The Great Migration - Birdfest - Things to do

 I've been a little slack on posting, the weather has had me yearning for the outdoors and it makes it so difficult to be inside when the birds are singing, the flowers are blooming and the sun is shining!  Well if you are reading this, it is due to the sun, or lack there of.  Today the birds are getting their bath, and the plants are getting a much needed drink! 

Now's the time for all you birders out there to migrate to our area for the 2013 Louisiana Birdfest as the migration of many species from Mexico and South America make their way to Louisiana as a resting spot.  If you can't make it to the Birdfest, many of the areas they tour are just minutes from Woodridge.  Bring your bird-guides, binoculars, walking shoes and your cameras and come for a visit.  Many of these visitors also visit Woodridge, just prop your feet up on the balcony and the bird song will keep you in awww. 


B&B's are a better way to stay, so while visiting Southeastern Louisiana, stay at Woodridge Bed and Breakfast - play hard, sleep well! Debbi & Tim Keepers of the Inn and Concierge to your perfect getaway!

Birder's paradise - part of the 100+ things to do

 Birds seem to know a great place to call home and Southeast Louisiana seems to be where many species want to hang their hat, some using this area as their second home while others find there is no where else in the world they would rather be.  Whether you are an avid birdwatcher or would like to give it a go, you have found the place to be.  Birding is a year round 'sport' here but late winter - early spring provides the best viewing as the trees have less foliage and a good number of migratory species spend their winters here.

There are so many places to whip out those binoculars and bird books that instead of listing, here are a couple of websites with lists of state and federal wildlife refuges and management areas:  State of Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries    US Fish & Wildlife Services - SE LA

Big Branch Marsh - photo credit US Wildlife & Fisheries

 Pictured is Big Branch National Wildlife Management Area (NWMA), located 15 minutes SW from Woodridge, while Bogue Chitto NWMA is 15 minutes N.  And part of the Honey Island Swamp State WMA is only 5 minutes away.   Note that to visit any LA State WMA you must obtain a permit (anywhere hunting/fishing permits are purchased). 



B&B's are a better way to stay, so while visiting Southeastern Louisiana, stay at Woodridge Bed and Breakfast - play hard, sleep well! Debbi & Tim Keepers of the Inn and Concierge to your perfect getaway!

An Audubon Zoo Kind of Day

Life in the Swamp -

Ever wondered what it's like living in the swamp? Well the producers of "Swamp People" which airs on the History Channel, thought just that! They traveled down to the bayous of Louisiana to find people who live such a life. One of this year's Swamp People is Terral Evans who lives in Pearl River, Louisiana and works the river of the same name. There have been many other movies filmed in this area all due to the beauty they find in the river and on its banks.
In these parts, the river is known as the Honey Island Swamp, filled with gators, wild boars, black bear, deer, an array of fowl and of course some creepy crawly critters and slithery snakes. Now I grew up near another well known swamp and never thought of them as something I wanted to spend much time around, much less in, but I have a new found love of the swamp and the wildlife that inhabits its parts. And given a trained eye there is no telling what you may find when touring this wonderful area. So how do you get a trained eye for this? Well the best way is to find a local to run you down the river... and I admit Capt. Jack is one of the best eyes around. He can be found at Honey Island Swamp Tours in Slidell along with several other great guides. Or bring your own boat and make an adventure of it all, there are several area landings where boaters can set off and by the way, there is some mighty good fishing in this water too!

The summer is the best time to view gators of course while the winter is best for fowl with the bare trees. Winter also brings in many migratory birds not thought to be found in these parts of the country. The Honey Island Swamp is just a couple of blocks (as the crow flies) from Woodridge Bed and Breakfast where you will find ample parking for your boat and the tour offers a discount for registered guests when booked by the innkeeper.


Posted by Debbi owner & Innkeeper, Woodridge B&B

A Sunny Sunday drive to the beach....

A beautiful Sunday drive, don't you just love them... taking the road less traveled!!

I remember when growing up each Sunday after changing out of our church clothes and eating our dinner we would all pile in the car and head to where ever the road lead us. With the price of gas today these drives are few but when we do they are cherished even more.

This was a short drive(30 minutes)and the view of the gulf water was worth every ounce of gas... Once we made that bend and the gulf was in view it was not long before we parked the car and let our feet dig deep in the sand and we rolled up our pants to keep the waves from dampening more than our legs. So relaxing and the water washed all the stress from our bodies as the waves massaged our feet. Then sat in the sand to watch and listen to the Seagulls and Least Terns as they flew in the breeze.

Back in the car we saw signs for Pass Cristian's Annual Art's Festival so we stopped for a stroll viewing all the local talent, hearing some great music and great food. We felt so relaxed after our afternoon drive, ready for what ever the week ahead held.

The gulf coast beach is located just 30 minutes from Slidell, LA and Woodridge Bed and Breakfast making it a great central location for your stay - combine beach, nature trails, small town charms and all there is to do in New Orleans - all without unpacking but once.

