Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
New Orleans. By the early 19th century, 3000 to 4000 Acadians occupied the swamp-
lands southwest of New Orleans. Native American tribes such as the Attakapas helped
them learn to eke out a living based upon fishing and trapping, and the aquatic way of
life is still the backdrop to modern living.
East and south of Lafayette, the
Atchafalaya Basin
is the preternatural heart of the
Cajun wetlands. Stop in to the
Atchafalaya Welcome Center
( 337-228-1094;
www.louisianatravel.com/atchafalaya-welcome-center
; I-10, exit 121; 8:30am-5pm)
to learn
how to penetrate the dense jungle protecting these swamps, lakes and bayous from the
casual visitor (incidentally, it also screens one of the most gloriously cheesy nature films
in existence). They'll fill you in on camping in
Indian Bayou
and exploring the
Sherburne Wildlife Management Area
, as well as the exquisitely situated
Lake Fausse
Pointe State Park
.
Eleven miles east of Lafayette in the compact, crawfish-lovin' town of
Breaux
Bridge St; mains $17-26; 11am-2pm Tue, to 9pm Wed & Thu, 7:30am-9:30pm Fri & Sat, 8am-2pm
Sun)
, where you can relax amid funky local art as waiters trot out sumptuous weekend
breakfasts, sometimes set to a zydeco jam. Just 3.5 miles south of Breaux Bridge,
Lake
Martin
(Lake Martin Rd)
is a wonderful introduction to bayou landscapes. This bird sanctu-
ary hosts thousands of great and cattle egrets, blue heron and more than a few gators.
Bridge St; 8am-4pm Mon-Fri, to noon Sat)
, who can hook you up with one of numerous
100 W Mills Ave; cabins $60-125)
: 14 completely individualized cabins situated on Bayou
Teche, some with 1950s retro furnishings, others decked out in regional folk art. The in-
cluded breakfast is delicious, but the smoked meats may shave a few years off your
lifespan. If you're in town the first week of May, don't miss the gluttony of music, dan-
May)
Cajun Prairie
Think: dancing cowboys! Cajun and African American settlers in the higher, drier terrain
north of Lafayette developed a culture based around animal husbandry and farming, and
the 10-gallon hat still rules. It's also the hotbed of Cajun and zydeco music (and thus ac-
cordions) and crawfish farming.
Opelousas
squats sleepily alongside Hwy 49, and its historic downtown is home to
the esoteric
Museum & Interpretive Center
(
337-948-2589; 315 N Main St;
8am-4:30pm Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm Sat)
; check out the doll collection.
