Port Orleans Resorts

Soundscapes by Here With the Magic

Soundscapes: Port Orleans Riverside

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As the Sassagoula River meanders deeper and deeper into the bayou, the distant echoes of jazz music from nearby New Orleans are drowned out by a chorus of crickets and cicadas and baritone bullfrogs.

Here, we find an escape from the lively, Mardi Gras happenings in the New Orleans; a place to be enchanted by the wild lowcountry.

Port Orleans: Riverside is a destination for those who seek a more tranquil, easygoing environment than that of the lively French Quarter just a few miles up the river.

In a candid showcase of that legendary southern hospitality, we are greeted by a polished, luxurious lobby designed to emulate the interior of a classic Mississippi River steamboat. A retreat for southern aristocrats and their guests, this space is open and airy, bright and artfully designed. Lively, big band jazz music welcome us home, while beautifully detailed paintings on the ceiling depict ports of call we may have known on our journey down the river.

The River Roost lounge is a departure from the light colors and large windows of the adjacent foyer. Covert and copper, the dark woods and leather of this space speak to an evening ambience, while the dining hall housed in the Mill beyond boasts long, groaning tables awaiting crocks of piping hot gumbo and plenty of buttery biscuits to go around.

Outside, across the sprawling expanse of this bayou escape, elegant courtyards decrescendo into a wilderness of marshy overgrowth, a perfect juxtaposition that could only be found in the South. Wooden bridges extend across the width of the Sassagoula, offering pervasive views of the river as it winds from the lochs of the Gulf up to rollicking New Orleans. Let’s pause on our way across to take in the vista, the sounds, and the life prevailing all around us.

The massive water wheel on the exterior of the Riverside Mill can be heard churning steadily along, harnessing water and inertia to create, if nothing else, a testimony to the southern tradition of agricultural innovation. The blue-paneled gathering place features a welcoming front porch, complete with rocking chairs and the intoxicating aroma of spicy jambalaya and freshly-baked cornbread wafting from the rafters.

To the South, swampy inlets are thick and dense as the river runs up to the tall grasses lining the banks, while residents of the friendly Alligator bayou lodges greet each other as they stroll the river length on a gloriously sunny day.

To the West, it is impossible to overlook the affluence of Magnolia Bend, Paterre Place, Oak Manor, and Acadian House, mansions belonging to barons and kings of some fabricated southern monarchy. Their grand staircases and wrought iron railings welcoming visitors with open arms and southern hospitality.

White gazebos along the waterfront offer a shady, peaceful respite from the imposing summer sunshine, the perfect place to enjoy a chat with a friend, a glass of sweet tea and a good book, or simply to observe the comings of goings of society’s elite.

Spanish moss swings in balmy breezes, draped over sprawling live oak trees. Magnolias flourish all along the riverbank, flanking the stately homes with white pillars to match the beautiful blooms. Wisteria and honeysuckle perfume the sweet southern summertime, making every breath of fresh air almost as intoxicating as Bourbon Street.

Lantern-lit pathways lined with Louisiana Irises, Swamp Azaleas, and Spicebushes are the picture of summer romance, beckoning the young and young at heart to take a twilit stroll in their gardens. Benevolent fountains dance and play in sun-bathed pools, joy unmatched by any but we who have fallen into the storybook that has come to life in this place.

A riverboat glides slowly and smoothly along the riverbank, passengers waving a delighted farewell as they begin their journey back to the Maddi Gras masquerades and swingin’ jazz revelry down in New Orleans. The lullaby of bullfrogs and crickets will crescendo into saxophones and strumming, shouts of merriment and dancing until the sun begins to peek once again over the horizon.

Here, we’ll stick to the symphony of swamp sounds and the star-strewn, peaceful midnights. Magic abounds in this beautiful bayou, Magic that has held still in the summer haze for decades, waiting for those of us who will unlock it and set it free as fireflies at twilight.

