<p>here's a weird question. We are moving my freshman daughter in on August 19 for marching band camp. (Would love to hear about experiences with that...) We will arrive a few days ahead of time to see a bit of the area ourselves and get her settled. </p>
<p>We are using our usual beach vacation time to do this. but I'm curious..are there any beaches or ponds or lakes that are clean and swimmable within reasonable driving distance of Tulane? (I'm afraid of withering with the heat.)</p>
<p>There are beaches on Lake Ponchartrain which are very close - swimming has been allowed in the lake for the past few years. Not sure I would swim there.</p>
<p>About an hour to the east, Bay St Louis is on the gulf of mexico - it is close to the mouth of the Mississippi so the water is somewhat cloudy. The beaches continue all along I-10 as far east as you want to drive - ocean springs, Gulfport, Biloxi, etc. </p>
<p>At Gulfport you can catch about a 1 hr passenger ferry out to Ship Island which is a part of the national seashore and is fairly nice. </p>
<p>If you keep driving east about 3 hours from New Orleans you get to Orange Beach / Perdido Key where you start hitting the white sand beaches and clear water…</p>
<p>thanks! Looks like it might just be the hotel pool…</p>