A Walk in the Park - Camp Salmen Nature Park

Slidell Louisiana welcomes a new Nature Park to its list of areas preserved for enjoyment of young and old. Located on the beautiful Bayou Liberty, the park has over six miles of walking trails, boardwalks and scenic overlooks.

This property once housed a prosperous brick factory that served New Orleans. One of the earliest buildings of the area still stand on this property, built in the early 1800's this old Creole French building served and a major trading post of the Bayou Liberty area for over a century and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. When the factory closed, the owners donated some of the land to the Scouts. An enduring scout culture–one which developed from the collective experiences of tens of thousands of young scouts–endures in the shadows of this building, nicknamed Salmen Lodge by the scouts.
The property is a rich ecological endowment of native landscapes and an unusually diverse community of plants and animals, which make the Camp Salmen Nature Park a living museum. http://www.campsalmennaturepark.org/
When visiting Camp Salmen Nature Park, choose a night or two at Woodridge Bed and Breakfast www.woodridgebb.com which also is surrounded by two wildlife refuges: Bogue Chitta National Wildlife Refuge and Honey Island State Wildlife Refuge

The Spring Bird Migration

This is an excellent time for birding in South Louisiana, the weather is warm and the trees are starting to produce shade but are still sparse enough to see what's nesting on their branches. While this is home for many species, spring brings many visitors to the area for a good place to rest in their journey back home.

There are many spots to feast your eyes on many species: Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge, Honey Island State Wildlife Refuge and the Northlake Nature Center to name a few. Each April the Nature Center holds it's Great Louisiana Bird Fest, with Birding trips, workshops, Louisiana food and fun. For more info about birding in SE LA visit: http://www.tulane.edu/~bfleury/neworleans/BirdingNO.html

Nesting in a bird habitat, Woodridge B&B is the perfect location for your stay. We will be happy to provide you with birding and trail information to make your visit a memorable one.

Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge - Trails & More

Just west of Slidell, Louisiana and on the banks of Lake Pontchartrain lies a march area known as Big Branch. The National Wildlife Refuge maintains this 17 thousand acre area to protect nature from the population encroaching these nature resting areas.

The Boy Scout Trail of 4.5 miles takes you through several habitats and to the banks of Bayou Lacombe. This trail is a gravel meandering around swamp and marsh areas where waterfowl, shorebirds, wading fowl, and neotropical migrants find peaceful refuge. Some colonies include the Red Cockaded Woodpecker colonies, Bald Eagle nests, and Osprey nests. A short quarter mile raised boardwalk trail leads hikers to a cypress slough near the banks of Bayou Lacombe.

The NWR sponsors 'Wild Things' each October, the Saturday after Columbus Day, which is during the National Wildlife Refuge Week. "Wild Things" has presentations, demonstrations, live animals, live music, and tours. While in April, the refuge celebrates The Great Louisiana Bird Fest which will be highlighted in a future article. This is free and open to all visitors.

The Big Branch NWR is also a great place for canoeing, biking, wildlife observation and photography as well as fishing* and hunting*. Each Saturday, the park has guided walking and canoe tours for visitors. No charge for this service. *You must obtain a license to hunt or fish.

Big Branch NWR is located in Lacombe, LA. Take I-12 to exit 74, turn south onto Hwy 434. The offices (signs state Bayou Lacombe Center) are located on Hwy 434 near the junction of US 190.
Big Branch is aprox. 20 minutes from Woodridge Bed and Breakfast Slidell - Pearl River, Louisiana and about 1 hour from New Orleans.

Trails for the Nature Lover in You - Hide & Seek

Well there is a new craze taking the world by storm, Geocaching! Have you heard of it? Adding a fun game to your hiking experience, can make you day even more exciting. Some choose to do the seek and find - the person collecting the largest variety of tree leaves gets a prize or track the list of bird species found.

Well now there is Geocaching! A hide and seek game where a treasure of sorts is hidden in a location, usually along trails, river banks and such. A fun game for adults and families. Once a geocache is hidden, the coordinates are downloaded on to and are then made available for geocachers around the world to seek the treasure. Using a GPS devise, plug in the coordinates and search away, there will be clues to assist you as well. When you find the treasure, you usually take a piece and replace it with another item. To become a member and learn the coordinates, go to the website and become a member.

Now why am I telling you all about this? Louisiana's State Parks and historical sites have just joined with Geocaching.com in a special treasure hunt. Anyone finding all 41 can win a silver "geocoin" minted for the campaign. Prizes include a set of three such coins — one silver, one bronze and one black alloy — and a weekend stay at a state park. To become a member and learn the coordinates, go to the Geocaching website. For additional information go to

With many of Louisiana's historical sites and one state park near by, why not make it a weekend packed with adventure, fun while enjoying a peaceful rest at Woodridge Bed and Breakfast. just 30 minutes from New Orleans.

Take a Hike or Bike - Tammany Trace

Take a hike, in St. Tammany that is! The Tammany Trace is a 27 mile trail once was home to the railroad and travels from Slidell to Covington through woods, wetlands and small towns in between. In the 1800's the rail system brought New Orleans elite to the northshore to escape the harsh summer heat, as you hike along this trail you will spot many summer estates surrounded by moss covered live oaks. Each little town beckons visitors to sample a taste of their town while on your route, from Lacombe, Mandeville, and through Abita Springs each providing their own native twist to the northshore area.

