Fairview-Riverside State Park

Grand old oak trees, a cool and calm river winding lazily by, and your dog by your side -- if this sounds like your idea of a pawesome outdoor getaway, you'll feel right at home in Fairview-Riverside State Park. Located less than 40 miles north of New Orleans, this beautiful state park seems a world away from The Big Easy and offers a plethora of recreational activities.

Covering 99 acres of terrain alongside the Tchefunkta River, Fairview-Riverside State Park is a haven for anglers. The river's clear waters are home to bass, bluegill and more, as well as channel catfish, speckled trout, and redfish where the river flows into Lake Pontchartrain.

The park itself sprawls beneath a canopy of majestic oak trees, which not only provide ample shade but also lend a sense of grandeur. Several picnic tables, a group pavilion, and a kids' playground are scattered beneath the trees, while the park's quarter-mile nature trail is an easy and relaxing walk.

History buffs can also check out Otis House, which was originally built in the 1880s as the family home for a local sawmill owner. This grand residence has now been turned into a recreational site for visitors, and tours of its museum now run from Wednesdays to Sundays.

When you're ready to call it a day, the Fairview-Riverside State Park campground boasts more than 100 shaded campsites. Pets are welcome in the campground but are not allowed in any park buildings.

You'll also need to keep your pooch on a leash of six feet or shorter at all times, and make sure you dispose of their waste responsibly.

Fairview-Riverside State Park is the pawfect location for anyone who wants to get a taste of life in Louisiana's great outdoors. And because it's so close to New Orleans, it's a convenient location for a camping getaway all year round.