• Updated with new information since originally published.
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  • Our editors recommend these diverse local experiences.

1. Lake Charles ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Activities
Lake Charles
© Anthony/stock.adobe.com

2. Gulfport, MS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gulfport, MS
© Fotoluminate LLC/stock.adobe.com

3. Abita Springs

Category: Activities
Abita Springs
© Gecko Studio/stock.adobe.com

4. Shell Beach

Category: Beaches
Shell Beach
© markasia/stock.adobe.com

5. Avery Island

Romantic Islands
Avery Island
© CheriAlguire/stock.adobe.com

6. Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge
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7. Bayou St. John

Bayou St. John
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8. Bush

Bush
© Mikkel H. Petersen/stock.adobe.com

9. De Soto National Forest

Category: Activities
De Soto National Forest
© Steven/stock.adobe.com

10. Global Wildlife Center

Category: Activities
Global Wildlife Center
© Daniel Meunier/stock.adobe.com

11. Grand Isle

Grand Isle
© jenniveve84/stock.adobe.com

12. Honey Island Swamp

Romantic Islands
Honey Island Swamp
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13. Houma

Houma
© Mosto/stock.adobe.com

14. Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve

Category: Activities
Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve
© Patrick/stock.adobe.com

15. Stennis Space Center

Category: Attractions
Stennis Space Center
© RobertCoy/stock.adobe.com

16. Lafayette

Lafayette
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17. Mandeville

Mandeville
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18. Mississippi River

Category: Activities
Mississippi River
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19. Mobile, AL

Mobile, AL
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20. Plaquemines Parish

Plaquemines Parish
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21. St. Bernard Parish

St. Bernard Parish
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22. Atchafalaya Natural Heritage Area

Atchafalaya Natural Heritage Area
© Jaynes Gallery_DanitaDelimont.com/stock.adobe.com

23. Slidell

Slidell
© George Howard/stock.adobe.com

24. The Great River Road

Category: Activities
The Great River Road
© Zina Seletskaya/stock.adobe.com

25. Ville Platte

Ville Platte
© Irina K./stock.adobe.com

Summary and Frequenly Asked Questions:

  • Louisiana has much more to offer than New Orleans at Mardi Gras.
  • The state is home to a wealth of cultural history and a unique landscape of Cypress swamps, inland waterways, and forests.
  • Explore the arts and culture in places like Baton Rouge and Shreveport.
  • Learn about history and heritage in Lafayette, the Cajun Corridor Byway, and the Great River Road.
  • With coastal wetlands, birding trails, and twenty-one state parks, it’s no wonder Louisiana is referred to as a sportsman’s paradise.

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