The Visit Louisiana Coast

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1 Getaway The Visit Louisiana Coast guide A helpful journal to help you Make the Most of the Louisiana Coast

music, dance and unusual side trips, and

3 Visiting the Louisiana Coast is an experience like no other, abundant in culture, history and wildlife. If you re looking for an authentic experience that s part Americana, part exotic and wild, with a fair helping of music, dance and unusual side trips, and one that doesn t come with all the touristy trappings of other familiar coastal destinations, you ll find it in the colorful, Louisiana Coast... Welcome.

cameron & lake charles Calcasieu/Cameron Parishes Cameron has a close relationship with nature.

This network of scenic highways and walking paths winds through 180 miles of marsh, bayou and shoreline.

The Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge opens more than 9,600 acres of marsh and prairie to the public and includes a visitor center, exhibits and a car tour through

Lake Charles is a thriving destination that caters to many tastes from glitzy nightlife and the quiet greens of awardwinning golf courses to fishing adventures and over 75

There are seven diverse museums, one of which houses the largest display of Mardi Gras costumes in the world, in addition to charming galleries rich with art.

Visitors can stroll through the Charpentier Historic District as the lead crystal glass glitters in the lamplight.

A tradition of great oyster bars runs deep in the history of Abbeville thanks to the first 19th century oystermen who used the Vermilion River flowing through town as an

The city s French heritage runs deeper still, beginning with its founder, who in 1843 named Abbeville for his hometown in France.

the historic St. Mary Magdalen Church. Abbeville is home to several annual festivals, including the Giant Omelette Celebration each November.

4 cameron & lake charles Calcasieu/Cameron Parishes Cameron has a close relationship with nature. Located near Gulf waters, the natural splendor of Cameron beckons, especially along the Creole Nature Trail. This network of scenic highways and walking paths winds through 180 miles of marsh, bayou and shoreline. Much of Cameron Parish has been called Louisiana s Outback for its plentiful wildlife and untamed beauty. The Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge opens more than 9,600 acres of marsh and prairie to the public and includes a visitor center, exhibits and a car tour through its grounds. Fishing charters and lodges are part of our outdoor culture, and Cameron s long coastline has nurtured rare Louisiana beach front communities. Lake Charles is a thriving destination that caters to many tastes from glitzy nightlife and the quiet greens of awardwinning golf courses to fishing adventures and over 75 festivals! Performing arts are alive with theatre and musical groups, including the Lake Charles Symphony. There are seven diverse museums, one of which houses the largest display of Mardi Gras costumes in the world, in addition to charming galleries rich with art. Also, visit the USS Orleck Naval Museum. Drive the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road - teeming with alligators, birds and four wildlife refuges! Visitors can stroll through the Charpentier Historic District as the lead crystal glass glitters in the lamplight. Top it off with nightlife that is hot with headline entertainment and excellent amenities at area resorts. abbeville & Forked island Vermilion Parish Abbeville. A tradition of great oyster bars runs deep in the history of Abbeville thanks to the first 19th century oystermen who used the Vermilion River flowing through town as an avenue to sell their fresh harvest. Abbeville remains a destination for oyster lovers who satisfy their cravings at a cluster of modern mollusk emporiums. The city s French heritage runs deeper still, beginning with its founder, who in 1843 named Abbeville for his hometown in France. He modeled the town s original plan after a typical French village, and today Magdalen Square gives Abbeville a picturesque downtown center with its gazebo, fountain and the historic St. Mary Magdalen Church. Abbeville is home to several annual festivals, including the Giant Omelette Celebration each November. Downtown offers shopping, art galleries, museums and history tours, while birding trails and golf beckon nearby. Forked Island is located where LA 82 begins. Don t expect any red lights in this community. It s just enjoyable, rural, country. Maw & Paw s offers tons of bait and tackle. Next door, the Cajun Diner is rumored to fix shrimp burgers to die for. This is prime birding territory, and with so much nature to see, you ll want to retrace your steps on the way back and take it in again. Cross the Forked Island Bridge and head down Pine Island Road. And, here s a little secret. Find an old crab processing plant, built in the 70 s that never opened for business, and just past it is a great little fishing spot.

new iberia & avery island Iberia Parish New Iberia is dedicated to preserving its history. Its restored Main Street and historic downtown area win high praise.

Edgar Award-winning author James Lee Burke. History is on display in the Bayou Teche Museum and at Shadows-on-the-Teche, an antebellum home once occupied by Union soldiers during the Civil War.

and medals. Mount Everest is high. Geologists believe this deposit is the remnant of a buried ancient seabed.

