Pick Your Food

Fresh farm produce may be found at farmers markets throughout South Louisiana but if you’d rather pick your own, visit Bluesberry Fields in Carencro where their fields turn blue in June. Owner Kary Ritter’s father was a blues lover, hence the name. Their Sunday events in June let folks pick their own, but check the website or call before you go; the spring weather caused havoc on the crops. bluesberryfields.com

Get Your Art On

LAFAYETTE // LAKE CHARLES

The Hilliard Art Museum in Lafayette offers art talks and other programs monthly. Third Saturdays, catch “Let’s Make Art,” a free drop-in art program for ages 4 and up (with an adult). Lake Charles’ Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center has works by well-known local artists this summer, followed by “Mosaics” through September.

On The Water

Paddle Up

Grab a paddle and hit the water on the Bayou Terrebonne Paddle Trail in Houma. The newly organized trail includes floating launches in the heart of town. Lake Area Adventures in Lake Charles rents kayak and boat rentals to enjoy on the lake and Pack & Paddle of Lafayette offers hosted paddles on Lake Martin and the Atchafalaya Basin.

Follow the Boudin

We don’t have to explain why there are boudin culinary trails, just why there are two. The folks out west (where Interstate 10 veers close to Texas) have compiled a great list of eateries, truck stops and restaurants into the Southwest Louisiana Boudin Trail. The Cajun Boudin Trail highlights great spots serving up the delicious rice and pork sausage in Lafayette and surrounding towns. Visit the websites, pick your favorites and hit the road. Better yet, try them all! lafayettetravel.com/ discover-lafayette/boudin-trail; visitlakecharles.org/food-drink/ cajun-creole/swla-boudin-trail

Music And Pie

Cane River Pecan Company’s 55-seat Pie Bar, which serves up decadent pies, soups and sandwiches and craft coffees, also presents live entertainment every Friday afternoon with the first Friday of each month focused on Cajun music. “It’s open to anyone, kids included, although the crowd skews more adult, naturally,” said Jady Regard, CNO or Chief Nut Officer. “But if you’re looking for ‘kid’ friendly things, ice cream and pie hit the spot too.” caneriverpecan.com

Take a Selfie

Get out your phone and hit the road for there are numerous spots to capture fun selfies in Acadiana. Be the Y in Lafayette’s sign at Parc Sans Souci downtown or visit the giant 900-year-old Buddha at Jungle Gardens in Avery Island. Hold a baby alligator at Gator Chateau in Jennings or pose near the largest pair of shrimp boots in existence at the Explore Houma Visitors Center, located at 114 Tourist Drive in Gray.

Get wet

LAFAYETTE // ABBEVILLE // LAKE CHARLES

Splash pads, such as the ones at Parc San Souci in Lafayette and Palmetto Island State Park south of Abbeville not only provide cool waters but the dancing fountains will delight children — and maybe a few adults. Lake Charles’ casinos feature lazy rivers where visitors can relax and float for hours, stopping maybe to the swim-up bar for refreshment.

Go Fish

GOLDEN MEADOW

Fishing is da bomb at the Golden Meadow-Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo, to be held this year from June 29 through July 1. But there’s so much more — food booths, games, live music and boiled shrimp dinners. Even if you’re just there to watch others bring in the haul, there’s plenty of fun to go around. fourchontarpon.com 

What to expect when you are thinking about having cosmetic procedures or surgeries

By Marie Simoneaux

Illustrations by S.E. George