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Kim Smelter, New Orleans

Good places to go tubing in the New Orleans area

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By Kim Smelter|  New Girl in NOLA 

As my country crossover pal Nelly would say, “It’s getting hot in herre.”

That’s right. We had some nice breezy days there for a while, but summer is definitely here, with all the humidity and bugs that will keep us indoors for months.

Well, New Orleans, I don’t like to stay inside all that much, so I make a point to spend as much time outside as I can bear, especially near or in a body of water. If you don’t have a pool like me (although I’m seriously considering getting a blow-up one this summer), don’t fret because there are other options for getting wet and wild. That is, if you dare to be a redneck 😉

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#newinNOLA tip, Big Easy life advice, Bucket list, Kim Smelter, New Orleans

Best swamp tours near New Orleans

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By Kim Smelter|  New Girl in NOLA 

Kim Smelter has been on six swamp tours in the New Orleans area. (photo via Kim Smelter)

Kim Smelter has been on six swamp tours in the New Orleans area. (photo via Kim Smelter)

Everyone knows it’s festival season and crawfish season, but you know what other season is underway? Gator season! The water is warming and the gators are coming out to play, meaning it’s time for you to grab a pack of marshmallows, a six-pack of beer and be a tourist for an afternoon.

I’ve been to roughly six tours in the past year and a half. That’s right…six. I can’t help it. I love boats, Spanish moss and those dinosaur-like reptiles. Since I’m such a seasoned pro (hehe) I rated these tours based on a few things to give you some tips for your next swamp adventure.

SWAMP METER KEY (out of 5)

  • Gator-Aid = the guide/captain of the ship
  • Swamp Creatures = gators & other animals you may see in the swamp
  • The View = surrounding nature (not to be confused with the ABC talk show)
  • Swamp People = the overall clientele/quantity of people on the boat

Header image is from flickr user @peterme and is used in accordance with a Creative Commons license.

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