The Mandeville center point is approximately 2 miles northwest of Fountainbleu State Park and 2 miles west of Lake Pontchartrain.
To enjoy the outdoor beauty of Mandeville in comfort, the best time to visit is September and November, when the temperatures drop down to the mid-70s and 80s. Hotel rates are low, and you'll still find cultural events.
However, if you want to enjoy Mandeville while also experiencing the festivals of New Orleans, you'll want to travel during the most popular months of February through May. Most of the major festivals, including Mardi Gras, take place during this time, and the weather is comfortable, with temps ranging from the low 70s to mid-80s. Hotel rates are expensive during this time, though, and you may have to book a hotel up to a year in advance to get a reasonable price.
As the heat rises, the hotel rates drop. If you don't mind hot days and frequent rain, you can save big on accommodations in the summer months of June through August, when average highs are in the low 90s and rainfall is frequent. Keep hydrated if you choose to travel in the hot summer.
December and January draw the fewest tourists, which also means the lowest hotel rates. Average highs are in the 60s, so you can still have an enjoyable time outdoors during the day as long as you don a sweater or light jacket.
Super 8 Covington La offers discounted rates for AAA/CAA members, senior citizens, and members of the military or government. The hotel has an outdoor pool and serves a free continental breakfast each day. Bathrooms are handicap accessible and have roll-in showers, with hair dryers provided. Your room will have a desk and a coffee/tea maker so you can stay refreshed while you work. You can also get a room with a refrigerator and microwave.
Also offering discounts is the Hilton Garden Inn Covington, which provides special rates for senior citizens, members of the military or government, and AAA/CAA members. Rooms are spacious and luxurious, with elegant decor. The hotel has a restaurant and bar on-site and provides a grocery/convenience store and a 24-hour business center. The huge outdoor pool and fitness center will keep you energized.
A good value property is the Country Inn & Suites By Radisson Covington LA, which offers relatively low prices even when you opt for a separate bedroom. Adjoining rooms are available, too. This hotel provides a fitness center and outdoor pool, as well as a free hot breakfast buffet with a rotating menu. If you want to get in some reading, you can grab a book from the lending library and take it back to your warm, inviting room. Don't miss out on the fresh cookies in the lobby!
La Quinta Inn & Suites Slidell North Shore Area is an excellent property in Slidell near Fontainebleau State Park. The richly decorated rooms offer spacious luxury at affordable prices, with 32-inch flat-screen televisions, desks, and coffee/tea makers making it easy to relax or get work done.
After you leave the comforts of your pillow-top bed in the morning, you can start your day with a light meal when you take advantage of the free continental breakfast. Swim some laps in the outdoor pool or get a workout in the fitness center to keep your energy levels up. Microwaves and refrigerators in the hotel's rooms mean you can keep snacks and simple food items on hand and avoid convenience-store prices.
Mandeville offers a number of attractions in and near the city for single adults, parents with kids, and business travelers alike to enjoy.
For a fantastic sight, visit the Seven Sisters Oak, the largest certified southern live oak tree. Estimated to be as old as 1,500 years, this must-see tree is 68 feet tall, has a 139-foot crown spread, and has a trunk measuring 467 inches around. The tree got its name from Carole Hendry Doby, one of seven sisters, due to the seven sets of branches radiating from the center trunk. The Seven Sisters Oak is in the front yard of a private home at 200 Fountain St. but still draws many visitors.
Just 4 miles east of Mandeville, Fontainebleau State Park sits on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain. The 2,800-acre park is also bordered by Bayou Cane and Bayou Castine and has a sandy beach and nature trail. The ruins of an 1829 sugar mill, built by the city's founder, illustrates the history of this site as a former sugar plantation.
Don't leave Mandeville without checking out the Dew Drop Jazz & Social Hall. Located at 430 Lamarque Street in Old Mandeville, the Dew Drop is a small wooden building built in 1895 by the Dew Drop Social and Benevolent Association, an African-American organization that began 10 years earlier. It was a popular music spot for 40 years and hosted regulars like Buddie Petit, considered the top cornet player in early jazz in New Orleans. The music later left the Dew Drop for many years until it was reborn in 2007. The historic building now hosts about 12 concerts each year.
Whether you're in the area to check out festivals in New Orleans or to enjoy the peaceful beauty of Lake Pontchartrain, you can create an idyllic vacation in little Mandeville, Louisiana, and skip the hustle and bustle of accommodations in the Big Easy.