A perfect juxtaposition of congenial and untouchable, this place its a fairytale that we are invited into, not just to observe but to take part in and be fully engaged. We are the ones for whom the story was written; to journey along the Sassagoula, to unwind under the stars in the bayou, to revel in the glamour and charm of a southern manor house.

To be Here is to step into the story, into the sweet southern air and the flicker of fireflies, the shimmer of cicadas in the afternoon and the chirp of crickets in the evening.

Each moment holds Magic as ephemeral as the sunrise, as captivating as the reflection of the trees on the glassy river plane. Each moment spent beneath the regal oaks and the beloved magnolias is yours to luxuriate in, for as long as you like.

Here on the banks of the Sassagoula, time moves a little more slowly; lazy, sun-filled days easing into tender, balmy nights. Everything tastes sweet like molasses and sounds like the soporific twang of a banjo. Everything is easy and serene - from the swaying mossy trees to the balmy evening breeze.

Be still, and let the Magic of the bayou envelop you with all the warmth and welcome that gave the South its reputation as charm, epitomized. For those of us who find joy Here, who experience rest and rejuvenation on the banks of the Sassagoula River, it will surely always be counted among our happiest places.

As the sun dips lower toward the horizon, its warmth dappling the river in a golden hour glow, the tantalizing sounds of swinging jazz reach our ears like a whisper, an alluring invitation to make our way down to New Orleans.

An open atrium sets the tone for the Mardi Gras celebration, vast and full of lush greenery, with eccentric court jesters standing sentry at the entrance to a grand courtyard.

A gently trickling fountain echoes around the glass paneled walls, intermingled with lively chatter and jazz vocalists from the nearby hot spot, Scat Cat’s lounge. A waft of sugary sweet beignets dances on the reverberating notes, delighting our senses. There’s no doubt about it: we’re definitely in the Big East.

Outside, a band of colorful gators strum banjos and beat bass drums in time with the rhythm of the town. Feel free to stop and say “hello;” they’re a friendly bunch.

Let’s take a stroll around the Vieux Carré, a well-preserved neighborhood of brightly-colored residences with wrought iron balconies. Jazz prevails in every alcove, on every corner. It is the heartbeat of New Orleans, and to experience the French Quarter without it would extinguish the very soul of the city.

The well-worn streets of the Vieux Carré promise a leisurely afternoon encased in the fragrant charisma of dozens of magnolia trees. Charming street names are a witty anecdote to the refinement and grace of this historic city. How about a jaunt down Rue D’ Baga, or perhaps down the easy-breezy Cake Walk?

Wrought iron gates and quaint little courtyards offer grassy lawns with picturesque views, perfect for a summertime picnic or a moment of pause in the midst of the revelry. A romantic evening in Beaux Regards Square will certainly inspire some sweet memories, while boisterous Ragtime Alley sets a more rambunctious tone.

All over the city, little hideaways and shady respites are trimmed with neat hedges and delicate honeysuckle. Fountains cascade into pools filled with coins, a collection of wishes from decades of wanderers.

Down along the riverbank, Carriage Path promises a scenic vista for watching the sunset. Whether on foot, from the comfort a horse-drawn carriage, or from the bow of a riverboat headed up the Sassagoula, the tranquility of these fringes of the French Quarter offer a relaxing reprieve from the festivities.

Stay as long as you like, until the sky’s crimson and golden hues are blanketed in inky velvet and scattered with stars. After all, time is just a good thing to be had around Here, rather than a number by which to order deadlines. Jazz and splendor will always be waiting, whether to draw you in or simply play on in the background of your serene reveries.

The breath of New Orleans is beguiling as a summer breeze and as lively as the music that echoes through the streets. It is unlike anything or anywhere, a story filled with legends and mysteries and yes, Magic, just waiting to be dusted off and enjoyed.

So grab somebody, won’t you? Come on down! Bring a paintbrush; we’re paintin’ the town. There’s some sweetness goin’ around… Be Here, With the Magic, down in Port Orleans.