Metairie is on the doorstep of New Orleans
Metairie vacation rentals offer a place to stay in a quiet, charming corner of Louisiana's big city. Butting up to the sloshing waters of Lake Pontchartrain, the area is packed with timber-clad cottages and homey little condos that are perfect for a family group. What's more, they all sit less than a 30-minute drive from the attractions of New Orleans proper, where the bustling French Quarter, the big band jazz bars, the spice-scented Creole cookhouses, the classic Mississippi riverboats, and all the other big, bold attractions of The Big Easy await.
Sightseeing in and around Metairie
Are you looking for things to do while you're in town? Venture out of your cozy vacation rental and experience everything that Metairie has to offer. Here are some of the major attractions to put on your list, all within 30 miles (48.2 km) of the city center:
- Fair Grounds Race Course (4.3 mi / 6.9 km)
- Audubon Zoo (4.4 mi / 7.2 km)
- Marie Laveau House of Voodoo (5.5 mi / 8.9 km)
- Audubon Aquarium of the Americas (5.8 mi / 9.4 km)
- TPC Louisiana (5.9 mi / 9.5 km)
- NOLA Motorsports Park (6.6 mi / 10.7 km)
Get adventurous in Metairie
Choosing Metairie vacation rentals over the more popular spots in downtown New Orleans can open up a much more adventurous set of activities for the whole family. Closer to the swamps of Maurepas, and just one long causeway away from Big Branch Marsh, you could easily launch boating tours of the brackish creeks and wetlands from here. What's more, historic pioneer towns beckon from across Lake Pontchartrain, while all the joys of New Orleans itself – French Quarter walking tours, voodoo museums, jazz clubs – are only a short jaunt to the east.
Metairie is all about Mardi Gras season
Metairie follows the same seasonal pattern as New Orleans as a whole, which means the top times to head down are during the winter and spring festival season. That goes from January all the way through to March, and sees the whole town erupt with Mardi Gras parades and ad hoc jazz shows. However, pleasant weather also dominates in December, when fewer travelers are hitting The Big Easy, and when Metairie vacation rentals are even easier to come by.
Be wedged between the swamps in Metairie
Metairie is a great jump-off point for exploring the famous Louisiana wetlands and swamps. It's sandwiched between the vast waters of Lake Pontchartrain and the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area to the west, which means airboating tours through the brackish creeks and waterways are a must. Be sure to take the camera along, because the submerged red maple forests, the bulrush thickets, the hulking water oak, and the elegant snowy egrets are all a wonder to behold.
How to get to and around Metairie
The nearest airport is in Louis Armstrong New Orleans Intl. Airport (MSY), located 6.3 mi (10.1 km) from the city center.