Lush subtropical flora and venerable live oaks draped with wild muscadine and swags of barbe espagnole, or Spanish moss, cover this geological oddity, which is one of five islands rising above south

Avery Island occupies roughly 2,200 acres and sits atop a deposit of solid rock salt thought to be deeper than Morgan city &franklin Morgan City s Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival on Labor Day

But throughout the year visitors can easily see the impact of the oil and seafood businesses on this city in the middle of the Atchafalaya River s massive delta.

5 new iberia & avery island Iberia Parish New Iberia is dedicated to preserving its history. Its restored Main Street and historic downtown area win high praise. A walking tour of the East Main Street National Register Residential District reveals the stomping grounds of famed Detective Dave Robicheaux, the main character in novels by New Iberia native and Edgar Award-winning author James Lee Burke. History is on display in the Bayou Teche Museum and at Shadows-on-the-Teche, an antebellum home once occupied by Union soldiers during the Civil War. New Iberia also is home to the South s largest source of quality religious articles, the Rosary House, which draws visitors from far and near to buy hand-made rosaries, devotional candles, statues and medals. Mount Everest is high. Geologists believe this deposit is the remnant of a buried ancient seabed. The birthplace of TABASCO brand pepper sauce, Avery Island has been owned for over 180 years by the Marsh, Avery and McIlhenny families. Lush subtropical flora and venerable live oaks draped with wild muscadine and swags of barbe espagnole, or Spanish moss, cover this geological oddity, which is one of five islands rising above south Louisiana s flat coastal marshes. The Tabasco factory and Jungle Gardens remain a visitor favorite. Avery Island occupies roughly 2,200 acres and sits atop a deposit of solid rock salt thought to be deeper than Morgan city &franklin Morgan City s Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival on Labor Day weekend is a dual celebration of its prime industries. But throughout the year visitors can easily see the impact of the oil and seafood businesses on this city in the middle of the Atchafalaya River s massive delta. Even in the heart of Morgan City s 19-block historic center one can climb the flood barrier known locally as the Great Wall for a bird s eye view of the industrial vessels and shrimp boats plying the busy river before sampling a Cajun-style treatment of the fresh seafood at a local restaurant. Tour a historic drilling rig and learn about Louisiana s ties to the industry at the International Petroleum Museum and get a close encounter with the area s natural heritage. St. Mary Parish/Cajun Coast If life is sweet in Franklin, it may have something to do with the vast sugar plantations that established the city as a 19th-century inland port and built the wealth still evident in its downtown center. Distinctive lamp posts line Franklin s Main Street, home to some of the city s 400 structures, many that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Each fall, downtown comes alive for the Harvest Moon Fest. Recently renovated and reopened, a year-round roster of cultural events is found at the historic movie house, Teche Theatre. For sportsmen and nature lovers, a public boat launch leads to the Franklin Canal and easy access to the Atchafalaya Basin and the many ecological wonders of Louisiana s wetlands and its delta region.

Houma has a network of bayous and shipping channels that converge, creating a crisscross of waterways within the city. Many streets are two-lane avenues split by canals plied by small vessels.

The city is the jumping-off point for countless charter fishing adventures, birding expeditions and swamp tours along the ecological wetlands stretching out toward the Gulf, while the Native

Tried and true anglers with a boat and gear can launch at one of the many marinas in the area, including Coco Marina, Sportsman s Paradise, and Boudreaux s Marina in Cocodrie; Bob s Bayou Black

There are many charter services ready to outfit visitors looking for fishing adventures with everything they will need.

thibodaux & leeville Lafourche Parish Thibodaux was first settled by French and Spanish Creoles from New Orleans. It rapidly became a refuge for the Acadian exiles of the mid-1700 s.

White Historic Site, a plantation on Bayou Lafourche that was home to a Louisiana governor and his son, who served on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Once a massive sugar plantation, its dozens of remaining structures give visitors, a window into the past, as it was lived by field hands.

