I was on a visit to Louisana in April. On the north shore of Lake Ponchatrain, there is a 31 mile rails to trails route from Slidell to Covington (Tammany Trace, named after St Tammany parish). TT passes through Mandeville and Abita Springs. Mandeville converted the old rail station to a TT trail stop just outside the downtown business district. Around the rail station / trail stop are lots of cafes, restaurants, deli, shaved ice places and several other small businesses that look like they have a wide open door to bicyclists. Same story for Abita Springs. Mandeville is a fantastic town, very bike friendly. I saw lots of bike racks and lots of bikes on the streets around town. I liked the place a lot, but I would probably melt in the simmering summer heat.