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When you think of Louisiana, the first place to come to mind is probably New Orleans. However, beyond its most famous city, Louisiana is a state filled with lovely, welcoming towns. Some of Louisiana’s most picturesque towns rest along the Mississippi River, some are in the bayous along the Gulf of Mexico, and some are tucked away in other corners of the state. Exploring the small towns of Louisiana is a great tourist adventure, as you are sure to find friendly faces, wondrous sights, and fantastic food.

Abita Springs

Abita Springs is a town of about 2,500 residents located in St. Tammany Parish, which is part of the greater New Orleans metro area in southeastern Louisiana. The town’s name is believed to come from a Choctaw word for the area’s mineral springs. These mineral springs, along with the fresh air and surrounding natural beauty, turned Abita Springs into a popular spa resort in the late 1800s. Several of the large resort hotels and Victorian-style vacation homes built during Abita Springs’ spa town heyday remain today, adding to the beauty of the downtown area. The surrounding longleaf pine forests, creeks, and springs only add to the town’s charm.

Covington

Only about five miles from Abita Springs, Covington is a town in St. Tammany Parish in the greater New Orleans metro area. As the parish seat, however, Covington is a bit larger, with around 11,500 residents, and contains the parish courthouse and offices. Covington has grown rapidly in recent decades, mainly as a home for commuters into New Orleans. However, Covington has much more going for it than its proximity to New Orleans. The Covington Market Square is a great meeting spot and home to numerous shops and restaurants, and the Tammany Trace, a 31-mile recreational path, begins in town.

Breaux Bridge

Situated in St. Martin Parish in south-central Louisiana, near Lafayette, Breaux Bridge is the self-styled "Crawfish Capital of the º£½ÇÉçÇø." The town is the first place where crawfish appeared on restaurant menus, as well as the birthplace of crawfish etouffee. While Breaux Bridge’s 7,500 or so residents continue to celebrate this crawfish heritage, they also have many other reasons to be proud of this charming town that spans Bayou Teche. A succession of bridges has connected the town across the bayou since Breaux Bridge's founding in 1829, offering both convenience and exceptional bayou views. Breaux Bridge continues to have a lovely and lively downtown area as well.

Grand Isle

Grand Isle is the name both of the town and the barrier island it sits on, found at the mouth of Barataria Bay along the Gulf Coast. As the only inhabited barrier island in Louisiana, Grand Isle has been regularly pummeled by tropical storms and hurricanes. Yet Grand Isle keeps reemerging from the destruction, mainly because of the stunning natural beauty that draws in visitors and residents alike. Home to about 1,000 full-time residents, the town of Grand Isle can feel like it is always undergoing restoration after a storm—but the charm of the people and the picturesque surroundings make up for the lack of historic architecture. Visitors love the town’s numerous public beaches, as well as those in nearby Grand Isle State Park.

Hammond

The town of Hammond is nicely situated in southeastern Louisiana, sitting about 45 miles northwest of New Orleans and 45 miles east of Baton Rouge. This prime location has aided Hammond’s steady population growth, which is now above 20,000. Yet Hammond still has a small-town feel to it. The Hammond Historic District, which includes most of the downtown core, retains a mid-20th-century appearance and contains several buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Hammond is a great town for a walking tour, whether you like historic architecture or just good shopping options. Hammond’s role as the home of Southeastern Louisiana University also gives the town an energetic, youthful vibe.

Natchitoches

Natchitoches (pronounced Nack-a-tish) proclaims itself to be the oldest city in Louisiana and the oldest European settlement in the entire area of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. The town of about 18,000 residents is in central Louisiana and is the seat of Natchitoches Parish. Situated along the Red River, Natchitoches’ Historic District runs for 33 blocks along a brick-lined street and contains numerous historic buildings that house a range of antique shops, bed-and-breakfasts, restaurants, and other businesses. Two preserved plantations, Magnolia Plantation and Oakland Plantation, are just downriver from town and welcome visitors to experience the beauty of the landscape and the story of the enslaved people who lived and died there.

New Iberia

Positioned along the banks of Bayou Teche in southern Louisiana, New Iberia was founded by Spanish settlers in 1779. Since then, waves of French Acadian (Cajun), African American, Native American, and Anglo-American residents have added to a diverse and distinctive culture in the town of about 28,000 residents. The downtown area, which includes a National Historic District and won a "Great American Main Street" award in 2005, is excellent for walking tours and shopping excursions. The Bayou Teche Museum, located in New Iberia, explores the area’s distinctive history and culture, and the town hosts festivals throughout the year, including Mardi Gras in late winter and the º£½ÇÉçÇø Championship Gumbo Cookoff in October.

St. Francisville

Established in 1807 and home to about 1,600 residents, St. Francisville sits on a narrow ridge of land overlooking the Mississippi River—hence its reputation as "the town that is two miles long and two yards wide." This long, thin town layout offers great views of the mighty Mississippi from numerous blufftop vantage points. The downtown area includes several Victorian-era and older structures, a replica of vintage steamboat docks along the river, and several plantation houses dot the surrounding countryside. St. Francisville became a popular refuge for Jewish emigrants from Germany, which adds a unique cultural imprint in this part of eastern Louisiana.

Visitors to Louisiana expect to have a good time, and they rarely leave disappointed. However, while enjoying the great music, excellent food, and friendly people in Louisiana, visitors should also take time to appreciate the picturesque charm of the state’s many small towns. From historic architecture with a range of cultural influences to the natural beauty of the bayous and rivers and hills, Louisiana’s picture-perfect small towns will give any visitor’s camera a real workout!