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Louisiana’s Southern charm is unmatched thanks to its rich Cajun heritage and proximity to the greatest swaths of swamplands in the nation, as well as the Gulf of Mexico. Award-winning dishes are served from restaurants that pride themselves in offering authentic Louisiana flavors, while the region’s swamplands provide hours of entertainment under the careful leadership of generations of families who have grown up on the Bayou. Plantation homes preserved in period settings sit amidst the backdrop of ancient oak and cypress trees. The great weather also underscores the laidback feel of the area where the people are as friendly as the great food is abundant.

Louisiana is a wonderful place to be, and these nine top-rated towns represent some of the best Louisiana has to offer.

Opelousas

Opelousas receives top ratings for its strong connection to the past. Highlighting the system that represents the beginnings of the modern-day Foster Care Program, The Orphan Train Museum in Opelousas, Louisiana, tells the stories of 250,000 homeless children who came to the region to be united with foster families in the 1800s and early 1900s.

In addition, The Creole Heritage Folk Life Center promotes hands on educational programs focusing on African American and Creole music and art. For family fun, take in a race or two at the Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino, where you can try your luck at one of the 1,100 slot machines, or place a bet on a live horse race. Live entertainment features regional talent on a regular basis.

Mandeville

Mandeville, Louisiana, originated as a lakeside resort town and evolved into a blossoming community built around life along the water of Lake Pontchartrain. Mandeville’s causeway, the Longest Bridge in the º£½ÇÉçÇø, connects the town to Lake Pontchartrain, and the coastal waters provide lots of opportunities to fish for black drum, flounder, or sheepshead while on a charter with the Wicked Fishing charter company. Grab a designated drinking mug for the bi-annual Sip and Stroll, enjoying local wines and spirits while exploring participating venues in the heart of Mandeville (must be of legal drinking age to participate).

Grab great food and local handmade goods at the Mandeville Trailhead Market, where commodities such as fresh produce, baked goods, and artisanal soaps are always available. Be sure to take in top-notch live entertainment at Ruby’s Roadhouse, and you’ll see why Mandeville is a top-rated town in beautiful Louisiana.

New Iberia

New Iberia, Louisiana, has top-rated destinations such as The Shadows on the Teche plantation, a place preserved in time, telling the story of many enslaved men, women, and children. Community events such as the Plein Air Competition bring folks together to pay homage to the plantation’s history while appreciating the timeless beauty of the estate’s grounds. While in New Iberia, visit the Rip Van Winkle Gardens, constructed in the late 1800s by actor Joseph Jefferson, where the Jefferson Mansion sits amidst 15 acres of semi-tropical gardens, including 350-year-old oaks.

The Bayou Teche Museum preserves the history of local industry and culture with its collection of artifacts and paintings. Check out the Sliman Theatre for Performing Arts, which can’t be missed thanks to its unique Deco-style design featuring pigmented glass and stucco exterior, often a popular venue for private functions.

Slidell

Slidell, Louisiana, is where visitors get a little taste of the wild on such adventures as the Honey Island Swamp Tours, prime gator territory. Experienced Captains guide boats through swamps where sightings of gators are practically guaranteed. While on the Bayou, grab a bite to eat at the Palmettos On The Bayou Restaurant. Here you will enjoy live entertainment and some of the best, top-rated service. Offering indoor and outdoor seating, this unique dining experience serves up delicious Acadian-style meals using fresh local ingredients.

Stroll through John Slidell Park, where walking trails meander under the shadows of towering palm trees. Ballfields and playgrounds provide a chance to blow off a little steam for the whole family, while the Arcade on Carey is an indoor venue where you can try your golf swing with the Golf simulator or expand your repertoire at the multi-sport simulator.

Houma

Preserving the memory of soldiers who served during the Civil War, and Vietnam War up to modern-day conflicts, the Regional Military Museum in Houma, Louisiana, should be the first stop while visiting this top-rated town. Priding itself on being a beacon of living history, the exhibits include military memorabilia, war-era vehicles, and authentic weaponry. Next, visit the Southdown Plantation and Museum where guided tours take you through the famous pink plantation house to view room after room of preserved artifacts from bygone eras.

