This grassy strip of levee sits at the intersection of the Industrial Canal and the Mississippi River, right behind a decommissioned, graffiti-bedecked naval base. It’s kind of like the rough-and-tumble older sibling of Crescent Park, where anything goes—from bonfires to off-leash dog walking. Walk down Rampart Street until it dead-ends, then cross over the train tracks and climb the levee for raw, majestic river views.

This little-known part of City Park feels like a magical forest right in the middle of the city. Located on Harrison Avenue, the forest is accessed by a bridge. It offers a one-mile trail, bird-watching, hiking, and other gems for nature-lovers.

Home to Albert Ledner’s ashtray house (the one-time home of former Mayor Ray Nagin), plus other houses by the New Orleans architect, the island is surrounded by Bayou St. John and is only accessible by bridge or boat. Drive around to see several midcentury modern houses by Ledner.

Between the banks of the river and the levee off of River Road in Jefferson Parish, close to the Orleans Parish line, a row of houses called "camps" sit on stilts along the river. The residences range from contemporary homes to the more ramshackle, fishing camp variety pictured here.

Perhaps the most well known of these under-the-radar spots, Pirate’s Alley in the French Quarter still feels like a secret enclave. The pedestrian street runs between between St. Louis Cathedral and the Cabildo, and it’s the home of Faulkner House Books and some little bars and cafes.

This street off St. Charles Avenue, between Milan and Marengo, is a block of about a dozen Mediterranean-style stucco houses tucked in Uptown, all built in the mid 1920s by architect William Spink.