7 Unforgettable Small Towns to Visit in Louisiana

Louisiana ranks among the most celebrated and stereotyped parts of the United States. New Orleans is famous for its food and fun, while the Gulf Coast has attracted families and partygoers for generations. But what about the rest of the state, especially its smaller towns? These unforgettable towns give a taste of Louisiana's diverse out-of-the-way places, which suggest deeper, fascinating histories of their own. Culture and natural delights come together in a state with a well-deserved reputation as a historical center.

Abbeville

Abbeville, population 11,000, is one of the most underrated towns in Louisiana, Abbeville is a charming slice of Cajun country. The town lies south of Lafayette and very close to the Gulf of Mexico. Generally considered to have been settled in the late 18th century, Father Antoine Desire Mégret, a Capuchin missionary, purchased in 1848 the land that would host the town. Mégret modeled it on a typical French Provençal village. Originally known as La Chapelle, the place later took the name Abbeville, which translates to "Abbot's Town." Abbeville today serves as a commercial and agricultural hub for rice and cotton, oil and gas, and seafood. 

The town's calendar is busy with events year-round, including the Louisiana Cattle Festival and the Giant Omelette Festival. For nature seekers, Palmetto Island State Park is a very worthwhile stop.

Covington

Covington, population 11,600, was established in the early 19th century. The town sits north of New Orleans, on the opposite shore of Lake Pontchartrain. The town combines culture, history, and abundant natural beauty to entice a first-time or repeat visitor. Visits and appetites are welcome at the Chimes Covington, a top local restaurant. For a glimpse of local industry, seek out the C.S. Steen Syrup Mill, a family-owned business and cane syrup producer in operation for over a century. Travelers seeking contact with nature should visit the Tammany Trace Bike Trail or Fairview Riverside State Park for hiking, biking, and fishing.

Cameron

The southwest town of Cameron, just 30 miles from the Texas border, the tiny Cameron has just 200 inhabitants. Yet its small size may just be part of its appeal: the beach town on the Gulf of Mexico provides easy access to water and wildlife for a different kind of vacation. The Creole Nature Trail, which looks at local fauna and Native American history, runs through Cameron, part of what some call the Louisiana Outback. Also nearby are the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge and the Sabine Natural Wildlife Refuge. The area is rarely crowded and allows for camping in tents or RVs. Cameron may be the place to see more animals than people for a truly natural experience.

Minden

With a total size of 11,400, the town of Minden, in Louisiana's northwest, rewards the visitor with a mix of cultural and natural delights. For nature, these include Dorcheat Bayou, Lake Bistineau, and Caney Lakes Recreation Area for picnicking, walking, camping, and fishing. Every fall, the Webster Parish Fair brings locals and outside guests together. Nearby, the Germantown Colony and Museum, just outside Minden proper, offers a glimpse into the history of German immigration to the area, a population trend that helped establish Minden in 1835. The town's historic district still has antebellum and Victorian-era homes.

Natchitoches

First-time visitors may need to practice the name Natchitoches (pronounced "Nack-a-tish"), before arriving. Once they do, they will be glad to discover the town's historic charms and why 17,400 people call it home. Set on the Cane River, Natchitoches, said to be the state's oldest settlement, is home to a handful of buildings on the National Register of Historic Places: French Creole townhouses, the Minor Basilica where visitors can take in its stained-glass windows, as well as Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile, the city’s oldest general store from the 19th century. Founded in 1714, Natchitoches is the oldest city in the Louisiana Purchase, the historic land transfer from France to the United States in 1803. French influence remains clear in the town's architecture today.

Abita Springs

Originally a Native American village of the Choctaw tribe, the town of Abita Springs, with just 2,700 inhabitants, made its incorporation in 1903. A natural place to escape from the big-city bustle of New Orleans, 45 miles south, visitors to Abita Springs can also stop in Covington, which is the neighboring town. Abita Springs draws visitors to Abita Springs Park and the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany for family-friendly options nearby. Kids may also like the Abita Mystery House Museum, a local roadside attraction filled with eccentric fun and games. The town's few small restaurants and the local post office offer low-key places to gather and enjoy a quieter part of southern Louisiana.

St. Francisville

With just 1,500 people, St. Francisville offers a getaway at least as quiet as Abita Springs. Established in 1807, the town is set north of Baton Rouge at a bend in the Mississippi River. Nature lovers may come just to experience nearby Cat Island Natural Wildlife Refuge, or the Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area, the Audubon State Historic Site, or the Mississippi itself. Culture buffs may prefer to tour the exquisitely restored plantations and old homes to soak up St. Francisville's 19th-century past. One example of the period is the Wolf-Schlessinger House, built by the descendants of German Jewish immigrants fleeing persecution in the old country in the late 1800s. The house has since been converted into the St. Francisville Inn Bed and Breakfast. Guests there can enjoy rest and comfort amid fascinating local history.  

Discovering Louisiana's Underrated Charms

If villages like St. Francisville and Cameron promise a quiet visit or two, larger towns such as Natchitoches and Covington can deliver a wider set of charming options. Whatever the final choice for small-town travel in Louisiana, its wealth of places outside the typical tourist centers will nonetheless bring the curious visitor a satisfying experience on their own. Louisiana's local flavors will satisfy travelers ' tastes of all kinds, from culture and historic homes to the natural wonders of the bayou or the mighty Mississippi.