Zachary, LA Outdoor Activities

Though he wanted to fly ever since he was a young boy, life kept coming between Raja Gharazeddine and his dream. Finally, at age 30, he managed to earn his private-pilot’s license, despite juggling extra jobs and overtime hours. Today, the Gold Seal–certified flight instructor channels his lifelong love of aviation to guide students toward certifications such as recreational-pilot licenses, private-pilot licenses, and instrument ratings.

He and his team of dedicated instructors work with pupils on individual timelines, using comprehensive syllabi and a wealth of flight sources to carefully track every student's progress. Acadian Aviation’s resources also include a four-plane fleet, whose Cessna 172 and three Pipers suit novice flyers looking to enrich their skills before operating larger aircraft. When not soaring skyward, Raja invites his students to open houses where aviators in all stages of training discuss aspects of flying such as tips for racing against pelicans.

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.

Nestled in Audubon Park's rolling, verdant grounds dappled with tall oak trees, Cascade Stables' riding facilities train horse riders and enthusiasts in all levels of the equestrian sport. Seasoned trainers guide private and group lessons through trots and canters around a 60'x140' outdoor riding arena and a 80'x160' covered indoor arena, or through the park's relative wilderness on trail rides, where they may glimpse a wild Robin Hood in its natural habitat. Extended training programs instill riders and their horses with the passion and skills necessary to compete nationally. In addition to its arenas, the facilities boast amenities such as 44 rubber-matted stalls, which cradle horses when not in use, and a trio of air-conditioned tack rooms, where riders can store pet snowmen during lessons.

A special-education teacher, Susan Theodore brings a profound understanding of humans' individual learning styles to her horseback-riding lessons at Can Horses Fly ??, suiting each session to any age and experience level. After hopping atop well-trained mounts, which range from small ponies to wizened steeds, pupils learn the basics of riding, mastering walking, trotting, and cantering before gaining the confidence and notarized documents required to jump over fences and barriers.

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.

Copper Mill Golf Club fuses the traditional design of a links-style layout with the swaying native grasses and scenic wetlands of the Cypress Bayou for a 6,866-yard course lauded by Golf Digest as one of Louisiana's top 10 golf destinations. Each hole showcases a colorful moniker that forecasts its unique challenges, such as the high-risk, high-reward second shot at "Wise Man's Folly," the precariously elevated green at "Cliffs of Despair," or the caddy-eating Cyclops that stalks the 632-yard trail at "Odyssey." The cool shade of centuries-old oak trees blankets golfers as they encounter memorable shots throughout the round, including the concealed green at the par-3 sixth hole and the rustic mill ruins that hug the left side of the 17th hole.

After rounds, clubbers can head to the Palmetto Grill, which serves a menu of steaks and seafood. The semiprivate club also encompasses two lighted tennis courts, a resort-style pool, and a spray park, where youngsters and thirsty golf carts frolic through miniature geysers and soak one another with squirt-gun turrets.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72, links-style course
• Unique layout with six par 3s, six par 4s, and six par 5s
• Length of 6,866 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 73.0 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 131 from the farthest tees
• Four tee options
• Scorecard