Not far from the lively urban center of New Orleans lies this South Louisiana retreat - a unique and wonderful wetland area where recreational opportunities abound, as does the opportunity for one-of-a-kind nature-watching.

After you have splashed the day away in Bayou Segnette's popular wave pool or skipped across any one of the adjacent waterways by boat, you will be glad you took the time to sit back and watch nature at play - for the wildlife is abundant and the vegetation worth closer study.

The park is a meeting point of two types of wetlands - swamp and marsh. What was once swampland has been changed to marsh by the creation of canals. Saltwater intrusion coming into the canals from the Gulf of Mexico created the marsh and has yielded a remarkable habitat for plant and animal life. Alligators, nutria, armadillos, opossum, raccoon, mink, red-tailed hawks, Mississippi kites, red-winged blackbirds, bald eagles, and cardinals are some of the many species that you may happen upon at Bayou Segnette. So keep your eyes open and discover the reason why so many people remain fascinated with the Louisiana wetlands.

• Splash the day away in Bayou Segnette's popular wave pool or skip across any one of the adjacent waterways by boat.
• Explore the swamps and marshes which are home to a wide variety of wildlife including alligators, nutria, and armadillos.