Lacombe, LA

Tucked along the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, Lacombe offers a quiet, laid-back pace of life surrounded by moss-draped oaks and winding waterways. Sitting between Mandeville and Slidell, this community of around 8,500 residents gives you plenty of breathing room while keeping everyday conveniences close at hand. It has deep roots blending French Creole and Native American heritage, and Highway 190 makes it easy to commute to nearby towns or head across the lake into New Orleans. Northshore Technical Community College also has its main campus right here in town.

ATTRQuentin Melson / CC BY-SA 4.0

For anyone who loves the outdoors, Lacombe is a wonderful place to settle down. Bayou Lacombe and the vast Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge provide endless spots for fishing, paddling, birdwatching, and picking up fresh local seafood. Families have access to the well-regarded St. Tammany Parish public school system, alongside the paved Tammany Trace trail running right through the area. It offers a peaceful, scenic slice of Louisiana living that stays well connected to the rest of the Northshore.