6 Houma has a network of bayous and shipping channels that converge, creating a crisscross of waterways within the city. Many streets are two-lane avenues split by canals plied by small vessels. Shrimp boats docked outside their skippers homes is a common sight along the scenic bayou drives. Houma is widely considered the capital of deep bayou country. The city is the jumping-off point for countless charter fishing adventures, birding expeditions and swamp tours along the ecological wetlands stretching out toward the Gulf, while the Native American tribe of the United Houma Nation is headquartered here and hosts frequent cultural events. cocodrie & houma Terrebonne Parish Cocodrie. Tried and true anglers with a boat and gear can launch at one of the many marinas in the area, including Coco Marina, Sportsman s Paradise, and Boudreaux s Marina in Cocodrie; Bob s Bayou Black Marina in Gibson; and the Falgoust Canal Marina in Dularge. No boat? No problem! There are many charter services ready to outfit visitors looking for fishing adventures with everything they will need. Fishing in Houma is year round, although the busiest season is April through September, when it is highly recommended for visitors to book a guide several months in advance. thibodaux & leeville Lafourche Parish Thibodaux was first settled by French and Spanish Creoles from New Orleans. It rapidly became a refuge for the Acadian exiles of the mid-1700 s. The city s history still echoes today, through its historic architecture. There s the 1830 s era E.D. White Historic Site, a plantation on Bayou Lafourche that was home to a Louisiana governor and his son, who served on the U.S. Supreme Court. There s the Rienzi plantation, built during the Spanish colonial days - according to legend - for the Queen of Spain. There s also the Laurel Valley Village. Once a massive sugar plantation, its dozens of remaining structures give visitors, a window into the past, as it was lived by field hands. As home to Nicholls State University, Thibodaux benefits from the vibrancy and cultural activities common to a college town. Stop in at the Jean Lafitte Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center to learn more about the area. The shoreline of Timbalier Bay is well known in the area for its bountiful estuaries. Barataria Waterway, Bayou Lafourche and Port Fourchon are also rich fishing grounds. In the fall and the spring, bird migrations can be viewed at Fourchon. The Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program sponsors an annual Migratory Bird Festival as spring migration begins. The migration is a wonder to see for the birding enthusiast. Leeville offers great shoreline and inland bay fishing for those looking for Speckled Trout, Redfish and Flounder.

grand isle & jean lafitte Jefferson Parish Grand Isle is at the Southern end of Highway 1, and its seven magical miles hold all the wonders that Louisiana nature can offer.

On Grand Isle, time slows and the visitor can savor a unique Louisiana experience. Europeans came to Grand Isle in the early 1800 s and created active sugar and cotton plantations.

Today s visitors find a thriving seaside community with petroleum and seafood industries as well as everything the visiting sportsman, tourist or camper could want. culture.

A thriving fishing village since the 1700 s, the Barataria region is still the point of departure for fishermen.

Jean Lafitte, named for the legendary pirate that made his hideaway here, is a waterway refuge rich in Louisiana Belle chasse & venice Plaquemines Parish Belle Chasse is home to the Naval Air Station

13-miles of natural trails traverse through a bottomland hardwood, coastal forest, passing along edge communities that are a frequent viewing area for wildlife and migratory birds.

7 grand isle & jean lafitte Jefferson Parish Grand Isle is at the Southern end of Highway 1, and its seven magical miles hold all the wonders that Louisiana nature can offer. Oleander and crepe myrtle, palms, ferns and windblown oak trees on Cheniere ridges welcome migrating birds in season. The marshes are filled with aquatic life and water birds. On Grand Isle, time slows and the visitor can savor a unique Louisiana experience. Europeans came to Grand Isle in the early 1800 s and created active sugar and cotton plantations. Grand Isle gained fame as a recreation spot for visitors from nearby New Orleans to enjoy breezes, seawater and early hotels. Today s visitors find a thriving seaside community with petroleum and seafood industries as well as everything the visiting sportsman, tourist or camper could want. culture. You can explore the bayou country, dance to Cajun music or stay overnight at one of the inns that overlook the marshes of the breathtaking Bayou Barataria Basin. A thriving fishing village since the 1700 s, the Barataria region is still the point of departure for fishermen. You, too, can experience some of the best fishing in Louisiana, whether by boat, private charter or atop Lafitte s public fishing pier. Jean Lafitte, named for the legendary pirate that made his hideaway here, is a waterway refuge rich in Louisiana Belle chasse & venice Plaquemines Parish Belle Chasse is home to the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base. The Woodlands Trail and Park, a backpacker s paradise, is an established educational, historical and recreational greenway and trail that is open to the general public. 13-miles of natural trails traverse through a bottomland hardwood, coastal forest, passing along edge communities that are a frequent viewing area for wildlife and migratory birds. The Naval Ammunition Depot Trail is a mile trail that leads to a grouping of ten World War II Ammunition Magazines nestled in the forest and surrounded by wetland areas. Venice is situated just south of New Orleans on the west bank of the Mississippi River, and it is the southernmost community accessible by automobile. The Great River Road Scenic Byway ends in this town, giving it the nickname The end of the world. Venice offers a diverse variety of fishing. This area is fed by an abundance of water, making fish habitats some of the best in the world. Whether you are fishing for bass in the marshes of Venice, or heading out for the best offshore fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, Venice is truly a Sportsman s Paradise.

delacroix & chalmette St. Bernard Parish Chalmette is situated on the San Bernardo Scenic Byway and American History buffs will enjoy the rich history of the community.

