Our Water Heritage
The Atchafalaya Basin is the nation’s largest river swamp, containing almost one million acres of the nation’s most significant bottomland hardwoods, swamps and bayous. The Cajun Coast has many options to explore this vast wilderness along with even more waterways to explore!
The Atchafalaya Water Heritage Trail features 9 sites within the Cajun Coast for you to explore. These sites include areas only available by boat, rich historic landmarks, and the beauty National Geographic Traveler noted as “hauntingly beautiful land.”
- East Cote Blanche Bay – Rich bays and marshes like East Cote Blanche Bay are important for Louisiana’s coastal fisheries and the state’s seafood industry. It also provides access for sports fishermen and recreational boaters to Marsh Island, a wildlife refuge and popular recreational fishing and shrimping destination about 20 miles from the Louisiana coast.
- Lake Palourde – The word palourde is French for “clam,” an important food source for early settlers to the area. The lake, near Morgan City, covers 11,520 acres and is one of a number of large lakes that once existed within the historic Atchafalaya River Basin’s 3-million-acre landscape.
- Atchafalaya River at Morgan City – After the Mississippi River Flood of 1927, levees were built to minimize flooding in populated areas. The first Atchafalaya River levee constructed in 1946 was 13 feet tall on both sides of the river. Subsequent floods resulted in its redesign and expansion. The current 21-foot-wall was built after the Flood of 1973. In Morgan City, a walkway was installed on top of the wall, giving visitors a bird’s eye view of the river and traffic. l
- Atchafalaya River at the Mr. Charlie Oil Rig – Offshore oil drilling off the coast of Morgan City had many challenges in transporting materials down the Atchafalaya River. Eventually Alden J. “Doc” LaBorde created a movable, submersible barge capable of carrying everything needed for drilling and traveling to any location in the Gulf. Mr. Charlie was the first rig of its kind. It began service in 1954 and made drilling for oil easier and more economical. A floating city that provided lodging for up to 58 workers and a platform to hold the drilling equipment.
- Bayou Teche at Sovereign Nation of the Chitimacha – The Chitimacha Tribe settled along the lower Teche in approximately 500 A.D. and built permanent villages using trees, rivercane stalks and palmetto leaves native to the area. They used the bayou as a major trade network and built several mounds along its banks. It is believed that, at the time of European contact, the Chitimacha Tribe’s population approached 20,000 people who were spread out among 15 distinct villages in the Mississippi River Delta and Atchafalaya Basin.
- Cypress Swamp at Wedell-Williams Aviation & Cypress Sawmill Museum – Bald cypress trees and swamps are iconic symbols of south Louisiana that have evolved along with the rivers and bayous of this region. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these dense, insect-resistant old-growth trees were harvested from swamps and bayous to provide what many thought were limitless amounts of construction materials. Today, bald cypress trees are protected in Louisiana, but only a few scattered old-growth stands remain. Most of what we see are second-growth stands, less than a century old, but still a vital part of the area ecosystem.
- Bayou Teche at Franklin Historic District– Throughout the 1800s, the 125-mile Bayou Teche was the main transportation route through this region. Its banks eventually attracted settlers eager to capitalize on this strategic location and proximity to the coast. The city of Franklin was founded along the Teche in 1808 and became the seat of St. Mary Parish in 1811. Most of Franklin Historic District’s more than 400 historic properties on the National Register of Historic Places are along or near the Teche.
- Bayou Teche at Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge – Bayou Teche is one of the most important bayous in south Louisiana, running 125 miles from its headwaters at Bayou Courtableau in Port Barre to its convergence with the Atchafalaya River near Morgan City. Visitors to the Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge can explore the area via several paddle trails that follow old logging canals and provide a peaceful environment to view wildlife such as birds, alligators, river otters and, occasionally, a black bear. Fishing and hiking are also popular here, though most hiking trails are closed during hunting season.
- Pierre Part Bay at Virgin Island Bridge – Bayous lace this portion of south Louisiana. The highest land in the area is located along the banks of Bayou Lafourche, where elevation of natural levees ranges from 15 to 20 feet above sea level. The community of Pierre Part, located along a body of water known as Pierre Part Bay (which flows into Lake Verret), sits on land only 3 feet above sea level and is nearly surrounded by water.
Take in a few stops along the Atchafalaya Water Heritage Trail – paddling, hiking, or even just sight-seeing – then stay awhile on the Cajun Coast!
Let the Music Lead You (to the Cajun Coast)
When you think “Cajun” you automatically think food and music, and the Cajun Coast has its fill of both, but music takes the stage, literally this spring.
Not only is there so much live music on the Cajun Coast that a live music calendar is published each week, but the Bayou Songwriter’s Festival & Road to 3rd Street Songwriter’s Festival is back in April with 10 days of performances, competitions, events, workshops, and bayou fun with over 100 performers participating. Presenting sponsor, D.a.T. Sauce will also be showcasing the winners of their National Songwriting Competition. There are opportunities to rub elbows with top names as well as many public performances planned throughout the area. Come be a part of this fun and funky festival!