The Terrebonne Folklife Culture Center also has historical exhibits as well as arts and crafts and features a Cajun toolshed and a variety of Native American artifacts. Lastly, the Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum hosts lively Cajun music and features unique handmade jewelry and clothing while overlooking the waters of Bayou Terrebonne.

Breaux Bridge

Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, receives top ratings for the Atchafalaya Welcome Center, located in the Atchafalaya Basin, the largest swamp in America. Walking trails, picnic areas and a monument to the Veterans of the Battle of Normandy are there to be enjoyed by all. Visitors can enjoy fishing and camping in the nearby Atchafalaya National Heritage Center as well. Also, the family-owned Atchafalaya Swamp Boat Tours offer tours of the Basin, giving patrons a chance to see gators, do a little fishing, or just take in the natural splendor.

After time out in the swamp, come back to town for a chance to view local creativity. Stop by the Pink Alligator Alley Art Gallery to view (and purchase!) artwork by emerging and intermediate artists from the region, lovingly curated by the gallery owner. End the day by tucking into award-winning grub at Buck and Johnny’s Eclectic Cajun Italian restaurant and bar.

Youngsville

Youngsville, Louisiana, is certainly a top-rated town thanks to its huge variety of family-oriented amusements like the award-winning Kart Ranch Family Fun Entertainment Center, where the whole family can enjoy games of laser tag, bumper cars, and go-karts, to name a few. The Ranch also features an arcade and snack bar. The award-winning Youngsville Sports Complex is the place to go to blow off a little steam where young and old alike can enjoy the ballfields, splash pad, volleyball courts, and more.

For a bite of authentic Louisiana flavor, enjoy the culinary marvels at Mandez's Seafood Bar and Grill, where their Cajun-inspired dishes receive rave reviews. End the day with a cold beer at the Corner Bar, the cleanest, friendliest watering hole in town.

Jeanerette

With a nickname like Sugar City, it’s not hard to imagine that life in the top-rated town of Jeanerette, Louisiana is as sweet as can be. Situated on the banks of the Bayou Teche, the Jeanerette Bi-centennial Park and Museum showcases 200 years of sugar-cane history, which was one of the region’s main industries back in the day. A 30-minute drive from Jeanerette will bring visitors to Cypremort Point State Park, the region’s premier man-made beach where the whole family can enjoy a picnic, swimming, boating, and fishing.

The Park features a boat launch that gives access to the waters of the Gulf of Mexico as well. Along the way, enjoy the Old Spanish Trail and its 100-plus-year-old oak trees and take in the splendor of the St. John the Evangelist Church, constructed of local cypress lumber with a central spire that rises high into the skyline, visible from all points in town.

Ponchatoula

The Collinswood Museum in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, highlights the life of this former railroad town, which also maintained a thriving cypress lumber industry. The Museum features an authentic Engine number 9 as well as a plethora of railroad memorabilia associated with the lumber industry. The Louisiana Treasures Museum, also located in Ponchatoula, proudly exhibits collections of everyday cooking and hunting tools and implements of Native Americans as well as the folks living along Lake Pontchartrain in days gone by. The Museum also features a memorial honoring fallen police.

Outdoor adventure awaits at the Kliebart Gator Farm, which provides access to some of the largest gators in the country. Passionately dedicated to the preservation of gators, the Kliebart Gator Farm also offers swamp tours and hands-on interactions with live gators. Sit back and relax as you dive into the freshest surf n’ turf in the state at the Roux and Brew, for live entertainment five days per week as well as brunch every Saturday, or try a cocktail at their fully licensed indoor and outdoor bars.

Great food, gorgeous scenery, and good people are the main ingredients that make up Louisiana’s top-rated small towns. Add to that a little outdoor adventure like a game of baseball at the Youngsville Sports Complex or searching for gators with folks at the Kliebart Swamp Tours, and you’ve got yourself a perfect mixture of what makes Louisiana such a great place to visit. Stunning Bayou scenery, live entertainment, and balmy weather make Louisiana one of the best places to visit for a little rest and relaxation, and these small towns are sure to welcome you with open arms.