8 Of The Quirkiest Towns In Louisiana
Louisiana is a Gulf Coast state well-known for its diverse culture, rich history, and beautiful marsh-filled landscapes. The state has a melting pot of diverse cultures with strong French, Spanish, African, and Creole influences. It features 64 parishes, similar to counties in other states, and many unique small towns are worth exploring. Whether watching an alligator poke its nose from a muddy swamp, eating some of the best Cajun cooking in the world, or sipping on a beer with a million Mardi Gras beads hanging from your neck, there are plenty of opportunities to create memories. If you are a traveler seeking something unusual, these eight quirkiest small Louisiana towns should be on your itinerary.
Breaux Bridge
This small town in southern Louisiana proudly proclaims itself as "The Crawfish Capital Of The World." With the aroma of Cajun cooking wafting from every direction, it's easy to see why they make this claim. The town hosts the largest food festival in the state - The Crawfish Festival - every May. This event draws almost 10,000 attendees and is packed with exciting activities, live Zydeco music, and a lot of crawfish etouffee.
If you're looking for adventure, you might want to consider taking a swamp tour of Lake Martin, located just south of the town. This small lake is known for its rich wildlife and various bird species. The swamp tour is an excellent way to explore the natural habitat that Louisiana is famous for. Cruise through the murky waters under trees draped with hanging Spanish moss. You will want to keep your eyes peeled because the swamp is an alligator's natural home, and you're likely to see them sunning on the logs as you float by.
The downtown area of Bridge Street is filled with historic buildings that now support many quaint shops, galleries, and antique stores. Browse through the local antique mall for a nostalgic remembrance. If you need a place to eat, try Cafe Sydnie Mae, a top-ranked and award-winning steak and seafood place that both locals and visitors love.
Bogalusa
This small town sits in Washington Parish right next to the Mississippi border and owes its formation to the tall pine trees that flourish in the region. The town started as a company town in the early 1900s, when the Great Southern Lumber Company opened the largest mill in the country at that time. The lumber industry drove the local economy for years, and International Paper still has a plant there.
Today, the community is the site of one of the best blues festivals in the South, The Bogalusa Blues and Heritage Festival, which takes place in September. This great celebration features great music, food vendors, and arts/crafts booths, all honoring the rich legacy of blues in the region. Don't be surprised if you join in with the residents who love to dance in the streets to the soulful rhythms. Like many Southern towns, the town hosts an exciting Mardi Gras parade every year, where strings of beads go flying.
Outdoor adventurers will want to explore the Bogue Chitto State Park, with its 1,786 acres of small streams, precious freshwater lakes, and numerous biking trails. One of the scenic attractions of the park is Frick's Cave, with its unique sandstone formations. With fourteen miles of equestrian trails and eleven lakes stocked with fish, along with camping and picnic areas, there are plenty of experiences to fill a family's day. The best place for a classic family Italian meal is Bino's Seafood Restaurant.
Ponchatoula
Ponchatoula owes its town name to the native Choctaw language. The basic translation means "hair to hang," describing the Spanish moss often draped from the branches of the trees in the swamp. The community was established as a rail town in the 1850s when the railway line from Jackson, Mississippi, to New Orleans was laid. The town increased as a hub for commerce and community for early settlers who wanted to be near the railway. As the town grew, lumber companies started exploiting the abundant supply of pine trees in the area.
Today, the town is home to the annual Strawberry Festival, scheduled for the weekend of April 12, 2024. This celebration attracts nearly 300,000 attendees for all things strawberry, from berry eating contests to vendors selling fantastic food and drink to live music. Entry to the festival is free with no admission charge, which makes this a wonderful family experience on the cheap.
Ponchatoula's downtown district has many historic older buildings with locally owned businesses, particularly antique shops. As "America's Antique City," this small town is a must-stop for fans of nostalgic and vintage items. While you are browsing, be sure to stop into Roux and Brew for dinner. The restaurant has excellent food, a relaxed vibe, and even better service. If you need something quirky to add to your itinerary, try Kliebert and Sons Alligator Tours, where one family has been raising gators for nearly five decades.
Crowley
If crawfish and shrimp are the staples of Cajun cooking, then rice is the glue that brings them all together. This small town celebrates its legacy with the International Rice Festival each October. This fun-filled family event has been happening since 1937 and includes some of the best red beans, rice, and crawfish etoufees anywhere on the planet. Best of all, there is no admission for the weekend party.
The downtown district is a step back with oak-lined streets, Victorian homes, and historic buildings. Be sure to take in a performance at the Grand Opera House of the South, which opened in 1901 and still offers residents world-class entertainment today. History buffs will love the J.D. Miller Recording Studio Museum or the Crystal Rice Heritage Farm for its unique glimpse into one of the pioneers in rice farming, Salmon L. Wright. The local City Hall is in an old restored Model T dealership, the Ford Building, and houses four museums featuring local history. Try the Vanilla Bean downtown or PJ's Coffee up closer to I-10 for an excellent latte or espresso.
