Sam Smith

Our tour guide on the Honey Island Swamp Tour was very informative, entertaining and upbeat. He made this tour a combination of excitement and instruction. He knew almost every plant, tree, animal and bird that lived along the Old Pearl River. He wove stories that combined the history of the area with the places we were passing. We got up close to a lot of animals that those of us who are not from Louisiana don't get to see very often outside of a zoo. He stopped the boat whenever anyone wanted to get a photo. The boats are small so everyone gets a very close and personal look at the animals and birds we pass. I can't recommend this tour highly enough. Everyone that visits New Orleans should take this tour.

During Covid we tried to find places to walk that allowed us to be outside but not too close to other people. We decided to walk the Shining Sea Bikeway starting in Falmouth in early March and we were rewarded. We used the free parking spot just south of the Steamship Parking area in Falmouth and headed north on the path. I push my wife in a wheelchair so I appreciated the flat and well paved path. We hardly saw any houses during our 5 mile walk. You pass both the Little and Great Sippewissett Marshes and during the late winter they were beautiful. I think that you have better views of the surrounding areas in winter because there are no leaves to obstruct the view. If you are looking for a quiet, beautiful walk through natural beauty than you should check this bikeway out--it is also a great place to take kids.

Newport's Common Burial Ground is one of the most interesting burial grounds in New England. It has very well preserved grave stone carvings that show a wide variety of styles. I find the grave stones carved before 1800 to be the most interesting because they were still carved by hand and they often had a variety of symbolism displayed in the tympanum or top central part of the grave stone. Early grave stones usually had a skull with wings symbolizing the flight of the soul to heaven. Later they replaced the skull with a face or effigy with wings. Near the heads they might also add other symbols such as an hour glass symbolizing the passage of time or that time has run out. A scythe/sickle might mean a sudden death or a life cut short. Coffins, cross bones, dart of death might also appear. Take your time in this burial ground and you will learn a lot about puritan life and religion. The burial stone of Charles Barden 1773 is the only grave stone in New England that depicts God in the tympanum.