Escape to the Wild

Louisiana is blessed with numerous state parks, many of which lie in Acadiana, and almost all feature cabins for overnight stays. The cabins at Sam Houston Jones State Park north of Lake Charles have been renovated and that’s just one reason to visit. The park features more than 1,000 acres of lakes, trees and rivers, kayak rentals and picnic tables and remains a great place to spot nearly 200 species.

Seek Out the Unusual

Acadiana is home to several distinctive destinations, many of which have been spotlighted by media and TV shows. The haunted Gothic Jail in DeRidder, built in 1915, was the location of a double execution, plus it’s creepy as all get out. They offer ghost tours as well. Over in Avoyelles, cross Bayou des Glaises on the Sarto Bridge, a swing truss bridge built in 1916, then visit the 1927 Adam Ponthieu Grocery Store and Big Bend Post Office Museum that’s a time capsule for the Big Bend Community.

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Table That Idea!

French Tables, gatherings of French speakers looking to learn or enhance their language, exists throughout South Louisiana. At NUNU Arts and Culture Collective in Arnaudville, they also offer La Table Kreyol for Creole speakers and the Indigenous Table featuring Native American language and culture. You must admit that Acadiana is one interesting cultural gumbo.

We’ve known the expanse of fun located in Henderson just before the Atchafalaya Bridge as Cajun Palms RV Resort. Now, the park featuring a trio of pools, Fun City Arcade and accommodations in addition to the RV slots is Camp Margaritaville. The renamed resort includes luxury cabins, a bark park, high-speed Wi-Fi, sport courts and three bars with a — you guessed it — Jimmy Buffett theme. Over in Carencro, the Lafayette KOA has been honored with the 2023 KOA President’s Award and the KOA Founder’s Award for their customer service and high standards. The campground includes a 10-acre lake so bring your fishing gear.

When the thunderstorms pound or it’s too hot to go outside, there are three outstanding children’s museums to choose from to keep the kids busy: The Children’s Museum of Southwest Louisiana in Lake Charles, the Children’s Museum of Acadiana in downtown Lafayette and the Bayou Country Children’s Museum in Thibodaux.

Outdoor Art

There’s art everywhere — and it’s free to enjoy. Rayne, Lake Charles, Morgan City and Lafayette downtowns, to name a few, sport numerous murals and Lafayette features a variety of sculptures and unique art pieces. Down the bayou in Chauvin, Nicholls State University maintain the eclectic artwork of Kenny Hill, who decorated his small plot of land with concrete folk art. lafayettetravel.com/ things-to-do/trails/public-art. nicholls.edu/folkartcenter