These 7 Towns Are Louisiana's Best-Kept Secret
Tourism in Louisiana is booming. The state attracted 43 million visitors in 2023, which was a 420,000-person increase from 2022. Given the state鈥檚 rich Cajun and Creole culture and renowned seafood, this surge in interest is no surprise. So where should travelers go if they are hoping to avoid the crowds this year? Luckily, some of the best-preserved traditions, crawfish, and nature preserves are in the smallest towns! If you hope to experience Louisiana's most authentic side this year, these seven towns should be on your itinerary.
Breaux Bridge
As the Crawfish Capital of the 海角社区, travelers should arrive hungry at Breaux Bridge. The town is home to several renowned crawfish restaurants, including Crazy Bout Crawfish, known for its fresh, wild-caught, and farm-raised seafood, particularly its boiled crawfish. Breaux Bridge is also famous for its zydeco music. At Buck & Johnny鈥檚 every Saturday morning, travelers can learn to two-step during the restaurant鈥檚 Zydeco Breakfast event, which offers music from 8:30 through 11:30 am. Camp Margaritaville RV Resort Breaux Bridge is the perfect spot for a sunny weekend. This beach-style resort offers luxury cabins, pickleball courts, three swimming pools, a hot tub, and a variety of onsite restaurants and bars, making it easy to spend the entire day enjoying all it has to offer.
Grand Coteau
Known as the 鈥淪weet Dough Pie Capital of the State,鈥� there are lots of sweet treats to enjoy in Grand Coteau. On the last Saturday of October, visitors can attend the Sweet Dough Pie Festival, which features a sweet dough pie contest, pies for purchase, and more than 100 artisan vendors. Travelers should also stroll through the Grand Coteau Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places with over 70 architecturally significant buildings, including Victorian, Acadian, Creole, and French styles. Be sure to visit the Shrine of St. John Berchmans on the Academy of the Sacred Heart campus, where an 1866 miracle is said to have cured a woman of a chronic illness. On the same campus, Le Petit Mus茅e tells the story of the academy鈥檚 history.
Abita Springs
Abita Springs is the perfect town to visit if you are seeking a true small-town experience in Louisiana. Every Sunday, the Abita Springs Art and Farmers Market brings local vendors together to sell fresh produce, seafood, baked goods, honey, and jams while local artists showcase their work. In the spring and fall, the Abita Springs Opry holds a series of concerts that celebrate Louisiana "Roots" music. Ever wanted to learn how to Cajun dance? The North Shore Cajun Dancers offer lessons once a month on Saturday evening, followed by a live dance performance afterward. Those wanting to experience a particularly quirky side of Abita Springs can visit the Abita Mystery House, a folk art-style museum that includes thousands of objects, inventions, and memorabilia.
St. Martinville
As one of Louisiana鈥檚 oldest surviving towns, the Creole culture and heritage of St. Martinville remains strong. Several restaurants in town celebrate this heritage, including Josephine鈥檚 Creole Restaurant, owned by local resident Josephine Cormier. Known for its signature dishes, the menu features chicken and sausage gumbo, crab and shrimp gumbo, and deep-fried chicken.
Meanwhile, many of the historic landmarks reflect the area鈥檚 cultural diversity. Lake Fausse Pointe State Park, for example, has historically been a place of residence for the Chitimacha tribe, French and Acadian farmers, and Spanish immigrants. Travelers can explore the 6,000-acre site canoeing or boating or even spend the night in one of the park鈥檚 lake-front cabins. For more insight into the life of early Acadian settlers, visitors can stop by the Acadian Memorial and Museum, which commemorates the 3,000 Acadian settlers who arrived in the area after the British banished them from Acadia.
Grand Isle
Grand Isle is the only inhabited barrier island in the state, offering plenty of opportunities to fish, birdwatch, and lounge on the beach. Several companies in town offer fishing charters, including the popular and highly rated Capt. John's Fin-tastic Charters. Led by an experienced captain, this service gives travelers the chance to fish for redfish, snapper, and speckled trout.
For an exciting afternoon of birdwatching, consider visiting the Lafitte Woods Nature Preserve/Nature Trail, which has hackberry and live oak forests and nearly 100 species of birds, many of which are migratory species. Before heading back home, travelers can pick up some of the freshest seafood in Louisiana at one of the town鈥檚 seafood retailers, such as Camardelle's Seafood, which specializes in crawfish, crabs, and shrimp, and Bayside Oysters, which sells fresh, farm-raised oysters.
St. Francisville
Near the Mississippi River in central Louisiana, the small town of St. Francisville is surrounded by natural gems. The Clark Creek Natural Area, sometimes called the 鈥淟ittle Grand Canyon,鈥� is a must-visit, featuring seven waterfalls and hiking trails of varying difficulty for travelers to explore. Visitors should also make sure to spend an afternoon at Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to the largest bald cypress tree on the continent.
The West Feliciana Railroad is another interesting landmark in town, which features a historic railcar that was part of the 19th-century railroad that connected Bayou Sara, Louisiana to Woodville, Mississippi. Travelers who visit in November can attend the St. Francisville Food and Wine Festival, which celebrates the region鈥檚 culinary culture through dishes from renowned chefs, creative wine pairings, handcrafted cocktails, and craft beer.
Delcambre
Delcambre is a fishing village with deep Cajun roots and is just a 35-minute drive from Lafayette, making it perfect for a weekend trip! The town鈥檚 annual Shrimp Festival is one of southern Louisiana鈥檚 biggest celebrations of the fishing industry. Lasting five days, it offers classic shrimp dishes like fried shrimp, boiled shrimp, shrimp salad, and shrimp sauce piquant. Volunteers prepare all of the festival鈥檚 delicious food! From April through December, visitors can also stop by the monthly Delcambre Seafood and Farmers Market, which takes place on the water and includes over 60 vendors selling local food and fish. If you are craving a bit of exercise, consider heading down to the Port of Delcambre, which is a great place to enjoy a variety of water sports, including sailing, kayaking, and fishing.
Authentic Louisiana: Small Towns, Big Stories
Louisiana鈥檚 history is incredibly diverse, giving rise to the French, Cajun, and Creole cultures that remain today. One of the best ways to explore these traditions is by visiting the small, often rural towns that have continued to pass down this heritage through generations via their Cajun and Creole restaurants, fishing industries, and museums. So, don鈥檛 hesitate to venture beyond Louisiana鈥檚 big towns and discover the state鈥檚 most authentic cultural traditions and preserved natural landmarks in these underrated towns!
