This new year needs a new lease on life! Don’t put off experiencing new adventures and making new memories! Come on down to the Cajun Coast, and paddle the Atchafalaya, taste foods you can’t pronounce, and find a new path!
There are so many ways to find a new adventure on the Cajun Coast! And, we’ve made paddling the Atchafalaya Basin easy to navigate. The Atchafalaya Basin Swamp is the largest overflow swamp in the U.S., containing almost one million acres of the nation’s most significant bottomland hardwoods, swamps and bayous. But, we’ve set up specific Paddling Trails with maps and difficulty levels, so you’ll know where to put your oar in the water!
And, if you want to find out more about this national treasure, the Atchafalaya Water Heritage Trail features 9 sites within the Cajun Coast including areas only available by boat, rich historic landmarks, and the beauty National Geographic Traveler noted as “hauntingly beautiful land.”
In addition to The Atchafalaya Water Heritage Trail, you can drive along the Bayou Teche Scenic Byway, meandering along this beautiful bayou waterway, taking in more than 100 historic properties along the way as well. You can bike along this byway as well, or Hwy. 182, known as the Old Spanish Trail.
You can blaze a trail along the 170,000 acres of designated wildlife management areas, spotting an abundance of bird and animal life! We are also part of the Atchafalaya Basin Geotrail, with 24 geocaches around the area! Get more info on the trails.
Local swamp tour operators, like Captain Caviar, provide entertaining and educational tours of the beauty and mystery of the Atchafalaya waters. Depending on the time of year, a variety of wildlife and plant life, and yes, alligators, will likely be spotted.
After all that paddling and waterway exploration, you’re bound to be hungry! You will not leave that way! Louisiana’s food is world-famous, and you’ll want to try everything, especially dishes you’re not sure how to pronounce – étouffée, jambalaya, gumbo, sauce piquant, and seafood so fresh it was probably swimming in the Gulf this morning! It’s all worth a try, and save room for dessert! The Cajun Coast is also sugar country, so sweets, from pralines to bread pudding are worth the calories! See our dining page and plan to eat your way throughout the region.
There are also plenty of parks and trails to work off those calories. Take in the beauty of the outdoors – with our mild temperatures, you can hike or bike many days, even in winter! Of course, check the weather before you head out, and remember we do get our fair share of winter showers, so pack appropriately.
Or, if you’d prefer your exercise in jumping up and down over your winnings, Amelia Belle Casino or Cypress Bayou Casino-Hotel, Louisiana’s first land-based casino has plenty of opportunities. In addition to slots and table games, you’ll find amazing dining at Cypress Bayou
We have a lot of learning adventures as well. You can take in area fine culture or learn more about our heritage at sites and museums, including the many cultures who settled this area, such as the Chitimacha, the first settlers of the region. Their basket-weaving skills are legendary, and you can see their work on display at the Chitimacha Museum in Charenton. We have plenty of itineraries on different topics as well, so your history buff , movie buff , birder or ghost hunter can travel their passion on the Cajun Coast
So, come find a new, adventurous you in the near year on the Cajun Coast!
