I have walked into plenty of shady establishments in my time on this earth. I have often wondered…read moreif I would walk out of some, but occasionally I've found a gem. Cochiara is one such gem. Growing up in South Louisiana I spent a lot of time in Grand Isle. Heading there we would always stop at a friend's gas station/fishing supply/bar on the way to the island. I always remember the old men sitting at the bar laughing and drinking while we tried to convince my parents to buy us candy. Throughout the years I have visited many a boat launch and marina in Louisiana fishing communities with similar businesses. These places have always reminded me of those family trips and they always bring me great joy. After a recent trip to Boutte's for dinner, I discovered another place that made my quite happy. Cochiara is the convenience store/bar next to a boat launch. There used to be hotel rooms here, but I think they no longer exist. Inside is much more of a bar than convenience store, but there are chips and soft drinks should you need supplies for a fishing trip. The crowd was primarily local, but very friendly. I think I was tested by some locals when they noticed me singing David Alan Coe, but I must have passed with flying colors as they welcomed us with open arms. This may have been because I am a very likable guy with an incredible knowledge of country music. If you're not me, or not with me, you may have issues, but I will be glad to offer pointers for a small fee. The jukebox was stocked with old country classics, but also had some surprises including Madonna. The beer selection was somewhat lacking unless you are a fan of Bud products. When asked what beer they had besides Bud Light, the bartender advised of us of no less than seven different Bud products. If I buy a camp in Lafitte I will become a regular here. Even if I don't, I will make sure and stop on every trip I make. Note: I am thinking bars like this would make a great UYE. I wonder if we can figure out a way to do all waterfront bars one night.

This is a cool little bar in Lafitte. Good jukebox with old country on it. Really nice people and…read morecheap drinks. What more could you ask for? It's a really big place with a pool table, a dance floor and a bunch of snacks that you can buy if you want something to munch on. In this town everyone knows everyone. A young guy came up to my friend and me and asked where we were from. If you aren't from the area, go in and be nice and the locals will treat you like one of their own.

I am a person who returned to Louisiana after a long time in the west and I learned that their is…read moreno fishing in the desert. I found the best time of my life when my nephew treated me to a trip to a place called Hopedale Marina. Could not sleep after the trip, pondering on how great the people were and the fishing was unbelievable. Caught more fish in four hours than caught in 45 years on the pacific out west. What a great place to be. Just wish there were camping spot to enjoy. Rv,camper, tent etc .would be nice.

The Hopedale Marina is a fantastic spot for Louisiana fishing and Louisiana wildlife. There are…read moreplenty of alligators, pelicans, seagulls, dock cats, catfish, sheepshead fish, redfish, blue crab, shrimp and stingray. This is a great spot for exploring the Louisiana wetlands and seeing the the beauty of the bayou along with great fishing. My video review is here: https://youtu.be/AsBu24TH7Bs

The only full service marina in Louisiana. Fuel ice bait launch parking dining WISDOMread more

Campo's Marina is awesome! We met our Salty Dog Charters boat here and we had the best day out on…read morethe water. Campo's is a great spot to get bait and start your day. And, if you're looking for a charter, I cannot recommend Salty Dog Charters highly enough! They'll start your trip right here and give you the absolute best trip ever! Regardless of whether you plan to take a charter or go out fishing on your own, Campo's Marina is a great place to start!

Marina Beau Chene is an excellent neighborhood…read more The first thing you notice when entering this neighborhood is that it is gated and staffed by a uniformed security guard. As a person who appreciates the idea of high security and safety, I like that feature. If you are able to get past the initial screening you will notice you've entered an idyllic environment. Homes are beautiful, yards are well manicured and everyone seems friendly. I have no idea if the people are genuinely friendly, but they do wave at me as I drive by. I guess they could be signaling that I am #1 or something, but I digress. The most beautiful feature of this neighborhood is not the gate, the homes or the people. It's the marina. I wont tell you exactly where the marina is located since that would defeat the whole safe and secure environment thing. What I can tell you is that should you have a boat, this would be a good place to keep it. Whether that boat is a nice sized fishing vessel or a large live aboard yacht, you can find it all here. The slips will fit vessels that are 30', 40' or 50'. You can also get into the Tchefuncte River and Lake Pontchartrain if you decide to leave the comfort of the marina. If you are in the market for a boat, or just like to dream about one day owning one, there are always several nice examples for sale here. My favorites were the late 70s live aboard Chris Craft or the waterfront condo with a slip that were both for sale. If you can get past the security, this is a great place to live or visit.

