Celebrating 4th of July in and around New Orleans

With a long weekend to chill out, relax, and enjoy the great outdoors, we’ve got some awesome ideas for celebrating the 4^th of July in and around New Orleans:

Go Kayaking Along Bayou St. John

Whether you prefer to be on the water in the evening and watch the sun set through the trees, or hang out with friends for some fun in the sun, Bayou St. John is a great place to kayak. Need some gear? Check out Bayou Paddlesports for renting kayaks as well as standup paddleboards and canoes, and reserve a time slot online. Good to know: they’re happy to teach beginners.

Head to a Hotel Pool

No pool in your backyard? No problem. Some New Orleans hotels with pools, bars and rooftop gardens offer locals day passes and deals for cool, splashy fun. The Ace Hotel welcomes adults to its pool from 10 am-10 pm with a day pass, while The Drifter Hotel offers two-hour pool sessions, seven days a week. And don’t miss out on The Country Club (a bar and restaurant in the Bywater) – it offers day passes to its pool, as well as annual memberships for swimmers. Have you checked out The Chloe yet? They offer poolside reservations, light bites, and tropical drinks. Yes, please!

Bike the Lafitte Greenway

Take a leisurely ride along the Lafitte Greenway and see some public art, or stop off for a bite and a cold drink. Roll up to Parkway Bakery & Tavern, order a po-boy, and enjoy it by the bayou, or park your bike in one of the 60 bike parking spaces at Wrong Iron, and cool off with a frozen strawberry frosé or a margarita.

Picnic in the Park

If relaxing in the shade of oak trees is your thing, you’ve got plenty of parks to choose from – from City Park to Audubon Park to Crescent Park and more. Pack up some gourmet-to-go from your favorite grocery store, check out Picnic, Provisions & Whiskey for delicious picnic items, or simply chill out with a snoball. (We love Chance in Hell Snoballs in the Bywater and Hansen’s on Tchoupitoulas.)

No matter what you do, be sure to enjoy some downtime with family and friends. And Happy 4^th of July!