Guidebook for Breaux Bridge
Parks & Nature
Lake Martin
Lake Martin is the largest nesting area of wading birds in the United States. Each spring, from about mid February to May, hundreds of herons and egrets, Roseate Spoonbills and thousands of songbirds nest here. The big birds nest in an area right next to the road and it is absolutely spectacular to see! You’ll most possibly see plenty of alligators, big ones, too. Lake Martin is just a short 5 mile drive from Breaux Bridge.
Directions: Head south on LA 31 in downtown Breaux Bridge, and after 3.5 miles, turn right on Lake Martin road. Follow the road all the way to the end. Swamp tours start right there in the parking lot. To see the nesting herons and spoonbills, turn left and f
20 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lake Martin Rookery
1209 Rookery RdLake Martin
Lake Martin is the largest nesting area of wading birds in the United States. Each spring, from about mid February to May, hundreds of herons and egrets, Roseate Spoonbills and thousands of songbirds nest here. The big birds nest in an area right next to the road and it is absolutely spectacular to see! You’ll most possibly see plenty of alligators, big ones, too. Lake Martin is just a short 5 mile drive from Breaux Bridge.
Directions: Head south on LA 31 in downtown Breaux Bridge, and after 3.5 miles, turn right on Lake Martin road. Follow the road all the way to the end. Swamp tours start right there in the parking lot. To see the nesting herons and spoonbills, turn left and f
About 20 miles south from Henderson, driving on the Henderson Levee Road, you’ll find Lake Fausse Pointe State Park. You can rent Canoes and Kayaks and paddle in the bayous and out on Lake Fausse, and there are several shorter hiking trails.
18 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lake Fausse Pointe State Park
5400 Levee RdAbout 20 miles south from Henderson, driving on the Henderson Levee Road, you’ll find Lake Fausse Pointe State Park. You can rent Canoes and Kayaks and paddle in the bayous and out on Lake Fausse, and there are several shorter hiking trails.
The basin is the largest river swamp in the USA and a unique eco-system of incredible beauty – despite the destruction excessive logging in the 20th century, and invasive oil- and gas industry have brought to the swamp. Just crossing the levee in Henderson and laying eyes on the vast expanse of water and trees for the first time is breath-taking!
Swamp Tours
Don’t miss out on a tour, but do it right and don’t choose an airboat tour – everybody wearing hearing protection gives you an idea why. Here are just the right people to go with, and our personal first choice
Mark and Peggy Allemand have grown up on the basin, and apart from being extremely knowledgeable about the local culture and nat
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Atchafalaya Basin Bridge
Atchafalaya Basin BridgeThe basin is the largest river swamp in the USA and a unique eco-system of incredible beauty – despite the destruction excessive logging in the 20th century, and invasive oil- and gas industry have brought to the swamp. Just crossing the levee in Henderson and laying eyes on the vast expanse of water and trees for the first time is breath-taking!
Swamp Tours
Don’t miss out on a tour, but do it right and don’t choose an airboat tour – everybody wearing hearing protection gives you an idea why. Here are just the right people to go with, and our personal first choice
Mark and Peggy Allemand have grown up on the basin, and apart from being extremely knowledgeable about the local culture and nat
Avery Island is not an actual island but a huge salt dome in the marsh, and home of the famous Tabasco plant, which you can tour, if you like. The Country Store next door to the plant has every kind of Tabasco merchandise, but also the newest culinary inventions involving Tabasco, such as ice cream.
The owner family, the MacIlhennys, have made a big part of the island into a truly beautiful park, with ancient live oak trees, abundant azaleas and camellias, irises, bamboo forests, a small lake where white herons come to nest from February to May. Small lagoons make a home for alligators, and there’s a discreet black bear around – we’ve seen fresh scat.
It is a lovely place to walk for a few
54 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Avery Island
Avery Island is not an actual island but a huge salt dome in the marsh, and home of the famous Tabasco plant, which you can tour, if you like. The Country Store next door to the plant has every kind of Tabasco merchandise, but also the newest culinary inventions involving Tabasco, such as ice cream.