Woodridge Bed and Breakfast is about a 10 minute drive to the Slidell trail-head parking and rest area. Additional parking is found at the Mandeville trail-head, and in Abita Springs.

Southern Mississippi's Nature Trails

The Southern Mississippi's Black Creek and Tuxachanie Trails located just south of Hattiesburg, off of U.S. Hwy 49 in the DeSoto National Forest providing over 60 miles of excellent hiking that affords a variety of scenery ranging from bottom-land swamps, pitcher plant savannas, pine covered hills and steeper hardwood covered ridges.

The Black Creek Trail hugs near the Black Creek River and is not heavily traveled, great beginners as well as veterans trail. The National Forest also has horse, bike and ATV trails.

The Tuxachanie Trail is a 23 mile trail through pine forest and bottom-land swamps, and for the first 5 miles, follows an old abandoned railroad for the first which was built in the early 1900's by Irish immigrants, which served the Dantzler Lumber sawmill.

The Longleaf Trace covers 40 miles from the bustling city of Hattiesburg to Prentiss with vast farms and small towns in the path, as well as several resting stations. Designated as a National Recreational Trail, Longleaf is the longest rail-trail in the Southeastern US. Once owned by Mississippi Railroad, the rail line flourished from the 1800's through the 1930's when the south's lumber industry was at its peak.

These trails are located within a 2 hour drive of Woodridge Bed and Breakfast Come experience the wonders of America's south! Woodridge is only 30 minutes north of New Orleans making it a wonderful central spot for both city fun and nature's delights.

Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge - trails

The Bogue Chitto (Choctaw for "large stream) National Wildlife Reserve follows the banks of the Pearl River, West Pearl Rivers and Bogue Chitto River and the great river basin. This NWR covers over 36 thousand acres filled with natures wonders.

Visitors may see a variety of endangered or highly guarded wildlife that call this area home among them: Ringed-sawback turtle, American alligator, gopher tortoise, inflated heel-splitter mussel and the Gulf sturgeon. The swallow-tailed kite is a species of special concern on Bogue Chitto NWR. The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was de-listed as a threatened species in 2007. Bald eagles visit the refuge each year. Other Wildlife Species: White-tailed Deer, turkey, neo-tropical birds, rabbit, raccoon, wild hogs, a variety of snakes, mink, skunks, wading birds and waterfowl.

A vast range of forest encompasses this area from pine woods to stands of bald cypress and tupelo gum in the sloughs. Most of the refuge is defined as bottomland hardwood forest, laced with wetlands. This refuge is commonly inundated with flood waters from the rivers.

Most of these areas are only accessible by boat from the three locks off of Hwy 41, north of Slidell but they have added a new hiking trail not far from the most southern point of the refuge. To get to Holmes Bayou Trail, take I-59 exit 11 "Pearl River turnaround" and turn west.

Additionally, Bogue Chitto State Park has just opened in Washington Parish. Seven miles of hiking trails, 14 miles of horse trails and a canoe and boat launch into the river. Wat to fish while there? Several ponds stocked with bass await your bait!

The Bogue Chitto Holmes Bayou Trail is only 10 minutes from Woodridge Bed and Breakfast. To see more of the refuge, bring your boat, Lock 1 only a 15 mile trip through the Town of Pearl River. Or for a day trip, you can launch in the Pearl at exit 5 or 11 and travel up river. Woodridge is only 30 minutes north of New Orleans - so make your adventure complete - city, country, wild life all packed in a great getaway.

Honey Island State Wildlife Reserve & Trail

September's cooler mornings are perfect times to explore the beauty of nature. There are many areas in SE Louisiana to explore. The Honey Island Swamp Nature Trail is the first in the series of nature trails for Shootin' the Breeze.

The Honey Island Trail runs about 1 1/2 miles following the Pearl River in the area known as the Honey Island Swamp. This area was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina and parts of the trail are not for those out for a morning stroll. Climbing over fallen trees may be necessary and some areas are heavily overgrown.

This area is rich in natural swamp foliage with blooms from early spring to late fall. Lying in a subtropical climate, many native plants are tropical in nature like the fan palm and the many varieties of ferns. While in the woods, it is always wise to watch for snakes, wild boar, and the occasional deer and black bear.

Spring beckons the birders to the area where their is an abundance of species flock the area in their yearly migration, and some make it their home. Bring your binoculars, cameras and bird books and listen to the calls of nature.

Note that this area is part of the LA Wildlife Refuge and you must obtain a LA Wildlife Stamp to enter this area. Purchase these anywhere Fishing & Hunting Licenses are sold (Walmart is one) for $5.50 and are good for 1 yr July 1-June 30.

It is suggested that boots,jeans and long sleeve shirts be worn when hiking this trail.

Honey Island Nature Trail is located at the Honey Island Swamp exit on I-59, just minutes north of Woodridge Bed and Breakfast Check out our specials All this just 30 minutes north of New Orleans makes it a wonderful adventure.