Regions • Crossroads Alexandria-Vidalia-Marksville ........................120 Natchitoches-Winnsboro ...............................126 See detailed map in back of guide. Toledo Bend-Lake Country ..............................130 MEET YOUR GUIDE Jimmy Landry is a man on a mission. He is currently president of Avoyelles Parish’s Spring Bayou Restoration Team, whose goal is to renew the parish’s largest waterway. Years of silt and invasive vegetation building in the bayou has made navigating the waters dicult. Concerted e orts over the past decade has helped restore the bayou, and, Landry says, “People are coming back, fishing and kayaking… it’s an ongoing e ort to increase tourism and give local folks a place to enjoy.” Asked why he initially got involved, Landry says, “I raised three daughters in Avoyelles Parish. We have three grandchildren here. It’s home to us. And we’re just trying to make it a better place.” > ALEXANDRIA-VIDALIA-MARKSVILLE AREA “Most people who come to Marksville are here for the casino,” Landry says, referring to Paragon Casino Resort . “And there are a lot of cultural attractions we find interesting, too.” He notes the Cochon de Lait Festival in Mansura each May, the Louisiana Corn Festival in Bunkie in June, and Marksville’s Fourth of July celebration. One of Avoyelles Parish’s newest attractions is Gator Grounds RV Park in Bunkie. Its on-site water park is a great place to chill out during the summer months. Alexandria has the Louisiana Dragon Boat Races (May), held on the grounds of the Alexandria Museum of Art , central Louisiana’s premier visual arts space. Other local spots that tell of the area’s past include Marksville State Historic Site , where visitors can learn about Avoyelles Parish’s ancient residents, and the Tunica-Biloxi Museum in Marksville. IF YOU HAVE MORE TIME… • Feed the animals at Gone Wild Safari in Pineville • Dine at Janohn’s in Boyce PHOTOS: (OPPOSITE PAGE, FROM TOP) South Toledo Bend State Park ©Leisa Walker ; Zwolle Tamale Fiesta; Church and quarters ©Frogmore Plantation ; (THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) Jimmy Landry ©Jimmy Landry ; Blackjack ©Paragon Casino Resort ; Louisiana Dragon Boat Races LouisianaTravel.com 117
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