Madisonville

MADISONVILLE IS GRACIOUSNESS personified, with her moss-dressed live oaks, gingerbread trimmed front porches and come-hither looks. She’s not just a pretty face, though. She can help with your escape from the mundane, offering places you’ve never been before, as you explore the remote reaches of the meandering Tchefuncte River on a pontoon boat. View the alluring 1837 landmark lighthouse that stands at the river’s mouth, currently only accessible by boat. Knowledgeable captains with the right stuff, from Tchefuncte River Charters or Louisiana Tours & Adventures, are ready to guide and entertain you. You can learn the town’s fascinating history at Maritime Museum Louisiana, located on the former site of Jahncke Shipyard where 2,200 workers built wooden ships for the U.S. Navy in 1900. Let yourself be astonished by the museum’s expertly done dioramas, artifacts and other exhibits.

Madisonville also easily accommodates as you do your own thing, like enjoying a meal at one of the Water Street restaurants or gaining a new life perspective as you loll on the river’s bank. And, a short ride east down Highway 22, Fairview-Riverside State Park on the Tchefuncte offers picnicking, camping, fishing and all the elements you need to complete your escape.

Culinary Hot Spots

ABITA ROASTING CO. - 504 Water St. / (985) 246-3340

KEITH YOUNG’S STEAKHOUSE - 165 LA-21 / (985) 845-9940

TBT MARINA CANTINA - 100 Marina Del Ray Drive / (985) 206-5390

TCHEFUNCTE’S AND THE ANCHOR - 407 St. Tammany St. / (985) 323-4800

TRIPLE NICKEL GRILL - 305 Covington St. / (985) 792-7292