11 Of The Most Welcoming Towns In Louisiana
Strategically placed at the meeting point of the Mississippi River System and the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana is a scenic state in the south-central United States’ Gulf Coast region. Although the Bayou State’s major urban metropolises like New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and Lafayette, hog much of the limelight, the innumerable small towns in the state deserve a similar kind of tourist attention compared to the big population centers. These pretty small towns with spectacular sceneries, fascinating histories, vibrant cultures, and tons of Southern hospitality are worth adding to your itineraries on your next getaway to the Pelican State.
Minden
Founded by Charles Veeder in 1836 and named after the German city of Minden, this “friendliest city in the South” situated about 28 miles east of Shreveport, is the seat of Northwestern Louisiana’s Webster Parish. Heritage lovers are drawn to Minden’s Historic Main Street District featuring distinctive redbrick-lined Main Street filled with Victorian-era homes, antique shops, gift stores, clothing boutiques, restaurants, and small parks. A short drive north of Minden leads to the Germantown Colony Museum which offers a glimpse of daily life scenes in a remarkable early 19th-century settlement established by the followers of a German-based Utopian movement. Outdoorsy types can enjoy plenty of recreation at the nearby Dorcheat Bayou, Lake Bistineau, and the Caney Lakes Recreation Area. Throughout the year, Main Street serves as a venue for many events including Minden – Fasching Karneval “Mardi Gras” & Parade, Grilling on Main BBQ Cook-Off, Greater Minden Chamber Duck Derby, Vintage Car Club Shine & Bike Show, Webster Parish Fair & Parade, Main to Main Trade Days, and Minden Christmas Parade.
Covington
A part of the New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner metropolitan statistical area, Covington, the administrative center of St. Tammany Parish, is located along the fork of the Tchefuncte River and Bogue Falaya River. Tourists must journey across Lake Pontchartrain Causeway from New Orleans to visit this tiny Southern town with attractive cottages and tree-lined streets. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the walkable 100-acre Division of St. John Historic District covers the original part of Covington on the east of the U.S. Route 190 highway and includes many significant landmarks, shops, museums, art galleries, and restaurants like the English Tearoom, Mattina Bella, LOLA, and Del Porto Ristorante. Covington’s notable points of interest include Southern Hotel, HJ Smith & Sons General Store & Museum, Insta-Gator Ranch & Hatchery, and Bogue Falaya Wayside Park. From the Fontainebleau State Park, visitors can easily access the 31-mile Tammany Trace, a recreational hike-and-bike trail that runs along Lake Pontchartrain’s northern shores and links Covington with other towns in the St. Tammany Parish.
Breaux Bridge
Dubbed the “Crawfish Capital of the World,” Breaux Bridge is a close-knit community of friendly locals in Southern Louisiana’s St. Martin Parish. Stroll through the town’s quaint downtown streets and browse the lovely shops, boutiques, and restaurants where you can taste unusual seafood cuisine like Crawfish Étouffée. Being a stop along the Bayou Teche Scenic Byway, Breaux Bridge offers travelers breathtaking views besides an opportunity to witness the Atchafalaya Basin’s abundant flora and fauna. Additionally, tourists can take swamp tours at the nearby Lake Martin, considered one of the country’s top 10 bird-watching spots. Every May, thousands of merrymakers flock to Breaux Bridge to take part in the world-famous Crawfish Festival, a weekend-long celebration honoring the town’s Cajun heritage with live Cajun, Zydeco, and Swamp Pop music; Cajun & Zydeco dance contests; artisan craft fairs and parade; and delicious crawfish dishes.
Natchitoches
Located approximately 68 miles southeast of Shreveport in west-central Louisiana’s Natchitoches Parish, this town established by the French-Canadian explorer Louis Juchereau de St. Denis in 1714 is the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase Territory. The Natchitoches National Historic Landmark District encompasses a significant portion of the town and comprises countless Classic Queen Anne-style mansions, French Creole homes, and Art Deco commercial buildings dating back to the late 1700s. Placed parallel to the Cane River, the 33-block stretch of Front Street has an assortment of family-owned shops, boutiques, and diners such as the Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile Store, Lasyone’s Meat Pie Restaurant, Cane River Candy Company, etc. Spare some time for a self-guided tour of more than a dozen filming locations of the “Steel Magnolias” movie, apart from the Cane River National Heritage Area, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame & Northwest Louisiana History Museum, and the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Church. One of the nation’s oldest community-based holiday celebrations – the Natchitoches Christmas Lighting Festival begins on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and concludes on January 6 (the Epiphany).
Thibodaux
Nicknamed the “Queen City of Lafourche,” Thibodaux is situated along the shores of Bayou Lafourche in southeastern Louisiana’s Lafourche Parish, roughly 49 miles southwest of New Orleans. The town is steeped in history and this rich history is well reflected in the many carefully preserved antebellum houses in the downtown district. Some of Thibodaux’s noteworthy attractions include the Edward Douglas White Historic Site, St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, St. John’s Episcopal Church & Cemetery, Bayou Country Children’s Museum, Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center, Laurel Valley Sugar Plantation, and the campus of Nicholls State University.
