Travel Spotlights: Southeast Region

A trip through Houma’s Bayou Country excites every animal lover. Hold baby alligators and watch large alligators in action during a live show at Greenwood Gator Farm and Tours in the heart of Louisiana’s stunning wildlife-filled wetlands.

The Chauvin Sculpture Garden is a unique attraction filled with more than 100 concrete sculptures created over time by an eccentric and mysterious artist. Bring a picnic and an open mind to explore the thought-provoking sculptures.

Taste your way through over 30 delicious stops on Houma’s Bayou Country Crawfish Trail. The trail includes restaurants, seafood markets and catching companies serving up Cajun specialties like crawfish etouffee and Lowcountry boils.

The pristine waterways of Louisiana’s Bayou Country are teeming with fish and other wildlife. Rent a kayak, cast a line from the side of the road or charter a boat in the fishing mecca of Terrebonne Parish.

Bring the family and enjoy tours and festivals in Houma and beyond. Take a historic tour of Ardoyne Plantation, a Victorian gothic sugarcane plantation, and dance your way through one of the region’s many Mardi Gras parades.

A trip along the rustic backroads of the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road is like stepping back in time to experience nature’s beauty. Home to alligators and over 400 bird species, you won’t soon forget its unique wilderness.

From luxurious spa treatments to world-class dining options, experience Las Vegas-worthy entertainment at two waterfront Lake Charles resorts – the Golden Nugget Lake Charles and the L’Auberge Casino Resort.

Lake Charles is all about laid-back vibes and waterfront feasts with friends old and new. Creole favorites include jambalaya, shrimp gumbo and traditional crawfish boils served over newspapers. Grab a cold beer and enjoy the bayou breezes.

An outdoor sporting paradise, Lake Charles is home to some of the Southeast’s most pristine wilderness areas for fishing, boating, hiking and wildlife-viewing. Catch sights of gators, shorebirds and turtles while you fish, hike, paddle or bike.

Housed in an eye-catching historic building, the 1911 Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center in Lake Charles is a hub for local art, culture and education. Take in rotating art exhibits and presentations that highlight the area’s rich history.

Music is the beating heart of New Orleans culture. The vibrant city is the birthplace of jazz, and on any given day, live zydeco, rock and blues can be heard on the streets and in live-music venues.

Blending Caribbean, American, European and African cultures, New Orleans is a true melting pot of cuisine, music, traditions and the arts. Explore history-rich museums and walk the vibrant streets echoing with live music.

With over 100 festivals throughout each year, celebration is a way of life in New Orleans. From Mardi Gras to the New Orleans Jazz Festival, opportunities to experience the city’s diverse musical, culinary and cultural offerings are everywhere.

New Orleans’ world-renowned culinary offerings are as rich and diverse as its culture. Taste your way through Creole and international cuisine at hundreds of restaurants and enjoy a drink at one of the city’s celebrated cocktail bars.

New Orleans is home to dozens of one-of-a-kind museums like Mardi Gras World and The Sazerac House cocktail museum. Reach these and more award-winning attractions by horse-drawn carriage, streetcar or riverboat.