Lake Charles
This southwest town boasts that it is the "Festival Capital" of the state, and with lots of celebrations happening throughout the year, it is easy to catch a memorable event when you visit. There is always something happening here, from the Wildlife and Fur Festival in January or Mardi Gras parades to the Pirate Fest in May to the Food and Wine Festival in October. During the summer months, beginning in May, the town offers a free concert series weekly on Ryan Street in front of historic City Hall.
If you want an offbeat event, try the annual Louisiana Pirate Festival, scheduled for May 3. This ten-day event is fun as the town celebrates legendary pirate Jean Lafayette. Don't be surprised to see all types of scallywags roaming the streets. Another great event is Smoke and Barrel, which highlights southern barbeque and classic bourbon whiskey. Go just for the smells of hickory smoked meats.
The Charpentier Historic District comprises nearly 40 blocks of vintage homes and buildings filled with an eclectic mix of shops, boutiques, and galleries. If you're looking for something to do in the area, the local Mardi Gras Museum is a great choice. You can spend an afternoon viewing colorful costumes and learning about the traditions of Southwest Mardi Gras celebrations. City Hall is also worth a visit, with three floors of local and regional art displays open to the public for free. If you're hungry, check out the Ember Wine Bar and Grill at the L'Auberge Casino Resort. It's a fine dining spot with memorable cuisine and an unbelievable wine list.
Abita Springs
Abita Springs is the home of one of the most off-beat attractions in the state. The Abita Mystery House is a roadside attraction of quirky, odd collections and weird memorabilia. The eccentric folk art on display will entertain families with old arcade games, folk art, and collections of junk. The museum gives new meaning to the fact that one man's trash is another man's treasure.
This small town sits just outside New Orleans and has several natural springs where visitors can soak away their stresses. For over a hundred years, travelers from New Orleans have ventured north to soak in the healing waters. The Abita Springs Hotel is a lovely boutique hotel set in a beautifully restored 1890s home that is worth the stay. The downtown district is historic and pedestrian-friendly, with many small shops and boutiques. Be sure to bike along the Tammany Trace, a 31-mile paved rails-to-trails bike path with lots of beautiful scenery.
The natural springs also provide the perfect water for making craft beer, so you will want to visit the Abita Brew Pub, the home of Abita Beer. The best place to eat in Abita Springs is the Abita Springs Cafe, which serves good-value meals at very reasonable prices.
Natchitoches
If you love Christmas, Natchitoches is the place to experience a Cajun Christmas in all its glory. The city of lights transforms its downtown every year into a winter wonderland with thousands of twinkling lights. The Christmas festival lasts from before Thanksgiving past New Year's Day and attracts nearly 100,000 guests yearly. If you want to get your family into the holiday spirit, this beautiful, charming downtown will do the trick.
During the rest of the year, Natchitoches has a vibrant downtown filled with cobblestone streets and curious small stores. Browse through the Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile Store, the oldest general goods store in the state, or find the perfect morsel for your sweet tooth at the Cane River Candy Store. If you need a bite, try Laysone's Meat Pie Kitchen for a delicious meal. History buffs will want to wander through Ft. Jean Baptiste Historic Site, an exact reproduction of an Old World French fort built according to the 1716 blueprints. Now and then, a living history performer is on-site to add to the experience.
Eunice
Eunice is a small town in Louisiana that proudly declares itself as the "Cajun Music Capital of the World." With zydeco and accordion music flowing through its streets, it's not hard to disagree. The town is home to the Cajun Music Hall of Fame, which celebrates the best Cajun musicians, fiddle players, and singers. Every year, the Eunice Cajun Mardi Gras is a five-day celebration in February featuring this glorious music, where open-air dancing and Cajun cuisine rule the streets.
The Prairie Acadian Cultural Center is a beautiful museum highlighting the local history and early residents who helped form the Cajun culture. The downtown area is a quaint mix of shops and restaurants, and it is not unusual to hear the sounds of zydeco music from the stores. For delicious crawfish ettouffe or boiled shrimp, try the New Ronnies Cajun Cafe on Laurel, the main drag running right through the center of town.
Louisiana's offbeat towns offer a refreshing departure from the ordinary. Whether you're drawn to the musical rhythms of Eunice or the quirky charm of treasure hunting at the Abita House, or just like getting up close to an alligator on a swamp tour, these towns provide many unique and memorable experiences. As you embrace the eccentricity, savor the flavors, and let the rhythms of Cajun music flow through you, Louisiana's offbeat charm will surely capture your heart.
