THE LOUISIANA TRIP PLANNER
Festival International, Lafayette
Written and sponsored by Louisiana Travel Association.
Springtime in Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a destination worth a visit any time of year.
Visit during spring, when crawfish are at their peak. Roll up your sleeves and peel your own, eat them with a fork in an etouffee, or try one of the many variations at one of Lafayette’s many local restaurants. If you’re in town in May, don’t miss the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival.
No trip is complete without a link of boudin or delectable po’boys. Be sure to stop at one of the legendary spots on Lafayette’s Cajun Boudin Trail, or attend the annual Po’Boy Festival in April, to sample various styles.
Spring is an ideal time to spend a day in Downtown Lafayette, where you’ll find attractions, restaurants, and live music every night of the week. Every April, Downtown Lafayette hosts Festival International—the largest free outdoor francophone festival in the United States, bringing more than 500 musicians from 15 countries to the stage. Need even more inspiration to visit Lafayette during the springtime? Check out the Springtime Guide to Lafayette, and start planning your spring getaway to the Happiest City in America.
Learn more at lafayettetravel.com/seasoned/spring.
Airboat Adventures, Jefferson Parish
Visit Jefferson Parish
Jefferson Parish, just 10 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. Alternatively, 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
Find your Lakeside Adventure in Louisiana!
Toledo Bend Lake Country is known for world-class fishing (as well as catch-and-cook options with several guides), but we also have an Audubon Golf Trail Course, two state parks, history, hiking, ATVing, and Main Street shopping excursions. We are also part of Louisiana’s No Man’s Land, an area that was once the neutral zone between the U.S. and Spain with no king or country, home to bandits, pirates, and brave pioneers. You can visit Fort Jesup State Historic Site to discover how this lawless region was tamed. Our Scenic Byways are a thing of beauty in addition to the sunsets over Toledo Bend Lake. Take the Toledo Bend Forest Scenic Byway or drive one of the most ancient roads in America, the El Camino Real. The legendary cuisine of Louisiana will greet you at every bend in the byway – from 4-star dining to convenience stores with Gas Station Eats, serving up local delicacies like tamales, boudin, and seafood – all worth the drive! Check our website for RV spots as well as other lodging and see our calendar to include one of our many festivals in your travel plans. Come, take the route of ancient explorers, and find your own Louisiana adventure!
#ToledoBendLakeCountry #VisitNoMansLand #OnlyLouisiana
Alligators and Quaint Towns
Jeff Davis Parish is ready to welcome you! Your first stop should be our Visitor Center, located at I-10 Exit 64 in Jennings, LA. Our friendly staff can start you off with a warm cup of Community Coffee, brochures, and info on all our area has to offer. In the same spot, be sure to visit the “Gator Chateau,” an educational attraction for all ages, where you can hold a baby alligator! Check out our gift shop for gator souvenirs. After your visit, take a tour of Bayou Rum, in Lacassine, LA, where you can take a free tour and taste rum made with locally grown sugarcane. Visit quaint Downtown Welsh, with its brick sidewalks and local shops. Other top attractions in our Parish are the Zigler and Tupper Museums in Jennings, the 55-mile Flyway Byway State Scenic Byway, and seasonal crawfish farm tours. Don’t forget some of the best Cajun food you can get at one of our many local eateries featuring fresh seafood. Great RV spots at several scenic locations, such as Myers Landing in Lake Arthur. Camp under giant moss-covered oaks on the water. Come rest and relax in the heart of Cajun Country!
Sugar and Soul in Iberville Parish
Nestled in the heart of Louisiana’s sugar cane country and at the soul of the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, Iberville Parish is a wealth of discovery. Located just minutes from the state capital of Baton Rouge, our parish features a collection of small towns and villages with a riveting history, unique architecture and authentic Louisiana cuisine. Iberville boasts an unforgettable natural landscape with meandering bayous and waterways suitable for paddling, fishing and birding. If golf is your adventure, The Island in Plaquemine offers a challenging 18-hole golf experience. Escape to the banks of the Mississippi River in the quaint town of St. Gabriel and visit Istrouma Brewery at Sugar Farms for a little fun, food and brew. For more unique discoveries throughout Iberville Parish, visit our website at visitiberville.com.