SLEEP UNDER THE STARS Retreat to nature and slumber in the great outdoors at these campsites, RV resorts and cabins across the state: CABINS AT HORSESHOE HILLS RANCH (Natchitoches) Rustic cabins with modern amenities near Bayou Pierre CAJUN RVERA RESORT (New Iberia) Lazy river relaxation at Acadiana Fairgrounds COTTAGES AT WILDWOOD RESORT (Zwolle) Waterfront lodging at the edge of Toledo Bend Lake CYPRESS BLACK BAYOU (Benton) Camping amid beautiful lakes and a petting zoo INDIAN CREEK CAMPGROUND (Independence) Swimming, fishing and canoeing surrounded by pine forest LAKEVIEW PARK & BEACH are awarded for Amateur, Professional and Club-level étou ées, and visitors can purchase the savory dishes directly from contestants. Then head on over to Lake Charles for the Downtown Lake Charles Crawfish Festival in April. Complete with a crawfish eating contest, carnival rides, live music and a parade, the festival celebrates the history of crawfish and Louisiana’s close connection with the seafood industry. If you miss the festivals, have no fear! Learn how to catch mudbugs yourself at Crawfish Haven/Mrs. Rose’s Bed and Breakfast in Kaplan. Stay the night in a historic Acadian home built in 1903, then set out on a crawfish excursion before ending the day with a crawfish boil. For the ultimate resort, treat yourself to a vacation at Grosse Savanne Lodge in Lake Charles. Featuring luxurious accommodations in a plantation-style lodge, the resort sits on more than 50,000 acres of wetlands, prairies and fields. Choose from a wide range of hunting, fishing, bird-watching and golfing packages to complement your stay or participate in an eco-tour. n (Eunice) Tranquil park with live, local music and dancing LAPEYROUSE CAMPGROUND (Chauvin) Seafood and camping on the edge of Louisiana LES DEUX MONDES (Arnaudville) 19th century Cajun/Creole cottage on Bayou Teche Secluded cabins tucked away in a nature preserve LITTLE RIVER BLUFFS (Folsom) REUNION LAKE RV RESORT (Robert) Family-friendly resort with high-end amenities SWEETWATER CAMPGROUND & RIDING STABLES (Loranger) Louisiana hospitality with a taste of the old West PHOTOS: (OPPOSITE PAGE) Creole Nature Trail ©Brenda LaFleur ; (THIS PAGE, FROM TOP) Children catching crabs in Lake Charles ©Michael Palumbo ; Crabs on ice – courtesy of Louisiana Seafood ; Crawfish boil ©iStock.com/ Jay-Stevens ; Gator crossing ©Dan Everett WILDLIFE GARDENS (Houma) Bed-and-breakfast cabins in a cypress swamp http://LouisianaTravel.com LouisianaTravel.com 15
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