Bastrop
Morehouse Parish’s seat, Bastrop is located in the northeastern part of the state at the junction of U.S. Route 425 and U.S. Route 165, about 24 miles northeast of Monroe. Founded by the Dutch businessman Felipe Enrique Neri, Baron de Bastrop, this town serves as the parish’s commercial and industrial center. Do walk past the town’s Craftsman and plantation-style houses and check out the different points of interest like the restored 1914 Morehouse Parish Courthouse, Snyder Museum & Creative Arts Center, and Rose Theater. The nearby Chemin-A-Haut State Park overlooking the Bayou Bartholomew is a paradise for nature lovers.
Eunice
Affectionately called the “Prairie Cajun Capital of Louisiana,” Eunice, spread across the Acadia and St. Landry parishes, has been named after Eunice Pharr Duson, the spouse of the legendary Louisiana lawman and town founder Cornelius C. Duson. The town’s location close to the heart of Cajun country, has made it a hotspot of traditional Cajun & Zydeco music, and Cajun & Creole cultures. Some of the must-see sites in Downtown Eunice include the Eunice Depot Museum, Cajun Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Prairie Acadian Cultural Center (part of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve), Liberty Theatre, and Savoy Music Center. The town hosts an extravagant Mardi Gras celebration the ‘Courir de Mardi Gras’, as well as the World Championship Crawfish Étouffée Cook-Off.
Grand Isle
At the southern end of Louisiana Highway 1, this Jefferson Parish community occupies its namesake barrier island at Barataria Bay’s mouth in the Gulf of Mexico. Start your tour at the Grand Isle State Park, the only state-owned beach on Louisiana’s Gulf Coast at the eastern extremity of the island. With more than 280 species of fish known to be found in the surrounding waters, Grand Isle is well-known for its finest fishing spots and deep-sea fishing in the gulf waters. Every July, the town hosts the Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo, one of the country’s premier saltwater fishing rodeos where spectators get to witness prize-worthy catches and grab some local seafood. Apart from fishing activities, the three-day Grand Isle Migratory Bird Festival in April offers multiple tours for naturalists and birdwatchers through the island’s diverse habitats that attract numerous migratory avian species.
Farmerville
The seat of government of Union Parish, Farmerville forms a part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area in the state’s north-central portion. This friendly community’s most prominent attraction is the gorgeous Lake D’ Arbonne State Park, a state-maintained fishing, camping, and recreation area along the Lake D’ Arbonne reservoir. Each year, thousands of revelers visit Farmerville during the last weekend of July, to celebrate the Louisiana Watermelon Festival through a wide variety of events including a festival parade, watermelon eating & seed spitting contests, bicycle & tricycle races, tennis tournaments, arm wrestling contests, watermelon size & quality contests, street dances, and the Louisiana Watermelon Pageant.
Abita Springs
Famed for its healing waters drawn from deep artesian wells, this serene town in St. Tammany Parish appeals to those who wish to escape from the hustle and bustle of big cities. Located adjacent to Covington, Abita Springs allures tourists to visit the Abita Mystery House/UCM Museum, Abita Springs Trailhead Museum, Abita Springs Art & Farmers Market, Abita Brew Pub, and the Splash Pad at the Abita Springs Trailhead & Park, as well as check the concert schedule for the fall and spring series of Louisiana roots music presented by the Abita Springs Opry in the Abita Springs Town Hall auditorium. The town also provides easy access to the Tammany Trace bike trail, and the Louisiana Bicycle Festival, held near the Trace enchants adventurers from all over the world. Throughout the year, the town hosts various events such as the Push Mow Parade, Whole Town Garage Sale, EarthFest, Busker Fest, En Plein Air Art Exhibition, and Abita Springs Water Festival.
St. Francisville
Originally called the Villa of St. Francis, this small town roughly 30 miles north of Baton Rouge, is placed atop a narrow ridge overlooking the Mississippi River in Louisiana’s West Feliciana Parish. With a population of 1,557 inhabitants, this erstwhile biggest antebellum river port between New Orleans and Memphis has attracted heritage buffs and weekenders over the years. Walk down the streets of the town’s meticulously maintained historic district and tour the old homes, the West Feliciana Historical Society Museum, the Grace Church of West Feliciana Parish, and a large number of restored plantations like the Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site, Oakley Plantation, Butler Greenwood Plantation, Cottage Plantation, Myrtles Plantation, and the Audubon State Historic Site. Nature lovers must head straight to the Cat Island Natural Wildlife Refuge, Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area, and the Afton Villa Gardens. The 250-acre West Feliciana Sports Park offers a variety of sporting activities aside from being the home course for the athletic teams of Southern University.
From Minden in Webster Parish to St. Francisville in West Feliciana Parish, the adorable small towns in the nation’s 31st-largest and 25th most-populous state have something for everyone. Acclaimed for its colonial architecture, thriving Cajun cultures, outdoor recreation, and lip-smacking cuisines, these small towns welcome vacationers to experience all that the Pelican State has to offer.
