My idea of camping is driving through the woods and up a hill — to the nearest four-star resort with restaurants, a spa and room service for late-night chicken tenders and fries.
I have never been one with nature. When my cousins all played tag and hide-and-go-seek in our grandparents’ front yard, I’d stay inside to rewatch “Rugrats” episodes, write sentences at my toy desk or pretend I was a character on “Clarissa Explains It All.” My first canoe trip at 7 years old resulted in bug bites, tears, and a pledge to never paddle a boat or stay in a tent ever again.
I’m 36 now and am proud to say that I’ve never camped or given up the simple pleasures of a running toilet or air conditioner since that traumatic weekend.
But in my elder millennial age, I vowed that I’d spend more time outdoors. For one, I want to be healthier and more active, and walking and jogging is an easy way to kickstart that journey. My adventures started when I moved to New Orleans in late 2023 and began spending time at Audubon Park.
With an audiobook and Owala bottle full of flavored water, I started trekking down the paved path, admiring the mossy trees, squirrels running about, cute pups out for evening strolls and the ducks and birds near the water. The sunsets were breathtaking, as were the 2-mile jogs.
Audubon Park has become a place of peace and comfort for me over these past 2½ years, and I vowed to spend more time in nature in 2025, with one very important caveat: day trips only.
I started simple and found fun stuff around the city: the Rusty Rainbow walking path, connecting the Bywater and French Quarter, and City Park became two instant favorites.
The Crosby Arboretum in Picayune, Mississippi, has walking trails around the property that are surrounded by trees, water and nature.
Right before Thanksgiving, some friends asked if I’d be interested in doing a short hike at the Crosby Arboretum, a nature trail right in Picayune near Interstate 59. Despite growing up in Kiln and going to Picayune often as a child, I had only ever seen the sign right off La. 49 pointing folks to it.
You can’t see it from the main roads, and it’s cleverly hidden behind a strip of businesses near Walmart. But the Crosby Arboretum, dedicated to preserving nature and plants, feels like a secret forest full of tall grass, pine trees, mushrooms, butterflies and even bees.
Times-PIcayune reporter Justin Mitchell takes a walk at Crosby Arboretum in Picayune.
Dubbed the Great Mississippi Nature Trail, my friends and I spent two hours there on a sunny Sunday morning, exploring the property and reading up on all of the nature. We stopped for pictures at the large pond, standing on a summit across from the architecturally stunning Pinecote Pavilion where family-friendly events are often held.
We took pictures for Instagram, read all of the signs explaining why some grass had been burned, or why the plants we had come across were vital for the environment, and enjoyed many of the walking paths around the property. At the beginning of the nature trail is a small welcome center where you can buy swag or leave a small donation.
Mushrooms on a walking trail at Crosby Arboretum in Picayune.
The Crosby Arboretum is a great place to explore and get your steps in, all while being close to civilization, as it is about an hour from New Orleans. The drive is mostly interstate. And remember to bring water, sunscreen and a few snacks — and take all of your trash back with you.
If you want to make a weekend out of it, stay at The Henry Smith House in town or drive 20 minutes down to The Pearl Hotel on the Bay St. Louis beach. Eat at Fatty’s in Picayune or Dempsey’s in Kiln for casual Southern fare, or go to The Thorny Oyster inside the Pearl for something more upscale and modern.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nola.com ’
