Top 5 Can’t Miss Stay at the Southern Hotel, where the lobby feels like the local living room. Kayak through Cane Bayou with Canoe & Trail Adventures and spot alligators, turtles, and egrets among Spanish moss-covered trees. Have breakfast or lunch at Liz’s Where Y’at Diner, where Liz herself whips up buttery biscuits and bowls of grits. Spend a few hours in Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge and see how many bird species you can spot. Celebrate Mardi Gras here without the huge crowds New Orleans is known for. Between French Quarter revelry, Cajun and Creole eats, and Mardi Gras celebrations, New Orleans is a classic Louisiana destination for visitors—but there's so much more to the Bayou State than the Big Easy. Just across from Lake Pontchartrain, you'll find Louisiana's Northshore. This oft-overlooked region is full of cute small towns, a strong local culture (including ample Mardi Gras festivities), crawfish, and bayou fun.…