5 Outdoor Escapes New Orleans

Why it made the list: Bigger than Central Park, City Park is a sprawling green heart of ancient live oaks, lagoons, the sculpture garden, the botanical garden and a whimsical old amusement area. It's the city's default place to breathe.

Why it made the list: A gorgeous Uptown park designed by the same firm behind Central Park, with a live-oak-lined loop trail, a lagoon full of birds and the zoo at its far end. It's the prettiest place in the city for a run or a slow walk.

Why it made the list: A genuine cypress swamp just south of the city, with miles of boardwalk trails winding past Spanish moss, alligators, herons and turtles. It's the wild, primeval Louisiana you came hoping to see, and admission is free.

Why it made the list: A modern riverfront park stretching along the Mississippi downriver of the Quarter, with a striking arched 'rusty rainbow' bridge, wharf ruins and the best open skyline-and-river view in town. It feels a world away yet steps from Bywater.

Why it made the list: A calm, grassy waterway threading through Mid-City, lined with historic homes and made for paddling, picnicking and lazy afternoons. On weekends locals float it in kayaks and spread out on the banks; it's the city at its most relaxed.