Celebrating another GREAT year!

Happy Anniversary to Woodridge Bed and Breakfast!  

WOW we are starting our 14th year - 14!!   What started as a pipe dream many years ago, with lots and lots of work, the building once known as Woodridge Academy was transformed into our home and Bed and Breakfast.  Since that time we have welcomed so many wonderful faces, shared some great stories, been a part of many fond reunions and celebrating many unions. We have been blessed.
 
We've come a long way baby!  From class rooms to 5 spacious suites, from office space to kitchen space and a place to create gourmet breakfasts for your guests.  From a basket ball court to a pavilion for parties and a pool to refresh.  So many things have changed here at Woodridge Bed and Breakfast over the years, but one thing still is the same - our Southern Hospitality.   We look forward to the year ahead and seeing many of our return guests and welcoming new friends. 

THEN  -  1994

Woodridge B&B NOW - 2012

 Here you see the view of before we purchased. 
The yard was baron from the romping of 300 kids at recess, but now is lush and green and even a secret garden to wander through under the canopy of Live Oaks.  I hear them calling you to come relax. 

Thanks to the many who have brightened up our place with your wonderful smiles.  We hope to see you again in the near future. 

Debbi & Tim, Keepers of the Inn

B and B's are a better way to stay, so while visiting Southeastern Louisiana, stay at Woodridge Bed and Breakfast - play hard, sleep well!

An Audubon Zoo Kind of Day

The Party's not over -

In New Orleans the party doesn't stop with the end of Mardi Gras on Fat Tuesday, it's just the beginning of celebrations yet to come.
We all love a parade, right? And in New Orleans we find a reason to have a parade. St. Patties Day (March 17th) & St. Joseph's Day (March 19th) are no exceptions. Dress in you favorite green attire and head on down to the parade. You know what they say, Italian men love the ladies and the marchers will welcome the lady parade goers with green carnations and a kiss 'for luck'.
And I hope you didn't forget to bring your boiling pot to carry all your veggies home. Throws for this parade are straight from the garden and will provide almost everything you need for your Irish stew. Picks of the day will be carrots, onions, potatoes and cabbage. And every bar will have green beer flowing from their taps, a great way to refresh after this festive parade.
St. Joseph's Day is celebrated in a more religious nature composed of St. Joseph Altars adorned by the thankful. A tradition which started in the late 1800's by Sicilian immigrants in New Orleans, the alters set up in homes and public areas are adorned with homemade cookies, cakes and breads and are shared with anyone that wish to come as a way to express gratitude for the blessings in their lives. Fava beans (aka lucky beans) are part of the alter, take one for good luck for the year through.
Think the party is over now - think again and stay tuned for what is next -

A taste of Spring

Isn't it amazing what happens when the temperature starts warming up. Everyone takes to the outdoors to freshen their property with evidence of spring cleaning by the overfull garbage cans at the roadside. Ha yes, it is soon to be spring.

In south Louisiana it is no different we just have to plan our cleaning around all the festivities of the season which take up most of our weekends. A parade here, the ball on Saturday night, the weekly King Cake party, the list goes on. Yes it is Mardi Gras time.
Want to take in Mardi Gras but hate the thought of large crowds and all that you have seen on TV? Well come to Slidell this weekend:
Friday night parades by Krewe de Paws at 6 p.m. followed by Mona Lisa and Moon Pie at 7 p.m.; Saturday at 6 p.m. - Krewe of Titans parade, and Sunday at 12:30 p.m. - Krewe of Dionysus. Next Friday (March 3) take in the lovely Selene Parade - 6pm.
We have a couple... of rooms left - make it a weekend.

Getting back to spring cleaning - Here's a pic of the freshly painted swing under the oaks at Woodridge Bed and Breakfast. Picture yourself here then make it happen!

We look forward to your visit.
Debbi
Woodridge Bed and Breakfast

Slidell/Pearl River Louisiana
Celebrating 13 years of Innkeeping

From Spirits to Spiritual

No better time than October to write about spirits in New Orleans where almost every building you see in the French Quarter has its own tale of days gone by and the spirits that remain haunting the establishment. Some are harmless, just passing through while others seem to be up to no good, slamming doors, moving or hiding objects and just making humans uncomfortable while in their presence.

What must it be like caught in between? There are Ghost or Haunted tours every night, year round in New Orleans. And each night those wishing to learn more about their future are welcomed by Fortune Tellers willing to dredge into your future. But in October, things seem to take an even more haunted feel with several haunted houses throughout the greater area to make the hairs on your neck to rise. Check out for a Spooky time.

It would not be New Orleans, if they did not have a music festival to fit right in with the theme of the month. The VooDoo Fest. has become very popular with sounds this year by Muse and Ozzy Osbourne as well as many others check out more here:

Now on to the spiritual side of things. As October comes to a close, we are greeted to November by All Saints Day, a day set aside to remember our loved ones that have gone before us. A day of remembrance. For most, the day includes a visit to your loved ones graves, placing flowers, saying a prayer. For The Choctaw Indians and descendants, things are taken a step further. In days prior to Nov. 1, family members spend at the cemeteries, cleaning and whitewashing the graves of their loved ones. Then as night falls on that Day of the Saints, candles are placed around each grave. Since most of the cemeteries are on pieces of family property many are surrounded by woods with only a small trail and the eerie glow to guide you. Once you reach the graves, the spiritual experience begins. To read the story, please view Visitors are welcome to come met the family and learn about their loved ones. This experience will carry with you the remaining of your days.

When visiting SE Louisiana and Woodridge Bed and Breakfast, make plans to visit LaCombe, just 15 minutes west. It is filled with much charm and culture of its own. Visit the LaCombe Museum to get the flavor of the area. Visit the old Catholic Church where miracles have happened by touching the holy water as well as sightings of Mary.

And while there, take in a fabulous meal at John Besh’s La Province or at Sal and Judy’s. For more information and to book your stay Contact Debbi at Woodridge Bed and Breakfast 985-863-9981 Woodridge B&B.

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.