Ancient 800-Year-Old Oaks Guard This 1,300-Acre Urban Oasis in the Heart of New Orleans

The City Park, New Orleans

City Park started as swampland, grew into a social hub during the Great Depression, and survived Katrina’s punch. Today it’s 1,300 acres of art, music, and pure Southern life. Here are some of the best things to do during your visit.

Glide Through the Lagoons on a Venetian Gondola

This is how you see the water in style. 

The gondola “Bella Mae” takes you on 50-minute floats through quiet lagoons where time slows down. 

Book Wednesday through Sunday from 1-7pm, when you’ll drift past 900-year-old oaks while spotting herons, egrets, and other critters that call this place home. 

Discover the Besthoff Sculpture Garden

It’s twelve wild acres with over 90 sculptures scattered among winding paths, lagoons, and moss-draped 200-year-old oaks that have seen more history than any tour guide. 

Check out the Glass Bridge by Elyn Zimmerman and that massive tile mosaic wall that shows the Mississippi River – both made just for this spot. 

Walk the “canal” path that dips partly underwater, making you feel like you’re walking through the water itself. 

Experience the Enchantment of the Singing Oak

A 125-year-old oak tree hung with black-painted wind chimes, some reaching 14 feet long, all placed by local artist Jim Hart. 

Hart built these chimes using aluminum alloy tuned to the pentatonic scale – the same notes that give early New Orleans jazz and West African gospel hymns their soul. 

Visit on a breezy afternoon when the city noise fades and these chimes sing their haunting melody. Find it east of Big Lake on the park’s south side, not far from the art museum. 

Ride the Historic Carousel at Carousel Gardens Amusement Park

These “Flying Horses” have been spinning since 1906, still powered by the original motor with music from a 1915 Wurlitzer Band Organ. 

When Katrina left it standing in dirty flood water for three weeks in 2005, locals rallied to raise nearly $500,000 to save it.

Look closely at the animals – “standers” with three feet on the ground, “prancers” with just back legs down, and 30 “jumpers” with all four feet in the air that slide up and down. 

Back in 1988, they put this treasure on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Explore the Wild Beauty of Couturie Forest

This is where you escape the tourist circus completely. 

Sixty acres of wild forest with eight different eco-systems, plus New Orleans’ highest point – Laborde Mountain, a whopping 27 feet above sea level. Wander far enough and you’ll find hidden rope swings and makeshift stick forts built among the trees. 

Birders go nuts here – 230 different bird species have been spotted, including rare visitors like Groove-billed Ani and those flashy Buff-bellied Hummingbirds. 

Hit the trails early morning when fog hangs low over the lagoons, turtles sun themselves on logs, and you might go an hour without seeing another human. 

Challenge Yourself on the Disc Golf Course

Every one of the 18 holes gives you options – two different baskets and three tee pad choices depending on whether you’re a beginner or some disc-flinging pro. 

Go for blue baskets if you want shorter but trickier shots, or hit the gold baskets when you’re ready to test your distance control and shot-making. 

Most folks use the concrete tee pads for solid footing when you let it rip. The course weaves through both wide-open fields and dense woods, with some holes sending your disc sailing over water. 

Tee Off at City Putt Miniature Golf

Two completely different 18-hole courses – one showing off Louisiana’s towns and history, the other highlighting New Orleans neighborhoods and landmarks. 

It’s right by Carousel Gardens and Storyland, so you can easily hit all three in one afternoon. After your round, collapse on the deck under big umbrellas, and grab a sno-cone from the stand right at the entrance.

Look for the holes featuring tiny versions of local icons like Jackson Square and the French Quarter. 

Journey Through the Park on the Miniature Train

The Historical Musical Train Tour covers two miles as you roll through the park’s hidden corners. The route takes you along Bayou Metairie, past the Sculpture Garden, and loops back to where you started. 

Marvel at the Mirror Labyrinth

The Mirror Labyrinth messes with your head in the best way, creating an infinite puzzle where you become part of the artwork through countless reflections. 

Built during the sculpture garden’s 2019 expansion, it links the old and new sections with mind-bending visual tricks. The mirrors capture surrounding trees and water, creating endless tunnels of green and blue that shift with each step. 

Visit the New Orleans Botanical Garden

Ten acres packed with over 2,000 plant types arranged in themed areas, including proper English gardens and a bamboo-filled Japanese section. 

Check out the Enrique Alferez Sculpture Garden area with 15 works by the Mexican-American artist who left his mark all over the city. The miniature train set showing old New Orleans neighborhoods is surprisingly cool – catch it running on weekends. 

Thanks to New Orleans’ swampy climate, something’s always blooming no matter when you visit. 

Discover the Best Birdwatching Spot in New Orleans

This is the real bird scene – Couturie Forest lets even amateur birders spot 40+ species in a single morning. 

The 230 bird species recorded here include rarities that rival coastal hotspots – look for Ash-throated Flycatchers, Cave Swallows, and the elusive MacGillivray’s Warbler. 

The park’s position near Lake Pontchartrain makes it prime real estate for exhausted migrating birds needing a rest. 

Cycle Through the Park’s Extensive Trail Network

The absolute best way to cover serious ground. Four miles of paved trails connect Bayou St. John all the way to Lake Pontchartrain, with extra paths criss-crossing the park for a complete tour. 

You’ll find plenty of shady spots to rest when the heat gets too much. 

The paths connect most major attractions, making it easy to park your bike, explore on foot, then pedal to the next spot.