Fontainebleau State Park and Mandeville

Fontainebleau State Park and the town of Mandeville sit on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, about 35 miles (56 km) from Downtown New Orleans and roughly 45 minutes by car. The route follows I-10 West to the Causeway Boulevard exit in Metairie, then crosses the 24-mile Lake Pontchartrain Causeway northbound, which has no toll in that direction. The park, at 62883 Highway 1089 in Mandeville, is about 7 miles east of the causeway's north shore end. A rental car is the only practical transport, and park entry is about $3 per person. Fontainebleau occupies the grounds of a former plantation and sugar mill, and the ruins of the brick sugar mill remain near the lakeshore. Visitors can walk the nature trails through live oaks draped in Spanish moss, picnic beside the lake, watch for birds along the shoreline and visit the sandy beach area. The park also offers camping and a boat launch, and facilities are well kept. The adjacent town of Mandeville has a lakefront promenade, seafood restaurants and small shops, and the nearby Northshore communities offer additional dining and art galleries. A practical itinerary starts with the causeway drive in the morning, which is itself a highlight, with open water on both sides. Spend the late morning walking the park trails and the sugar mill ruins, then eat lunch at a Mandeville lakefront restaurant. The afternoon can include a stroll on the lakefront or a stop at the Old Mandeville historic district before returning across the Causeway toward sunset. October to May is the best period, when temperatures are mild and insects are fewer. Summer is hot with mosquitoes and the risk of afternoon storms. The Causeway can be closed or restricted during fog, so checking conditions before leaving is wise. The southbound return crossing carries a toll, which should be accounted for in the budget. A bike path and quiet lakefront roads suit travelers who prefer a slower pace.