October 9 2008 | New Orleans

New Orleans is the most well-known and most-visited destination in Louisiana, and understandably so! From the restaurants in New Orleans to the festivals to the shops in the French Quarter - there's a lot to do and to experience in the city of New Orleans. But just in case you're running out of things to do or see...consider the outskirts of New Orleans and the parishes outside of Jefferson and Orleans.

The River Parishes of Louisiana are home to a lot of great sites to see as well! If you've never explored the River Parishes, you might want to take a weekend and plan some day trips. While the river parishes aren't as well-known as Orleans Parish, there's a lot to see.

For starters, there are a great deal of outdoor activities in the River Parishes. If boating is your thing, the Bonne Carre Spillway is there, as well as many other locations. Golf is a sport you can play at one of the five country clubs, or at the St. Rose Driving Range.

So keep the River Parishes (St. Charles, St. James, and St. John) in mind when you're looking for something to do, and you want to see what's going on right outside of the Big Easy!