The Cypress Sawmill Festival will be the official location for the KQKI Country Music Showdown – America’s #1 Country Music Talent Search – to kick off the Songwriter’s Festival . See your favorite local talent compete and win! Then more music will round out the weekend, along with the songs of saws and cheers at lumberjack competitions and other activities, honoring the lumber industry, once a major part of the Patterson landscape.
With Morgan City, LA being the headquarters of the National Last Honky Tonk Music Series, the Cajun Coast gets its fair share of historic, roots music performances. Series performances are held throughout the nation, from small honky tonks to large outdoor arenas, with everything from solo acoustic performances to full band shows. Catch the live music calendar to find these performances throughout the area.
Music line-ups are anticipated by festival-goers, with much local talent to draw from. Even quirky April events that honor boats, bears, and even porches, still count on great music to bring in the crowds! Cypress Bayou Casino Hotel also packs out its three venues with big names that draw in crowds from far and near! Rhythms on the River is a weekly music series that begins after Easter for 9 weeks, starting each weekend off right in downtown Morgan City.
The weekly music calendar is packed with a variety of musical genres for all tastes, including the occasional “open mic night” if you want to bring your own! So check out the calendar and find a festival or venue for live music every weekend on the Cajun Coast!
Come Soar with Eagles and Other Feathered Friends on the Cajun Coast
While we celebrate the Eagle during Eagle Expo in February, birding and wildlife viewing is amazing on the Cajun Coast throughout the spring. Located along the Mississippi Flyway, the Cajun Coast is home to some of the most awe-inspiring birdwatching opportunities in the country. More than 300 species of birds can be seen as well as additional wildlife, particularly during the spring and fall migrations.
And, the scenery is spectacular year-round, regardless of the birds available for spotting. As a part of the Atchafalaya Basin area, the largest overflow swamp in the United States, a maze of bayous, lakes, ponds and cypress swamps provides a beautiful terrain to enjoy. With several distinct aquatic & terrestrial habitats, in addition to the wide variety of birds, more than 65 species of reptiles and 46 species of mammals inhabit the Cajun Coast.
The marshlands located along the coast serve as the perfect havens for many of the state’s more unusual species of waterfowl, raptors and songbirds. This paradise is filled with some of nature’s most often sought after birds. The area also features a designated bird sanctuary and ample opportunities for eagle sightings with nearly 300 active nests in the area.
The Cajun Coast has many areas where expert birdwatchers or novel birding hobbyist can enjoy themselves. State Parks, wildlife refuges, campgrounds and parks, as well as available swamp tours all provide opportunities for observation. Many locations are noted along the St. Mary Loop of the America’s Wetlands Birding Trail. Paddling trails also offer many options to observe birds and wildlife up-close.
So, come immerse yourself in what National Geographic calls “hauntingly beautiful land.” Click here for specific information on birding in the area, then plan your trip today.
Family Ties
“How’s Your Mom-and-Dem”? As the greeting goes, and with Thanksgiving the fourth week in November, thoughts turn this time of year to family. Family is very important on the Cajun Coast where generations have made their living along its waterways. And we have everything you need to plan the perfect family reunion!
Not only do we have accommodations to suit just about every family – from camp and RV parks to family-friendly hotels with group rates and ample meeting space, we have enough activities to keep the relations happily relating!
Uncle Matt, the Civil War buff, can walk the historic grounds of monumental battles of the War Between the States, and he and Aunt June can stroll hand-in-hand under tree-lined oaks and be sobered by the tales of hardship endured by the people who lived and worked in the historic buildings that survived the test of time. Franklin boasts more than 400 sites on the Register of Historic Places.
Take the kids to climb up the “Great Wall,” a 21-foot seawall built for flood protection, where you can get a bird’s eye view of the traffic in the Atchafalaya River, one of the busiest rivers in the state. Next travel to the International Petroleum Museum & Exposition, the “Mr. Charlie.” Everyone will enjoy learning about the oil industry on this retired oil rig and the many ways oil is used.
Your sister, Gloria, who fancies herself a movie critic, will recognize scenes from many movies along the Cajun Coast, including the Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Easy Rider, and All the King’s Men.
And, everyone will enjoy the tales of racing in Patterson at the Wedell-Williams Aviation and Cypress Sawmill Museum, a Louisiana State Museum, chronicling early pioneers and community efforts in flight and in lumbering. There’s even a Steamboat Exhibit on display through next summer.
Then visit the Sovereign Nation of the Chitimacha and the Chitimacha Museum in Charenton. The Chitimacha were the first settlers to the area and lived in and around the Atchafalaya Basin. The museum documents their history, culture and their efforts in preservation.
Grandma can marvel at the stained glass and beautiful altars prevalent throughout St. Mary Parish’s churches. Tour Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, Pharr Chapel Methodist, Church of the Assumption, St. Mary’s Episcopal in Franklin or Asbury United Methodist Church.