The owner family, the MacIlhennys, have made a big part of the island into a truly beautiful park, with ancient live oak trees, abundant azaleas and camellias, irises, bamboo forests, a small lake where white herons come to nest from February to May. Small lagoons make a home for alligators, and there’s a discreet black bear around – we’ve seen fresh scat.
It is a lovely place to walk for a few
on Vermilion Bay, is the community of Cypremort Point, where many locals have their camps. Rickety buildings on stilts overlook the marsh, but part of Cypremort Point has had some development with new apartment buildings after recent hurricanes did a lot of damage to the old buildings. A little marina with shrimp boats and pleasure crafts adds charm. Before heading all the way to the bay, you can find Cypremort State Park on your right, with our closest sandy beach (if you don’t mind your feet sinking into muck and swimming in brown water, that is), you can barbecue there, fish, or take your kayak out into the beautiful marsh
8 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cypremort Point State Park
306 Beach Lnon Vermilion Bay, is the community of Cypremort Point, where many locals have their camps. Rickety buildings on stilts overlook the marsh, but part of Cypremort Point has had some development with new apartment buildings after recent hurricanes did a lot of damage to the old buildings. A little marina with shrimp boats and pleasure crafts adds charm. Before heading all the way to the bay, you can find Cypremort State Park on your right, with our closest sandy beach (if you don’t mind your feet sinking into muck and swimming in brown water, that is), you can barbecue there, fish, or take your kayak out into the beautiful marsh
One of the lovely daytrips to make! Take smaller roads through Abbeville – have lunch or dinner at Shucks! and eat all the freshest local oysters you can. Abbeville has a lovely downtown to visit. On your drive from Abbeville towards the gulf coast, you’ll see the landscape change into prairie, then beautiful marshlands.
Drive into Rockefeller Refuge on the gravel road and see thousands of birds, and also all the locals fishing and crabbing, with alligators floating close by, hoping to catch somebody’s catch. There is a raised platform shortly after the entrance on the left, it will give you a fantastic 360-view of the marsh.
If you want to make the big loop, drive on westwards after visit
Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge
5476 Grand Chenier HwyOne of the lovely daytrips to make! Take smaller roads through Abbeville – have lunch or dinner at Shucks! and eat all the freshest local oysters you can. Abbeville has a lovely downtown to visit. On your drive from Abbeville towards the gulf coast, you’ll see the landscape change into prairie, then beautiful marshlands.
Drive into Rockefeller Refuge on the gravel road and see thousands of birds, and also all the locals fishing and crabbing, with alligators floating close by, hoping to catch somebody’s catch. There is a raised platform shortly after the entrance on the left, it will give you a fantastic 360-view of the marsh.
If you want to make the big loop, drive on westwards after visit
Entertainment & Activities
Joie de Vivre Coffee and Culture Cafe
107 N Main StDrinks & Nightlife
La Poussiere
1215 Grand Pointe AveOne of the last old Cajun Dancehalls!
Arts & Culture
Arnaudville is a quaint little old Bayou town and meanwhile a hub of creative activity. Outside of town on Hwy 93, you’ll find Nunu Arts and Culture Collective, housed in a former lumberyard and potato storage building. You can buy local art, crafts and books, and every 3rd Friday of the Month, you can attend the monthly potluck social with live music by the Potluck Band and dancing. Bring a covered dish, dessert, or something from the store and enjoy home cooked food, interesting and diverse company and pass a good time! 7-10pm
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
NUNU Arts and Culture Collective
1510 Bayou Courtableau HwyArnaudville is a quaint little old Bayou town and meanwhile a hub of creative activity. Outside of town on Hwy 93, you’ll find Nunu Arts and Culture Collective, housed in a former lumberyard and potato storage building. You can buy local art, crafts and books, and every 3rd Friday of the Month, you can attend the monthly potluck social with live music by the Potluck Band and dancing. Bring a covered dish, dessert, or something from the store and enjoy home cooked food, interesting and diverse company and pass a good time! 7-10pm