The Bluebonnet Swamp

Those not from Louisiana often picture the entire state as a cypress-filled swampland. While that’s not entirely the truth, Baton Rouge is actually home to the Bluebonnet Swamp - smack dab in the middle of the city. Part of BREC’s park system, the Bluebonnet Swamp has more than a mile of boardwalks and pathways weaving between the trunks of cypress and magnolia trees. This nature preserve is brimming with natural wildlife, and the property also boasts an award-winning liveanimal exhibit inside the nature center. You wouldn’t expect such a green, serene space just a stone’s throw away from the Mall of Louisiana, but it’s there that this beautiful property lies just waiting to be explored.

There are dozens more places to explore around the city of Baton Rouge, but half of the fun is finding them for yourself! Until you’re able to get down here and experience them, head over to www.visitbatonrouge.com and find even more stops to add to your Baton Rouge bucket list. •

Acadia is the heartland of Acadiana and its celebrated Louisiana food, music, and culture. Enjoy historic museums and attractions showcasing everything from our musical and spiritual heritage to how food gets to your table! Take in farmland vistas with agriculture, aquaculture, and birding. Experience dining on food from farm (or pond) to table and sites along the Zydeco Cajun Prairie Scenic Byway. Come stroll historic main streets and shop for the perfect memento of your trip!

Most known for rice production with the parish seat of Crowley proclaimed as the Rice Capital of the World, the area is also the #1 producer of crawfish in the state, so the staples of Cajun and Creole cuisine, like crawfish etouffee, seafood gumbo, and jambalaya are deliciously at home here. The area is also known for its German heritage, adding mouthwatering meats and sausages to the flavorful tapestry, with plenty of stops featured on the Specialty Meats & Cracklin Trail. Try all the flavors, from boudin to po-boys, some of the best purchased from gas station markets.

Food also tops the list at area festivals! Festival season kicks off with Courir de Mardi Gras, the traditional running of the Mardi Gras, featuring costumed riders on foot, horseback, and float, chasing chickens and begging for ingredients along the way for a communal gumbo at the end of the route gathering. Spring features music festivals, like Cajun Woodstock, along with the Rayne Frog Festival where you’ll have a “hoppin” good time! Germanfest in October features authentic German food and a large selection of German beer on tap, along with folklore demonstrations. And the International Rice Festival held the third weekend of October, holds up its title as one of the largest and oldest agricultural festivals in the state.

Live music can be experienced at festivals, but you can immerse yourself in music year-round. You will literally be listening to history when accordion makers, such as Mouton Accordions or craftsman Larry Miller regale you with the traditions of this German instrument of Cajun and Zydeco music fame. You can continue your celebration of music history with a tour of the J.D. Miller Recording Studio the oldest recording studio in continuous existence in the state of Louisiana, best known for its Country, Cajun, Zydeco, and Swamp Pop releases. Music history meets today when you take in a show at the Grand Opera House of the South, one of the only two-story opera houses still in use today, or the glorious, art deco Historic Rice Theatre.

See historic sites throughout the area, such as Le Vieux Presbytère in Church Point. Built in 1887, it’s one of the last structures in southern Louisiana to use the folk craft of mud wall construction known as bousillage. There are so many historic churches and cemeteries in the area, including the gravesite of Proposed Cajun Saint Charlene Richard, we created the Faith Trail to make exploring easy. Tour Crowley’s Historic District with Victorian beauty and more than 200 breathtaking structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Check out the historic Ford Motor Company building that is now City Hall and the Rice Interpretive Center. In addition to the center in Crowley, area agricultural tours allow you to find out more about foodways, such as Kelly’s Landing Agricultural Museum and D & G Frey Crawfish. And, when you are done for the day, find namebrand hotels and charming bed & breakfasts, such as Maison Daboval in Rayne, or head out to Crying Eagle Lodging Company in Basile for a wilderness resort with luxury lodges.

Come enjoy the rich bounty of Acadia – Cajun Harvest Country. AcadiaTourism.com •

Nestled on the northwest border of Louisiana, DeSoto Parish beckons travelers with its rural landscapes and rich history. From the charming villages to the flowing waters of the Sabine River. This hidden gem offers a diverse range of experiences that will captivate any visitor. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a history buff, a food lover, or simply seeking a peaceful escape, DeSoto Parish has an adventure for everyone.