Sports and leisure activities - Louisiana in 2024

Practical information : Move & Laze around Louisiana

Budget & Tips

There are ways to stretch your legs without paying a cent. City and town councils provide a variety of sports facilities, from swimming pools to tennis courts and baseball diamonds. Access is usually free or for a small fee. There is also a network of free multi-purpose trails in Louisiana for both cyclists and hikers. A few dollars are required in state parks and nature preserves. For adventures such as deep-sea fishing and skydiving, however, you will need to budget accordingly.

What's very local

With the Gulf of Mexico bathing the southern part of the state, sea fishing is a popular activity for locals and tourists alike. Several companies are based south of New Orleans, including Buras, Venice, Grand Isle and Cocodrie, not to mention the Calcasieu River estuary area near the Texas border. For those wondering where to fish for crawfish, the options are ultra limited, with almost all of it being commercial fishing. The only place we know of that is open to the general public is the Crawfish Haven Mrs. Rose's Bed & Breakfast in Kaplan, Cajun Country.
Another popular activity, especially when the mercury is high, is tubing, or tubing as it is called here. The Northshore region of Greater New Orleans is famous for tubing and has several tubing centers, mostly in Bogalusa, Franklinton and Denham Springs.
Finally, the second amendment of the U.S. Constitution obliges us to mention firearms, whether we are for or against carrying a gun. Americans are fond of guns and have several shootingranges at their disposal, and Louisiana is no exception. You don't have to be a member of the center to test your shooting skills, but conditions apply and vary from one center to another (all the information is on their respective websites).

Your documents please

Some activities require certification or a valid license. For example, if you want to rent a motorized watercraft, go fishing or scuba diving. The same goes for driving an all-terrain vehicle on public roads (called an ATV or UTV), where it is permitted, which requires you to carry your driver's license. And for those who would like to go shooting on a shooting range, conditions may apply, such as having taken a basic firearms safety course or being accompanied by an experienced shooter. In short, find out what the requirements are beforehand.

To be booked

Since space is often limited, reservations are recommended, if not essential, for guided outdoor tours, adrenaline activities (skydiving, zip lines and aerial courses, etc.), fishing and golfing, and spa treatments and massages. The same goes for the games of New Orleans' professional sports teams, namely the Saints in soccer (NFL team) and the Pelicans in basketball (NBA team). Although tickets can usually be purchased on site, during the playoffs, reservations become essential to secure a seat.

Main events

There are many high-caliber sporting events in Louisiana, starting with the games of New Orleans' professional sports teams (Pelicans in basketball and Saints in soccer), but also those of the college and university leagues that promote the next generation of athletes (see the NCAA - National Collegiate Athletic Association - website for a list of sports and teams: ncaa.com). In professional soccer, New Orleans will host the Super Bowl in 2025, the ultimate annual NFL championship and one of the most watched sporting events in the world. At the college/university level, the Allstate Sugar Bowl held annually in January in New Orleans is not to be missed.
Louisiana also has several non-professional sports teams such as the Crescent City FC and the New Orleans Jesters in soccer, and the NOLA Gold Rugby in rugby.
Several marathons are also held in Louisiana, including Baton Rouge, Lafayette and New Orleans. Other events include the Angola Prison Rodeo in April and October in Angola (rodeos), horse racing at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, the Tour du Teche in October on the Teche and Courtableau bayous and the Atchafalaya River (watercraft races), and the Zurich Classic New Orleans in Avondale, which welcomes the best of the PGA Tour golfers every April.

Tourist traps

At sporting events, scalpers are omnipresent around the venue. While it is true that you can save a few dollars by buying from them, it would be a shame to waste your money on fake tickets. So go through the official ticket booths.

Sports and leisure activities Louisiana

HAYES E. DAZE RANCH

GOLD COAST SKYDIVERS

BOGUE CHITTO TUBING

TAMMANY TRACE

KAYAK-ITI-YAT

ENGLISH TURN GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

AUDUBON PARK GOLF COURSE

NEW ORLEANS SCHOOL OF COOKING

HONEY BRAKE LODGE

MAGNOLIA RIDGE ADVENTURE PARK

TPC GOLF LOUISIANA

HACKBERRY ROD & GUN

TACK-A-PAW EXPEDITIONS

Find unique Stay Offers with our Partners