Louisiana's Great Outdoors
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Fun, fitness and feathered friends are the order of things in the great state of Louisiana—also known as the “Sportsman’s Paradise.” Hold a baby alligator, kayak or canoe on the multitude of rivers, swamps and bayous, spot countless species of birds, and hike in the lush Louisiana landscapes—all on the same day, if you’re so inclined.
LafayettE
The Lafayette area is known for its swampland dotted with moss-draped, wildlife-filled cypress trees, which makes it the perfect destination for bird-watching, paddling, fishing, and numerous other outdoor activities.
Lafayette also happens to be situated on the Mississippi Flyway and the Atchafalaya Loop of America's Wetland Birding Trail. Nature watchers and photographers have access to some of the best birding sites in North America, including Spanish Lake. At last count, birders have spotted 240 species in its expansive shoreline and bottomland hardwood forest.
If paddling is your passion or something you're looking to try, Lafayette is the perfect starting point to explore rivers, swamps, and bayous. Gear rentals and guided tours are available through several outfitters in and around Lafayette.
Hiking is the perfect way for the entire family, at any skill level, to experience the outdoors in Lafayette without breaking the budget. It provides the opportunity to see places you would never get to see at a pace that allows you to soak in your surroundings. If you're looking to turn that hiking trip into an overnight adventure, the area surrounding Lafayette offers camping options unlike any other.
IBERIA PARISH
New Iberia, Louisiana is a small town in the heart of Cajun Country with an abundance of outdoor activities, reasonably priced attractions and delicious cuisine. Avery Island on the Bayou Teche National Scenic Byway is the home of TABASCO® and a great place to get away from crowds.
The area offers ample opportunities for fishing, boating, hiking, and bird-watching, with 24 lakes, 15 public boat launches and two state parks: Lake Fausse Pointe State Park in the Atchafalaya Basin, and Cypremort Point, a beach on Vermilion Bay in the Gulf of Mexico.
Jefferson Island Rip Van Winkle Gardens provides a peaceful garden escape with Asian statues on the banks of Lake Peigneur, tasty Cajun and Creole specialties at Café Jefferson, bird-watching at Rip’s Rookery, and well-appointed bed and breakfast cottages.
In addition to Avery Island’s TABASCO® factory tour, museum, country store and 1868 Restaurant is Jungle Gardens, a 170- acre semitropical nature reserve. Bird City at Jungle Gardens is also a local favorite to spot thousands of snowy egrets rearing their young, while alligators prowl the lagoon. The driving or walking tour includes beautiful flowers such as azaleas, camellias, and colorful bamboo, as well as a Buddha temple—a magnificent centuries-old statue.
Other outdoors destinations include Bayou Carlin Cove, Spanish Lake, the Bayou Teche National Paddle Trail and the Isle of Iberia RV Resort, with its lazy river and live outdoor music on weekends.
History and architecture lovers can visit Shadows-on-the-Teche (a National Trust plantation home and garden), Bayou Teche Museum, and the Conrad Rice Mill and Konriko Company Store (the oldest operating rice mill in America); or take self-guided tours of the New Iberia National Register Historic District and New York Times bestselling author James Lee Burke’s Iberia.
The historic district boasts several restaurants serving up fresh Creole and Cajun fares, as well as unique bed and breakfasts—a few of them overlooking Bayou Teche.
Rent a bike from Bayou Lit Bikes for sightseeing during the day on New Iberia’s 3.2-mile bike trail, or take a glow-in-the-dark-night tour with your favorite music.
Want to get out of town? The Historic Jeanerette Trail is a self-guided tour of Sugar City, with the Jeanerette Museum, LeJeune’s Bakery and even some plantations along the way.
Plan your own adventure at IberiaTravel.com and experience the great outdoors in Iberia Parish—by land or water.
Jeff Davis Parish
Jeff Davis Parish is ready to welcome you! First up, stop at the Visitor Center, located at I-10 Exit 64 in Jennings, Louisiana. The friendly staff can get you started on your adventure with a warm cup of Community coffee, brochures, and info on all that the area has to offer.
At the same location as the Visitor Center is the must-see “Gator Chateau,” where you can hold a baby alligator and have your picture taken (you’re going to want proof that you held an alligator!). The Gator Chateau was the number one attraction in the State of Louisiana in 2019, and offers an up-close and personal experience with Louisiana’s favorite mascot. It’s a rescue facility, where baby gators are fostered until they are ready to be released back into the wild. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind experience for any animal lover! Check out the gift shop for gator souvenirs.
After your visit, take a tour of Bayou Rum in Lacassine, Louisiana; you’ll see the workings of the distillery, and—of course—taste rum made with locally grown sugarcane.
Another top attraction in Jeff Davis Parish is the 55-mile Flyway Byway State Scenic Byway. Named for the migratory birds that come here, this region is a birdwatchers’ paradise.
Don’t forget the seasonal crawfish farm tours and some of the best local Cajun food you can get at one of Jeff Davis’s many local eateries.
JEFFERSON PARISH
Jefferson Parish, just ten minutes from downtown New Orleans, welcomes visitors to its bountiful outdoors! Hike the nature trails along the hidden wetlands of the Barataria Preserve of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve or explore the culture of the people who settled the delta and their relationship to its unique ecosystem at the Lafitte Barataria Museum. Then, venture out on a bayou adventure aboard the Total Cajun Experience swamp tour in Jean Lafitte!
Anglers love Jefferson Parish for its plentiful, year-round access to freshwater and saltwater fish. Fish the bayous of Barataria or the beaches of Grand Isle. Jefferson Parish will have you reeling ’em in. The licensing, bait and tackle, charter captains, and even a fish fry with the day’s catch can be arranged! If a night beneath the stars is your ideal getaway, tent camping on the beach at Grand Isle State Park is where you want to be. Or bring your RV for a less rustic experience and head over to Elmer's Island Beach and see the largest single coastal ecosystem restoration, which includes miles of gorgeous white-sand beach.
Explore the great outdoors at www.visitjeffersonparish.com/outdoors.
RIVER PARISHES
Rest and relaxation await you in Louisiana’s River Parishes, just a quick turn off the open road. Trade your work lunch for a hot bowl of gumbo and your responsibilities for the freedom of fresh air when you travel to a place known for its rich culinary and cultural heritage. Set between the bayous and the Mississippi River, Louisiana’s River Parishes boast 20 RV Parks, many of which are both family- and pet-friendly.
Discover real history in New Orleans Plantation Country where landmark homes along the river offer compelling and authentic tours, then head down the 1811 Slave Revolt Trail to see the homes and museums where America’s First Freedom March took place. In New Orleans Swamp Country you’ll find real adventure on a boat tour, hike, bike, or even zipline. Along the Andouille Trail, traditional smokehouses each offer a unique take on this local delicacy. During the holidays, the levee lights up in Bonfire Country, where Christmas lights are done differently in this centuries-old tradition.
Park it and wander at Poche Plantation, stay three nights and get the fourth night FREE! Use offer code: LARP.
Learn more at lariverparishes.com.
This post is sponsored by Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission, Iberia Parish, Jeff Davis Parish, Jefferson Parish, and River Parishes—supporters of ROVA magazine.