Bayou Byways - The Most Scenic Drives in America: 120 Spectacular Road Trips - page 775

AsyouapproachKraemer,you'llglimpsesomeoftheregion'smosttypicalvegetation:
floating carpets of duckweed (one of the world's smallest flowering plants), ubiquitous
lavender-flowered water hyacinths, and bald cypress trees draped with wispy gray shawls
of Spanish moss.
Be on the lookout as well for great blue herons, which can be seen high-stepping
through roadside ditches as they stalk minnows or crawfish. When hunting, this beautiful
bird stands as motionless as a lawn ornament, with its eyes focused below the water's sur-
face. Suddenly its coiled neck springs forward, and with the aid of its sharp beak, the bird
snatches its unsuspecting prey.
3. Houma
Rte. 90 bypasses Houma; take the turn into the town on Rte. 182, crossing one of the 55
bridges that give this seafood center its nickname: the Venice of America. Lots of fishing
boats line the waterways, so don't be surprised if one of them sneaks up alongside as you
stroll on one of Houma's bayou-hugging streets.
Houma's location at the confluence of seven bayous makes it a major base for swamp
tours. If you are willing to tolerate the high humidity, the best time to explore the area's
countlesswatersidewondersisfromAprilthroughSeptember,whenalligators—thepremi-
ernaturalattractionintheseparts—aremostlikelytobespotted.Measuringupto14feetin
length, these fearsome reptiles patrol the waters like submarines. When winter arrives, the
cold weather sends the alligators into hibernation, but it replaces one eerie presence with
another: Fog steals across the bayou, rising from the warm water like steam from an over-
size kettle.