“Laissez les bon temps rouler!” as the locals in Louisiana say. But you don’t have to wait for Mardi Gras for the good times; they roll around all year long with family, sporting, history and cultural adventures. And they’re all within a car-trip excursion, about six hours away. Pack up the kids and head for the fun with a Southern-French twist.
Take a Tabasco tour
Anyone who’s ever splashed Tabasco sauce on a steak or a plate of scrambled eggs may recognize the familiar red, white and green label of the pepper sauce the McIlhenny clan has been producing since 1868. A visit to Avery Island offers a tour of the company’s facilities that explains in detail how the peppers are grown and harvested, mashed and stored, and finally bottled. Sample a few flavors, from the traditional to variations of green pepper, garlic, buffalo and more, then stock up on your favorites from the country store. Visitors can also trace the history of the spicy condiment, check out a salt mine cavern and wander through the 170-acre “jungle garden” lush with semitropical plants, native creatures and panoramic views of Bayou Petite Anse. Restaurant 1868 offers Creole and Cajun favorites such as crawfish étouffée and jambalaya, as well as Tabasco-laced chili, meatballs and more.
Avery Island, La. 337-365-8173, tabasco.com, @tabasco.
Step back into prehistoric times
Got dinosaur enthusiasts in your family? They won’t want to miss the 12-acre Prehistoric Park, about halfway between Baton Rouge and Lafayette on I-10. Meander the easy-to-navigate, paved paths where life-size replicas of dinosaurs lurk in the foliage. Each is identified by a display that tells its story. Some of the 23 gigantic steel and fiberglass creatures are animated, providing even more realistic impressions of what they may have been like in the days when they roamed the Earth. Allow some time to dig for dinosaur bones or have a picnic on the grounds before stocking up on dinosaur-related reminders at the gift shop. The park also hosts birthday parties and other celebrations. Adult admission is $12; kids ages 3-12, $8; seniors, $10; younger than 3 are free.
1135 N. Barn Road, Henderson, La. 337-981-3466, prehistoric-park.com.
Swamp things
Forget what you learned in those horror movies. Louisiana’s swamps and bayous aren’t creepy. They’re natural, Spanish moss-draped wonderlands that bald eagles, hawks, snowy egrets and, yes, more than a few alligators call home. See what wildlife awaits along the Atchafalaya Spillway and Bay Natchez during a 1.5-hour tour that costs $30 for adults and $15 for children younger than 12. The Cypress Island/Lake Martin swamp near Lafayette is another favorite for nature lovers on the lookout for herons and other birds, gators and more. Tours take two hours and cost $20 for adults; $10 for children 12 and younger. Another swamp trip explores the Bayou Black/Gibson area up close from the comfort of a covered, 49-seat pontoon, complete with restrooms and handicap access, as it snakes along the winding waterways for two hours. And you’ll get a chance to feed the gators you encounter along the way. Just what wildlife and migratory birds appear depends on the season, but there’s always something to gawk at. Hunting and fishing trips, as well as night excursions, are also available, as is catering if you want to eat before or after. Trips are priced from $15 for children to $25 for adults.
Acadian Swamp Tours: 58235 New Camp Road, White Castle, La. 225-247-4156, acadianswamptour.com.
Cajun Country Swamp Tours: 1209 Rookery Road, Breaux Bridge, La. 337-319-0010, cajuncountryswamptours.com.
Cajun Man's Swamp Tours, 251 Marina Drive, Gibson, La. 985-868-4625, Cajunmanadventures.com.
Lake Charles adventures
Lake Charles in the southwest corner of the state offers plenty of family-friendly activities and sights to keep everyone entertained. The Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point (2740 Ruth St., Sulphur, La. 337-502-4358) is home to more than 400 bird species and marshes. It’s also the starting point of the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road, a 180-mile stretch that winds its way southwest through “Louisiana’s Outback.” Plan stops for fishing and crabbing, shell collecting along more than 25 miles of Gulf coastline, and visiting the Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge (209 Nature Road, Lake Arthur, La. 337-774-5923), a 35,000-acre preserve with a freshwater “pool” noted for its bass and plethora of bird species. On the edge of Lake Charles, let the kids burn off some energy at Bord du Lac Park (900 Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles, La. 337-491-1280) with a rock climbing wall, treehouse, splash park, swings and more. And don’t miss seeing what’s billed as the largest exhibit of Mardi Gras costumes on the planet at the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu (809 Kirby St., Lake Charles, La. 337-430-0043) before taking a carriage ride around the lake.
Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1205 N. Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles, La. 337-436-9588, visitLakeCharles.org.
Explore the capital city
Whether you’re going for a long weekend or an entire week, it will be hard to cover all of Baton Rouge’s highlights in one trip. A few must-sees include the USS Kidd (305 S. River Road, Baton Rouge, La. 225-342-1942), a retired Navy destroyer at anchor on the Mississippi River in the middle of town. Restored to its 1945 appearance, it now houses a veterans’ museum displaying items donated from former servicemen. Overnight stays for groups are available. The Louisiana State University Rural Life Museum (4560 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, La. 225-765-2437) offers glimpses into plantation life and architecture of the 19th century through artifacts, exhibits and 32 historic buildings. (In fact, the area is rife with plantations open for public tours.) The state brags about having the tallest state Capitol building in the country: The 450-foot-high structure has 34 floors and was built in 1932 (900 N. Third St., Baton Rouge, La. 225-342-7317). An observation deck on the 27th floor offers spectacular views of the city; the grounds include the grave of Gov. Huey Long, who was assassinated there in 1935. The old Capitol (100 North Blvd., Baton Rouge, La. 225-342-0500), a massive, Gothic structure atop a river bluff, features a museum dedicated to the state’s political history. The city also features a zoo, an art and science museum, a nature center and a water park.
Visit Baton Rouge, 359 Third St., Baton Rouge, La. 225-383-1825, visitbatonrouge.com, @visitbatonrouge.
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