Though the odds were not in their favor, Major General Andrew Jackson led his men to victory, preserving the United States claim to the Louisiana Purchase.

A short distance from the battlefield lies the Veterans of the Battle of New Orleans and subsequent wars at the Chalmette National Cemetery.

Bernard Parish from the Canary Islands, at the Isleños Museum.

and hunting as a way of life. Experience and enjoy the authentic Isleños traditions when you book your charter fishing trip.

8 delacroix & chalmette St. Bernard Parish Chalmette is situated on the San Bernardo Scenic Byway and American History buffs will enjoy the rich history of the community. The Chalmette National Historic Park is the site of the greatest American land victory of the War of The Battle of the New Orleans was fought on the Chalmette Plantation in Though the odds were not in their favor, Major General Andrew Jackson led his men to victory, preserving the United States claim to the Louisiana Purchase. The park includes monuments and exhibits of this remarkable battle. A short distance from the battlefield lies the Veterans of the Battle of New Orleans and subsequent wars at the Chalmette National Cemetery. This cemetery was established in 1864 and is a significant stop for any visitor to the park. Learn about the unique culture of the Isleños, who settled in St. Bernard Parish from the Canary Islands, at the Isleños Museum. Delacroix has been ranked as one of the world-class sport fishing destinations in the country with Isleños villages dating back to the early 19th century when the residents began trapping, fishing and hunting as a way of life. Experience and enjoy the authentic Isleños traditions when you book your charter fishing trip. Drive a short distance to Shell Beach, Proctor s Landing or Hopedale where a number of fishing camps await outdoor sportsmen who want to take advantage of some of the best fishing in Louisiana. mandeville & slidell St. Tammany Parish Slidell begins where Lake Pontchartrain ends, where the lake forges towards the Gulf of Mexico via a deepwater strait. At the Rigolets pass, you re likely to encounter tooling sailboats and shrimpboats. The hinterland is striped with bayous, perfect for canoe travel. If you re into waterborne recreation, fishing, sailing, canoeing or waterskiing, there s no question you ll be into Slidell. But this is no remote getaway. Slidell stands just across the water from New Orleans, 20 minutes away. Slidell is proud of its historic Olde Towne, with its excellent restaurants, antique shops and an ambience that recalls simpler times. And Slidell may be one of the easiest places to access in Louisiana, at the junction of interstates 10, 12 and 59. Mandeville is where urban meets natural. Founded in 1834, it developed as a lakeside summer resort for wealthy of the Crescent City. This remains in evidence in the older quarters of the city, and in some of its key historic properties that are found on Lakeshore Drive. To complement its well-established suburbs, Mandeville offers cyclists an entry point on the 31-mile trail, The Tammany Trace. Originally a railroad line, the Tammany Trace flows through an array of communities providing many opportunities for bird watching, wildlife identification and relaxation. Home to the Northlake Nature Center, boardwalks and bridges over waterways take you into secluded areas where nature can be observed. At the edge of town, Fontainebleau State Park offers cabins and campsites with plenty of diversion for nature lovers.

9 VISIT COAST More coastal birding information is only a click away. Go online to to learn more, and while there, request your free Louisiana Coast Adventure Guide. monsoursphotography.com B LaFleur photography

10 Explore the Louisiana Coast OF LOUISIANA S Just around a bend, the fish are biting, the birds are calling, the water s inviting and there s a hiking trail for you to explore. The Louisiana coast is home to endless outdoor adventures. This summer, the best excursion is down home, where there is something for the whole family. So wander into our good nature. Journey on down and Make the Most of Louisiana s Coast! Fishing, Birding and Outdoor Adventures are only a click away. Go online to VisitLouisianaCoast.com to learn more.

bountiful harvests you will find along our Louisiana Coast.

11 Louisiana Coast is the Most. Louisiana is world-renowned for its cuisine due in part to the fresh, bountiful harvests you will find along our Louisiana Coast. New Orleans Hamburger & Seafood Co. supports rebuilding our wetlands and supports our local economy by buying only local seafood.

12 OF LOUISIANA S

coast Adventure Guide

VISIT COAST coast Adventure Guide The LTCC is funded in part by the Louisiana Office of Tourism A n i n f o r m a t i v e g u i d e t o t h e w o n d e r a n d w i l d e r n e s s o f t h e s p o r t s