Your cousins who are so outdoorsy can lead the birding tour that won’t even take you off-the-beaten path. Morgan City’s Brownell Carillon Bell Tower features a designated bird sanctuary and has walking paths throughout the swamp, enhanced by the music of the carillon bells that ring every 15 minutes.Then charter a boat (or bring your own) and set out on the fishing trip of a lifetime! When the littlest makes the biggest catch, it will become an even bigger story!
Yes, it’s cliché, but let the ladies shop ‘til they drop in quaint Main Street boutiques, and send the guys to try their luck against water hazards and challenges of the Atchafalaya Golf Course at Idlewild or other local courses.
And, speaking of luck, there’s grown-up adventure to be had at Cypress Bayou Casino or Amelia Belle Casino!
So, find fun for the entire family and get pats on the back for planning the perfect family reunion on the Cajun Coast!
Top 5 Things to Do on the Cajun Coast This Fall
From Harvests to Historic Exploration – there’s plenty to do on the Cajun Coast this fall!
1) Fall, like in many parts of the country, means harvest festivals.
At the end of October, both Franklin and Patterson have fall festivals.
And Arlington Plantation has added a Ghost Tour!
- Franklin Merchant’s Association Harvest Moon Festival – Oct. 28
- 2nd Annual Patterson Historic Walking Tour & Fall Fest – Oct. 28
- Arlington Plantation Ghost Tour – Oct. 28 & 31
But fall also means cooler temps and a lot of opportunities to play, on and off the water on the Cajun Coast.
2) Horseshoes aren’t just for horses.
At the beginning of October, the Louisiana State Horseshoe Tournament takes place at Kemper Williams Park with additional tournaments mid- and end-month. And Kemper Williams Park is available for a game of horseshoes just about any time.
3) Get your Paddle in the Water.
With increasing popularity of kayaking and canoeing, it wasn’t long before paddle races increased in popularity as well.
Throughout the fall, kayak and canoe races, such as the Tour du Teche Oct. 6-8, take place along the Bayou Teche and Atchafalaya Basin. You can do on-your-own exploring, with a group, or on a swamp tour.
4) Interesting history.
Some places have museum buildings, and we have quite a few cool, preserved buildings housing even cooler stuff, but we also have lighthouses (with the Lighthouse Festival at the finish line of the Tour du Teche in Berwick Oct. 8), and entire oil rigs to show off our history. A demonstration of the Chitimacha Tribe culture will be open to the public at the Pow-Wow on Oct. 28.
5) And let’s not forget golf, on the beautiful Atchafalaya Golf Course at Idlewild, as well as Country Clubs in Franklin and Berwick.
So, come this fall to the Cajun Coast – and explore to your heart’s content.
Craving Paddling Weather
As summer slowly begins to give way to fall, everyone wants to be outside, including the animals along the Cajun Coast. Alligator spotting becomes more frequent on swamp tours and birds traveling along our flyway to warmer climates fill the skies and skim along the water’s edge.
People long to be skimming along the water as well. September begins and ends with kayak and canoe events; check out Tour du Teche specifics for the Lower Atchafalaya River Sprint and 410 de Louisiane. But you don’t need an event to set out into peaceful waters along the Atchafalaya Basin and many offshoots leading out into the Gulf waters. In fact, we have created paddling trails to make it as easy as possible to explore our unique waterways.
There are multiple paddling trails along the Cajun Coast, marked for the novice to more experienced paddler. And even if you haven’t traveled with your canoe, there are nearby outfitters that can supply you for the excursion. Check our Paddling Trails site for more information.
Bayou Teche Paddling Trail – Begins in Jeanerette and ends near Calumet. Six boat docks are located along the trail which travels the slow-moving waters of Bayou Teche.
Bayou Teche/Lower Atchafalaya Paddling Trail – begins at the Calumet Cut and takes you through Patterson to the mouth of the Bayou Teche at the Atchafalaya River. Bayou Teche National Wildlife Paddling Trail – the refuge’s waterways set aside for paddling offer a unique area of tranquility for wildlife and visitors alike.
Franklin Paddling Trails – There is a loop tour and linear tour, both are for beginners. There are several boat launches along the trail, and Franklin’s historic district is a must-see.
Grand Avoille Cove Paddling Trail – Lake Fausse Point is a great spot for birding! Canoeists can paddle under and around large moss-draped cypress trees which line the lake. Cotton Canal, a small canal located just east of Cotton Point, is a great place for wildlife watching. Once you reach the lake, paddle between the cypress trees for the best view. There are several access points, but a shuttle service may be necessary.
Cypremort Point Paddling Trail. The trails feature moss-draped cypress trees, majestic oaks and abundant wildlife, and they are easily accessible from several points of departure along the coast. While secluded spots and scenic beauty are all around you, you are not far from rustic to elegant accommodations and abundant dining along the Cajun Coast.
If you’re not the paddling sort, swamp tours and fishing charters also provide opportunities for getting out on the water. Blu Rebel Charters or other nearby captains can take you inland or further out into the deeper waters of the Gulf. Our State Parks and Wildlife Refuges are also along waterways for additional opportunities. You can even rent a houseboat to stay along the water’s edge!
Paddle or charter your way into another world along the Cajun Coast!