.com
Crafting unforgettable moments your events & videos deserve, where your vision meets their expertise.
MR. MUDBUG & 12 SEASONS CATERING
5616 Citrus Boulevard
New Orleans, LA 70123 (504) 465-9770
www.12seasonscatering.com
An all-inclusive, mobile catering company specializing in creating custom menus.
NEW ORLEANS AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
2900 Elysian Fields Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70122 (504) 861-2077
www.habitat-nola.org
NOAHH builds affordable housing with volunteers, partner families & donors.
NEW ORLEANS TELEVISION (NOTV)
330 Exchange Alley
New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 524-9900
www.knov.neworleanstv.tv
New Orleans Television (NOTV) is New Orleans’ original, one and only broadcast Visitor Information Station, providing visitors with facts & insider information.
OLD METAIRIE ROAD BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 55512
Metairie, LA 70055 (504) 666-1823
www.metairieroad.org
Historical Metairie Road is 2.7 charming miles offering shopping, dining & business services.
ORLEANS EMBROIDERY
4517 Thalia Street
New Orleans, LA 70125 (504) 266-2618
www.orleansembroidery.com
20 years of in-house production experience producing embroidery & promotional items.
PARISH
COFFEE
1001 Industry Road Kenner, LA 70062 (504) 827-0878
www.parishcoffee.com
Coffees that are hand-selected by coffee buyers, craft-roasted and batch-blended with precision & care.
PIGEON CATERING
803 Jefferson Highway Jefferson, LA 70121 (504) 262-0412
www.pigeoncaterers.com/
Caters a unique and delectable menu that perfectly complements your special occasion.
PONTCHARTRAIN
CONVENTION AND CIVIC CENTER
4545 Williams Boulevard Kenner, LA 70065 (504) 465-9985
www.pontchartraincenter.com Multi-purpose 73,000 sq. ft. facility hosts meetings, banquets, conventions, sporting events, etc.
PROFORMA KEY SOLUTIONS
505 Commerce
New Orleans, LA 70123 (504) 305-6404
www.proforma.com/keysolutions
Make your job easier with fullservice marketing solutions without the agency fees.
RENAISSANCE PUBLISHING
110 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Suite 123 Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 828-1380
www.myneworleans.com
Publisher of New Orleans Magazine, Biz New Orleans, New Orleans Bride & more!
RESTECH
220 Phlox Avenue Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 733-5633
www.restech.net
Restech provides IT support & services to Louisiana businesses.
RESTORE THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER DELTA
3801 Canal Street, Suite 325
New Orleans, LA 70119 (504) 708-5862
www.mississippiriverdelta.org
Reconnecting the Mississippi River to its delta to protect people, wildlife and jobs.
SHOW TIME RENTALS
3013 Harvard Avenue Metairie, LA 70006 (504) 883-7329
www.showtimerents.com
A/V rentals, laptops, projectors, copiers, lights, virtual conference experts & video studio.
SHRINE ON AIRLINE
6000 Airline Drive Metairie, LA 70003 (504) 547-8500
www.shrineonairline.com
Multi-use entertainment complex—we are your “blank canvas”!
TAYLORED HOSPITALITY SOLUTIONS
5456 Bellaire Drive
New Orleans, LA 70124 (619) 520-5025
www.tayloredhospitalitysolutions.com
Helping hospitality companies keep more of their hard-earned profits.
THE FOUR COLUMNS
3711 Westbank Expressway Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 340-4109
www.fourcolumns.com
Elegant venue that is perfect for all events, catering & weddings.
THE FRYING STATION
2214 Reverend Richard Wilson Drive Kenner, LA 70062 (504) 259-0853
Professional caterers for life’s special events! Specializing in deep southern-fried comfort!
THE MOORE
5616 Citrus Boulevard
New Orleans, LA 70123 (504) 704-1567
www.themoorevenue.com
Beautiful, newly-renovated, 5,100 square foot ballroom that can host wedding receptions, cocktail parties or seated dinners.
UNITED WAY OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA
2401 Canal Street
New Orleans, LA 70119 (504) 822-5540
www.unitedwaysela.org
Fighting for the health, education & financial stability of their community.
VIDEO VENTURES
1201 Convention Center Boulevard
New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 486-1000
www.vvnola.com
Full-service audio/visual equipment rental for meetings & conventions.
VIVID INK GRAPHICS
2538 Poydras Street New Orleans, LA 70119 (504) 734-6201
www.vividink.com
Print communications firm specializing in marketing fulfillment for local, regional & national brands.
WESTBANK BUSINESS & INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (WBIA) 5201 Westbank Expressway Marrero, LA 70072 (504) 367-1721
www.wbianola.com
Dedicated to supporting, improving and protecting the interests of business throughout the Westbank of New Orleans.
YUR EVENT RENTALS
105 West Third Street Kenner, LA 70062 (504) 218-0726
www.yurevent.com
A full-service party & event rental company.
Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center, Kenner
TRAVEL
Planning & Transportation
ALERT TRANSPORTATION
#3 Westbank Expressway
New Orleans, LA 70114 (504) 362-4145
www.alerttransportation.com
Chauffeured ground transportation service specializing in all types of personal luxury vehicles.
