2021-02-18 16:46:16
The Louisiana Trails & Byways program consists of 19 distinct routes that take visitors throughout the state. With an eye on history, culture, dining destinations and natural attractions, these routes let you experience a slice of Louisiana’s rich history while enjoying some of the most beautiful scenery you’ll ever see.
For Music Fans
No matter where you travel in Louisiana, you’re sure to find a good beat. So good, in fact, that there are numerous Byways that focus on Louisiana music specifically, taking travelers to destinations they might not discover otherwise.
Take, for instance, the Zydeco Cajun Prairie Byway. Highlights of this driving trail include Mamou, a town that calls itself the Cajun Music Capital of the World. When driving through Eunice, stop by Savoy Music Center, the home to top-quality Cajun accordions and Saturday morning Cajun music jam sessions.
If you’re looking to keep your ears singing and hips swinging, be sure to stop by the Cajun French Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Eunice. Also check out the J.D. Miller Music Recording Studio in Crowley.
Along the Great River Road Byway, hear jazz in New Olreans or old-school rock and blues at the Delta Music Museum in Ferriday. Of course there are multiple byways where you’ll hear the sounds of Louisiana.
For History Buffs
Numerous Louisiana Byways are geared towards history-minded visitors with a variety of interests. Discover the mysteries of Poverty Point World Heritage Site in Pioneer, the little-known stories of Coca-Cola history at Biedenharn Museum and Gardens in Monroe, harrowing tales of combat at the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum in Monroe, and the antique shops of West Monroe — all of which are on the Historic US 80 Byway.
The Boom or Bust Byway is filled with tales of fortunes won and lost in northwest Louisiana. Highlights include the stately antebellum courthouse and Herbert S. Ford Memorial Museum in Homer, the Depot Museum in Vivian, the Louisiana State Oil & Gas Museum in — where else? — Oil City, and finally, the history-rich cities of Shreveport and Bossier City.
Natchitoches (pronounced Nack-atish), is the centerpiece of the Cane River National Heritage Trail. Walk its charming downtown streets, visit the state’s oldest general store — Kaffie- Frederick General Mercantile — and the equally famous Lasyone’s Meat Pie Restaurant before exploring Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site. Beyond Natchitoches you’ll find the historical homes of Cane River Creole National Historical Park, Melrose Plantation (former home of famed folk artist Clementine Hunter) and the historical buildings of Cloutierville. The Louisiana Great River Road Byway, at 773 miles, runs the length of the Mississippi River through Louisiana. Northeast Louisiana historical sites like the Louisiana State Cotton Museum in Lake Providence and the Hermione Museum in Tallulah tell interesting stories of the past. The off-the-beaten path riverfront city of Ferriday, the plantations of St. Francisville and the urban charms of Baton Rouge and New Orleans add to the must-see stops on this long and scenic driving trail.
There are more — far more — historical sites to discover along all of Louisiana’s trails and byways.
For Outdoor Explorers
Louisiana is a land of geographic contrasts. Its waterways allude to a lifetime’s worth of fishing, birdwatching and boating opportunities. And in the central and northern reaches of the state, you’ll find rolling hills, wide-open plains and tucked-away lakes that beckon visitors looking for an easygoing getaway.
Notable stops along the Toledo Bend Scenic Byway are North and South Toledo Bend State Parks, Cypress Bend Resort (especially popular with golfers), and the many restaurants along or near Highway 191.
For those looking to really veer from the beaten path, check out the Longleaf Trail Byway. At just 17 miles, it’s the shortest byway in Louisiana, but it contains some of the most pristine forest scenery in the state. It is located entirely within the Kisatchie National Forest, which is where you can also find an actual archaic cave.
South Louisiana has many driving trails to explore. The Creole Nature Trail All-American Road takes visitors through beaches to some of the best birdwatching sites in the state. Beyond the cheniers (oak tree-covered sandy ridges) is the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.
Moving east from the Creole Nature Trail is a greatest-hits list of Louisiana outdoor destinations. Visit the birdwatcher’s paradise known as the Flyway Byway, the kayaking dream destinations of the Bayou Teche Byway, the charter boat outfitters of the Wetlands Cultural Byway, the waterways of the Southern Swamps Byway (a perfect day trip from New Orleans and Baton Rouge) and the historical fishing villages of the San Bernardo Byway.
For Culinary Adventurers
A library’s worth of cookbooks have been written on Louisiana cuisine, thanks largely to the myriad cultural influences that have made the Bayou State the kind of place that’s worth visiting just for the food alone.
Check out the seafood-centric restaurants and markets of the Cajun Corridor Byway. Driving past the crawfish farms and rice fields you’ll come across Suire’s Grocery and Restaurant in Kaplan, an authentic Cajun spot in Louisiana’s agrarian heartland. Abbeville is home to Steen’s Cane Syrup, which you can buy directly at the mill. Near Abbeville, in Maurice, you’ll want to stop by Hebert’s Specialty Meats for a taste of flavorful Cajun cuisine.
Take the guesswork out of getting around with the help of local guided tours.
Agritourism
• Crawfish Haven/Mrs. Rose’s Bed and Breakfast in Kaplan offers overnight stays at a working crawfish farm, with guided tours and Cajun cooking classes.
• Splendor Farms B&B and Trail Riding Facility in Bush offers farm stay options and horseback riding, just an hour’s drive from New Orleans.
• Mitcham Farms, where many of Louisiana’s famous Ruston peaches are picked, has a farm store and is open for guided tours
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Food and Drink Tours
• Dr. Gumbo, New Orleans Secrets and New Orleans Culinary History Tours are just a few of the many New Orleans companies offering group culinary excursions.
• Cajun Food Tours in Lafayette takes visitors to five local stops for tastes of local culture.
• On Baton Rouge Food Tour’s itinerary, you’ll spend over two hours dining in and learning about Louisiana’s capital city.
Swamp Tours
• See the swamps just a short drive from New Orleans, courtesy of Airboat Adventures, Airboat Tours by Arthur L. Matherne and Jean Lafitte Swamp & Airboat Tours.
• On Louisiana’s Northshore, go deep into the Honey Island Swamp with Dr. Wagner’s Honey Island Swamp Tours and Cajun Encounters Tour Co.
• In the Atchafalaya region, McGee’s Louisiana Swamp & Airboat Tours and Champagne’s Cajun Swamp Tours will take you on an unforgettable ride into cypress tree-covered waterways.
By the Way, There’s More!
Discover the sights, sounds and flavors of Louisiana Byways at Byways.LouisianaTravel.com
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