There’s no shortage of ways to explore the Louisiana outdoors! Avid outdoorsmen can’t come to Louisiana without stopping by one (or more) of its 21 state parks that offer opportunities for camping, fishing, paddling, hiking, horseback riding and more.
In Lake Charles, Sam Houston Jones State Park is offering new and improved amenities – including a 31-site campground with new RV campsites that have full sewer and 50-amp electric hookups. Park visitors will also find ten new, luxury cabins with granite countertops and screened porches complete with outdoor fireplaces. Through a partnership with Tentrr, there are now ten new Tentrr glamping campsites featuring spacious, safari-style, canvas-walled tents atop a raised platform located in a rustic area outside the park campground. The sites are outfitted with a queen-sized cot and memory foam mattress, a heating source, Adirondack chairs, a fire pit, a grill, and a picnic table. ADA-accessible and pet-friendly sites are available. Additionally, new pavilions, a new trailhead restroom, and a new 500-foot boardwalk along the west fork of the Calcasieu River will welcome visitors looking to take a stroll through the beautiful scenery of southwest Louisiana.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention swamp tours through Louisiana’s iconic bayous and waterways. The 14-parish Atchafalaya National Heritage Area (pronounced uh-CHA-fuh-LIE-uh) in the south central portion of the state is particularly rich in both wildlife and mystical swampy landscapes. Your whole family will be wild about Kliebert & Sons Gator Tours in Ponchatoula, which recently introduced a new alligator sanctuary and wildlife encounter where mystery and adventure await.
For those looking to witness Louisiana’s natural beauty, stop by one of the state’s many lush gardens. Lafayette’s Azalea Trail, for instance, covers a 20-mile network of streets where you’ll find an abundance of vivid azaleas blooming during the springtime.
Looking for more outdoor fun? ZipNOLA on the banks of Lake Pontchartrain in LaPlace now takes guests on a half-mile zipline course offering views of the Maurepas Swamp, the historic town of Frenier, even the New Orleans skyline itself. Parc des Familles in Marrero has added a premier disc golf course ranked as one of the best in the country. The holes weave their way through a cypress swamp, plus there’s an onsite splash park! Tchefuncte River Charters in Madisonville is now welcoming guests aboard a new 26-foot-long, 12-passenger “party barge” offering themed cruises and tours. With a sound system, LED lights, tableside dining and canopy-covered bar, a good time is guaranteed! And everyone’s a kid at the new Toledo Bend Family Adventure Park, where you’ll find a lazy river, three swimming pools, a splash pad, waterslides, mini golf and more. Speaking of golf, those looking to practice their swing will love Louisiana’s Audubon Golf Trail – featuring new additions Mallard Golf Course in Lake Charles, Farm d’Allie Golf Club in Carencro and The Island Golf Course in Plaquemine.
Slip on your sneakers, pack some sunscreen and come on down to explore everything Louisiana has to offer! Learn more at LouisianaTravel.com