AUDUBON COACHCAJUN ENCOUNTERS SWAMP TOURS
600 Oak Harbor Boulevard, Suite 101
Slidell, LA 70461 (504) 210-8340
www.audubonlimousine.com
We offer luxury transportation services & professional drivers.
CITY OF KENNER
1801 Williams Boulevard
Kenner, LA 70062 (504) 468-7200
www.kenner.la.us
Live, work and play. Enjoy our parks, shopping & dining.
GRAND ISLE TOURIST COMMISSION
2757 LA Highway 1 Grand Isle, LA 70358 (985) 787-2997
www.townofgrandisle.com
Have a GRAND time fishing, relaxing, hiking, camping, birding & eating fresh seafood.
GRETNA OFFICE OF TOURISM
1035 Huey P. Long Avenue Gretna, LA 70053 (504) 363-1580
www.gretnala.com
A historic structure that serves as the official welcome center for the City of Gretna.
GULF SOUTH TRAVEL SERVICES
P.O. Box 13490
New Orleans, LA 70185 (504) 952-0641
www.gulfsouthtravelservices.com
Gulf South Travel Services is a Receptive Tour Operator specializing in customized group itinerary planning.
HOTARD COACHES, INC.
2838 Touro Street
New Orleans, LA 70122 (504) 942-5700
www.hotard.com
The South’s leading provider of group transportation services for over 80 years.
LOUIS ARMSTRONG NEW ORLEANS
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Terminal Drive Kenner, LA 70062 (504) 303-7500
www.flymsy.com
Modern, efficient terminal. Free WiFi, convenient parking. Local shops & restaurants.
NICOLL’S LIMOUSINE & SHUTTLE SERVICE
4305 Williams Boulevard
Kenner, LA 70065 (504) 249-6679
www.nicolls.com
Offering the ultimate experience for special events, weddings & airport transfers.
TOWN OF JEAN LAFITTE
VISITOR CENTER
799 Jean Lafitte Boulevard Lafitte, LA 70067 (504) 689-2299
www.townofjeanlafitte.com
Adventures of Jean Lafitte Museum, info on swamp tours & charter fishing.
WESTWEGO TOURIST
INFORMATION CENTER
10 Westbank Expressway Westwego, LA 70094 (504) 436-0812
www.visitwestwego.com
All the information you’ll need to travel!
PONTCHARTRAIN CENTER
LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN
KENNER
LOUIS ARMSTRONG NEW ORLEANS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAUSEWAY BRIDGE
BUCKTOWN
LAFRENIERE PARK
RIVERTOWN
ELMWOOD
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
BRIDGE CITY
OLD METAIRIE
LAFITTE
AVONDALE
HARAHAN
WESTWEGO
WAGGAMAN
ALARIO CENTER
GRETNA
JEFFERSON PARISH AREA MAP
Welcome to Jefferson Parish! The adjacent map will help you navigate our destination. Our unique landscape spans from the Gulf of Mexico to the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. We are nestled next door to our famous neighbor, New Orleans, but you’ll see we’re worlds apart.
Green spaces: visitors will enjoy the experiences found in our greenspaces, or further removed within the lush landscapes of our two state parks, Grand Isle and Bayou Segnette, as well as the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve. For the adventurous, try a day exploring the bayous and swamps aboard an airboat or pontoon. Hiking trails, nature boardwalks, bird watching and bike trails are plentiful for those seeking a pace all their own. Recreational fishing is a must while visiting our coastal communities of Grand Isle, Crown Point, Westwego, Marrero and Lafitte, or you can even drop a line closer to downtown at one of our fishing piers/boat launches along Lake Pontchartrain, located in Metairie or Kenner.
Historic Districts, Entertainment & Shopping: Jefferson Parish is a shopper’s dream with major malls boasting hundreds of retailers and local boutiques offering regional items and Louisiana specialties. Two premier theaters feature dynamic performances from ballet to Broadway, and our museums contain historical records and stories of the people and places that helped shape our communities. In addition, the Treasure Chest Casino and thrilling indoor and outdoor attractions for kids of all ages provide you with a variety of options to keep the fun going!
Visitjeffersonparish.com
GRAND ISLE
Jefferson Parish will celebrate its bicentennial in 2025! This momentous occasion marks 200 years of rich history, culture and community spirit. Jefferson Parish has always been a vibrant tapestry of diverse communities, each contributing to the unique character and charm that defines our area.
Jefferson Parish originally extended from present-day Felicity Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, to the St. Charles Parish line. As Orleans Parish grew, it annexed from Jefferson Parish such established areas as the Garden District, Lafayette, Jefferson and Carrollton. The present boundary was set in 1874, and the seat of parish government was transferred to the West Bank in Gretna, where it remains.
Join us as we celebrate with a year-long party! From Mardi Gras and festivals to special events, local cuisine and more, Jefferson Parish will offer bicentennial discounts and commemorative items.
For more information on Jefferson Parish’s Bicentennial celebrations, scan the QR code or visit www.visitjeffersonparish.com.
Construction of the Huey P. Long Bridge in 1933
The Seven Oaks Plantation in Westwego