Disclaimer: I am reviewing this as a guest in my girlfriend's parent's home. Now that my girlfriend…read moreis on the Northshore I'm anticipating making trips to the Northshore. I arrived on New Year's Eve to celebrate with a bunch of girlfriends at the house and then later on at the Chimes. The security gentleman was courteous and remember to give them your name, the name of the people you are visiting, and their address. It is a gated community and when we arrived later that evening we had to enter through the main Beau Chene entrance which is also gated. So prepare to give the same information. It is a beautiful neighborhood but be careful and drive slowly because it is windy roads and at night there was a dog that ran in front of my car. Fortunately I was going super slow and waited until he moved on. The houses are well lit but the streets themselves don't have street lights so again, proceed slowly. My girlfriend's parents built their dream home here and their gorgeous home overlooks the marina with numerous boats. Like any gated community it appears that people maintain their property well. There was a friendly vibe and my friend's personal trainer lived a few doors down. I wish I could have stayed longer to enjoy the front porch, back deck, and the marina!

When the weather is nice, West End Park can be a pleasant place to go for a run. It's secluded but…read moreseems to be pretty safe so I feel comfortable going alone. There is a swing set/small play area for kids and there's also plenty of grassy area to spread out and enjoy a nice picnic. Parking has never been a problem. Only issue I've experienced is the caterpillars....they are everywhere during the summer. So beware!

Fish ON! That's what you'll be yelling when you come on down to beautiful Leeville, LA. Perched…read moreon the water's edge like an unobtrusive pelican waiting for his chance to eat, the Top Water Marina offers pleasant accommodations and a friendly atmosphere for all of your fishing needs. This is a fisherman's lodge maintained by fishermen for fisherman. While you won't find 1000 thread count sheets and chocolates on your pillow, you will find easy access to all points fishing in the area, convenient in water parking for your boat and a double sided launch ready to get you on water in a hurry or out of it just as quickly. I had the pleasure of staying in the bunkhouse and lodge, which are located over The Sandbar. I tried to count all of the beds, but got tired of it (pun intended). Needless to say, there is enough room for as many anglers as you care to bring. The Sandbar wasn't "open" when I visited, but it was included with our lodging package. Flat screen tv's and roll up doors make you feel one with nature all while still catching the game. Getting to your honey hole fast, local fare right down the road and a lovely staff will make this your "Top" choice for a fishing getaway.

Great location...close to all fishing spots. Very nice boat…read moreramp, dockage and cabins. Fresh water wash-down when done fishing. Close to food, bait, groceries. I trailed my boat down from Chicago in April and the accommodations were outstanding for anyone wanting to fish or just get away. I stayed 3 or 4 days and caught reds, specs, gafftop cats and rays. I will journey there again in 2020.

So this isn't really a review of the Sand Dollar's ice or fuel, although I'm sure they're both…read moreswell. The bar at the Sand Dollar marina is my favorite place to go in Grand Isle. It's just a simple little outdoor bar, and this simplicity is what makes it awesome. In the past, the Sand Dollar was a great bar to grab a stool and a drink, talk to random people, and watch the boats and fisherman come in. This bar has an islandy feel, but not in a forced, superficial touristy way. You can definitely (and should) lose track of time here, and it's an excellent haunt to engage in some day drinking.The 2 ladies that run the bar are great and have always made me feel comfortable. Keep in mind the previous paragraph describes the pre-oil spill Sand Dollar. Since the oil spill, the crowd has changed dramatically. The Sand Dollar Marina serves as a cleanup command center, which means the crowd mostly consists of cleanup workers. Hopefully this will be changing soon, since some of the fisherman are returning and BP is in the process of scaling back its cleanup operations. The Sand Dollar bar was also on the Rachel Maddow show during the height of the oil spill frenzy. Rachel interviewed the two ladies that own the bar and tried one of their tarball shots on her show. The tarball is a jello shot consisting of Jager and grape koolaid. I don't like Jager, so it's not my thing, but I tried one for the hell of it. The Sand Dollar also has a convenience store with a deli in the back. I always get the fried shrimp poboy but I'm sure the other offerings are good as well.

The marina store was great- the woman who helped us get our fishing licenses was really kind and…read morehelpful both times we were there!