Things to Do in Mandeville

Situated on the lush tree-lined waterfront of City Park Lake, Ocean Water Beach Rentals' fleet of eco-friendly watercrafts carries visitors on casual aquatic voyages. Yellow and blue pedal boats take couples on human-powered trips into the tranquil waters, while single-person vessels such as eight-foot kayaks coast alongside lakefront houses, hovering birds, and extremely lost treasure ships. The aqua aficionados welcome boaters from March through November.

Within the springy confines of Space Walk’s Vertical Rush, tykes ricochet like excited electrons across tunnels, slides, and climbing walls. The springy obstacle course is one of hundreds housed inside Space Walk of Greater New Orleans’ 43,000-square-foot facility. Though those bounce houses typically measure 15’x15’, the facility can supply revelers with inflatables that measure up to 23-feet tall.

To ensure safe gravity defiance, trained bounce experts help parents hone in on an inflatables that suits tykes’ ages, interests and varying Buzz Aldrin impersonations. Additionally, the staff not only delivers and sets up houses, but happily trains party throwers in proper bounce-house technique, along with scrubbing down the houses before and after use.

New Orleans Harley-Davidson outfits first-time and seasoned riders with the hardware, services, and skills to dominate the road. Bikers can scour a chromed-out collection of new and used bikes, including Sportsters, Dynas, and Touring Harley-Davidsons, as well as trike bikes, Yamahas, and Suzuki cycles. Factory-trained and certified technicians tackle standard services and upkeep, or soup up bikes with performance modifications and accessories such as leather training wheels. New Orleans Harley-Davidson also equips part-time riders with rentals and hosts educational boot camps that impart riding skills.

As dusk descends on an isolated bayou, a horde of zombies emerges from fetid swamp waters—their low moans drifting through the humid night air. They smell flesh. Five hopelessly lost travelers have wandered off-road into their domain, and now they must scramble to escape the approaching onslaught.

This spine-tingling scene hails from one of three harrowing vignettes set against the backdrop of Louisiana’s shadowy swamplands and fog-laced backwoods that make up the titular The Dark Tales of El Diablo—the half-eaten brainchild of independent filmmaker Spencer Lee. Throughout the film, failed horror writer Charlie—played by Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman alum Chad Allen—turns to an unholy muse to revive his middling career, summoning the demon Diablo and forcing him to share the three demented fables. But as Charlie listens to the tales intertwine, he soon discovers Diablo's true intention—to escape into the outside world.

Underwater Adventures's owner and veteran diver Mark Smith has spent the past 22 years assembling exclusively NAUI–certified instructors for his team. For the company's classes, they hop into pools or natural bodies of water to help pupils as young as 10 to achieve a diving certification. In addition to teaching recreational scuba and seahorse riding, they also train first responders on underwater search-and-rescue tactics and public-safety diving. Mark is also an instructor for the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Department and has facilitated dive training for several municipal agencies including the Louisiana State Police and multiple fire departments.

The instructors at Creations Bayou, formerly known as Sadie’s Closet, encourage students to let their artistic instincts run wild during painting classes, sewing classes, and children's summer camps. In a flurry of brushstrokes, aspiring Claude Monets create their own interpretations of reference pieces, painting wall-worthy pictures depicting lovebirds on a tree branch, multicolored sunsets, and blossoming foliage. During camp sessions, youngsters take on a different artistic endeavor each day, tie-dyeing pillowcases, constructing picture frames, or spelling out their favorite Supreme Court Justice’s name in glitter. Creations Bayou also regularly hosts art-themed parties for both kids and adults.