OUTDOORS Gone Wild Safari, Pineville Flower Power! Central Louisiana Play: Time to get wild! Get up close and personal with everything from alligators to zebras at Alexandria Zoological Park . In nearby Pineville, drive through Gone Wild Safari , where exotic creatures roam free. At Hayes E. Daze Ranch , you can ride on 70 miles of sandy horseback trails in Kisatchie National Forest. Stay: While camping in the Kisatchie is always a breath of fresh air, historic Hotel Bentley will take your breath away. Famous guests of this grand hotel have included generals Eisenhower and Patton and film stars John Wayne and Roy Rogers. Add a Day: Some of the best bass fishing in the country is at Toledo Bend Lake , which has previously come in at No. 1 in Bassmaster magazine’s top bass fishing destinations. When you’re out exploring Louisiana, take a moment to stop and smell the roses (and magnolias, irises, orchids, azaleas, violets and more) at botanical gardens across the state. Follow the bees to New Orleans Botanical Garden in City Park, where more than 2,000 plants from around the world are flourishing. Everything’s coming up roses at Shreveport’s American Rose Center , the largest park in the country dedicated to the world’s most romantic flower. While there’s much ado about bamboo at Jungle Gardens on Avery Island, you’ll find Rip Van Winkle Gardens nearby is an eye-opening experience as well, despite its sleepy name. 18 LouisianaTravel.com
Louisiana Travel Guide Louisiana Sunshine Magazine 2023: Page 18
