Mark Sanders 2017-01-15 13:09:53
Airboat tour of Henderson Swamp cypress forest – courtesy McGee's Atchafalaya Basin Swamp Tours; Alligator ©iStock.com/Chinnasorn Pangcharoen; (SIDEBAR) ©NOLA Motorsports Park Go on a high-speed romp through America’s largest swamp. Gators are just a few of the colorful locals you’ll meet cruising through the bayous Now, you may want to put on your ear muffs for this…" And with those fateful words, they’re o! Airboats, as symbolic of Cajun Country as crawfish and zydeco, jet through the shallows of the Atchafalaya Basin and beyond at speeds approaching 40 miles per hour. They’re loud and proud, and riding on one is a must-do for anyone looking for an authentic south Louisiana experience. Just climbing aboard an airboat is enough to get your heart racing. These are flat-bottomed boats powered by a massive propeller, capable of speeding across open water and, just as easily, sneaking into canals only a few inches deep. Riding on one of these bad boys is like embarking on a high-speed adventure through a nature documentary. Some of the top airboat tour companies include McGee’s Landing in Henderson, where you’ll also find a restaurant, cabin rentals and camping and Atchafalaya Basin Landing & Marina, which oersairboat tours, waterfront cabins and Cajun nightlife at Turtle’s Bar. The Atchafalaya Basin (pronounced “ah-CHA-fa-lieah”), named for a Native American word meaning “long river,” is a remote wilderness of shaggy cypress groves and abundant wildlife. More than 200 species of birds, alligators and black bears live here, as well as 85 varieties of fish. Alligator ©iStock.com/Chinnasorn Pangcharoen Rich in history and diversity, the Atchafalaya is often referred to as “America’s Foreign Country.” The 14 parishwide Atchafalaya National Heritage Area lies at the heart of it. Last Wilderness Tours owner Dean Wilson will take you on a slowwater journey down Bayou Pigeon and Bayou Sorrel. Wilson is based in the town of Plaquemine, where you’ll also find the Iberville Museum. It offers a great overview of the Atchafalaya Basin’s culture and ecology. (SIDEBAR) ©NOLA Motorsports Park within the boundaries of the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area are conservation zones that are especially popular among birdwatchers and photographers. Among them are Sherburne Wildlife Management Area, Lake Fausse Pointe State Park and Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge. Stop by the Atchafalaya Welcome Center in Butte La Rose for up-to-date info on park conditions. Swamp tours aren’t the only way to see the Atchafalaya region. Catch some rays at the beach, go fishing or camp at Cypremort Point State Park on Vermilion Bay. The park is near other noteworthy attractions, including Avery Island, the plantation homes along Bayou Teche, Vermilionville Cajun Folklife Park in Lafayette and the many restaurants of Lafayette and New Iberia. Bayou Teche Experience in nearby Breaux Bridge offers kayaks for rent, as well as three-hour guided tours (including a special moonlight paddle tour). Great blue heron ©Bob Balestri Inland from Vermilion Bay is Bayou Carlin Cove. This place is famous for its Delcambre Seafood & Farmers Market, home to some of the tastiest wild-caught seafood you’ll find in Louisiana. Purchase directly from boat captains, or bring your own boat and try your luck in these redfish- and flounderrich waters. Start your Atchafalaya adventure with a visit to Atchafalaya.org, where you’ll find videos, maps and a calendar of events. Kayaking at Lake Martin Lake Fausse Point State Park ©GettyImages.com/zrfphoto Shadows-onthe- Teche ©Iberia Parish CVB Delcambre Seafood & Farmers Market ©Thomas Hymel
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