Those looking for an authentic southern experience should travel to the Bayou State where there’s fish to fry and gators at every turn.
But Louisiana also provides a rich culture of music, language, and let’s not forget food!
Dive into the secret treasures this vibrant state offers and you’ll be booking that family vacation in no time.
Louisiana is no doubt one of the most ethnically diverse and culturally rich states in this great nation.
With Spanish, French, African, and Native American influences, the vibrant colors that decorate the state are just scratching the surface.
Acadiana, as the southwestern region of Louisiana is affectionately called, gives you a real taste of the Cajun heritage.
What many tourists don’t realize is that the Cajun people were French travelers who had been booted out of Canada by the British.
Much of what has been labeled traditional Louisiana fare is brought to us by the Cajuns, like gumbo, étouffée, and the beloved jambalaya.
And the Cajuns influenced the music scene in more ways than the world may ever realize. You can hear the upbeat sounds of the fiddle, guitar, and accordion playing over French lyrics from the streets on any Saturday night.
In the center of Acadiana is Vermilionville in Lafayette Parish. This history-rich bayou showcases the French culture of the 18th and 19th century.
Walk into an old schoolhouse where French children were once discouraged to speak their native tongue, or the Landry Plantation House which is the epitome of a home you’d imagine in the south.
All aspects of life here on the bayou give every visitor the feeling that they’ve slipped into another dimension where life slows down, the music speeds up, and the grass seems a little bit greener.
And a trip to Louisiana wouldn’t be complete without a boat ride down the Atchafalaya Swamp – America’s largest wetland.
Sure there are mosquitos and alligators just as you’d expect, but there’s so much more wildlife than that.
Cypress trees line the mysteriously murky waters where you carefully gaze to see if you can catch a glimpse of an Asian Carp before it jumps right into your lap.
Soaring above the twisted and beautifully contorted wetlands are long-neck egrets that seem to guide you along the colored swamp.
Head south from Lafayette and stroll through the lush Rip Van Winkle Gardens, a 15-acre parkland located on the banks of Lake Peigneur.
Catch a glimpse of roseate spoonbills, white egrets, and the always spectacular peacock.
If you’re more the hands-on adventurer type, you can step it up a notch and kayak with the gators or zipline along the treetops.
Whatever your interests may be, chances are Louisiana has something that will entertain and amaze you.
Go beyond the traditional and seek-out the rich and fulfilling experiences that make up the very foundation of the colorful Bayou State.
