8 Serene Towns In Louisiana For A Weekend Retreat

You may have heard about Ragin' Cajuns, but what about Assuagin' Cajuns? By that, we mean the Louisiana concerned with rest, relaxation, and scenic recreation rather than ragin'. Believe it or not, there are patches of paradise amid the swamps and skeeters and gators, especially in and around communities that are small enough for a weekend's worth of R&R. From botanical gardens to a sandy beach to a Christmas river, here are the best Louisiana locales for a serene weekend retreat.

St. Francisville

With tendrils of Spanish moss framing the stately houses of former plantations, St. Francisville is hauntingly beautiful. Pleasure and thrill seekers travel to this tiny town to stay at The Myrtles, an 18th-century estate considered one of America’s most haunted homes. Today, it comprises a hotel, restaurant, and cafe on several luxuriant acres. If a potential ghost encounter is not on your St. Francisville itinerary, you can book a different plantation-turned-inn and then tour the Afton Villa Gardens, an expansive preserve of flowers and trees. Let Afton Villa be the start of a Deep South safari that takes you to Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge, Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area, and the Clark Creek Natural Area in nearby Mississippi. Clark Creek has colorful birds, reptiles, invertebrates, and fish mixing among its 50-some waterfalls.

Breaux Bridge

Technically a city despite having roughly 7,500 residents, Breaux Bridge is a quaint quasi-suburb of Lafayette and gateway to Lake Martin. Centering the Cypress Island Preserve, Lake Martin is a scenic hotspot that offers kayak and airboat tours of aquatic plants and animals. After eyeballing egrets and watching water lilies, visitors can stay at Maison Madeleine, an 1840s-built cottage that doubles as a venue for indigenous music and grand dinners - with crawfish likely on the menu since Breaux Bridge is the "Crawfish Capital of the World." Beyond numerous Cajun restaurants that make unique and delicious use of that compact crustacean, the city hosts a crawfish festival each May.

Natchitoches

Although a tongue twister, the Kisatchie near Natchitoches is one of the least twisted and most serene places in the state. It is Louisiana's only national forest and contains more than 600,000 acres of pines, swamps, and vibrant wildlife. Considered the best spot in the preserve, Longleaf Vista, with its rock bluffs and conifer canopy, might make you think you are in Montana. Different but still serene vistas are on the other side of Natchitoches around the Toledo Bend Reservoir. In saying this, you do not have to leave Natchitoches for sweet views. This small community straddles the Cane River and stuns with waterfront nature, architecture, and a Christmas festival going into its 98th year. Over 300,000 lights and 100 set pieces illuminate the river from November to January. See them from your window at Jefferson House Bed and Breakfast.

Abita Springs

A North Shore town of about 2,600 people, Abita Springs sits on the Tammany Trace, a 31-mile railroad converted into a hiking/biking/horseback riding trail and wildlife conservation corridor. The Abita Springs Trailhead Museum softens tracers with beautiful art and artifacts, while the Abita Mystery House piques their curiosity with quirky collectibles and constructions, including a half-dog, half-alligator. Bogue Chitto State Park and the Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge, located well off the beaten Tammany path, entice serious sightseers with a wide range of scenery from rolling hills to thick swamps. Make Abita Springs Hotel your base for a verdant north shore vacation.

New Iberia

New Iberia is larger than its neighbor, Breaux Bridge, but has arguably more serenity. This 28,000ish-person city is wreathed by Rip Van Winkle Gardens and Jungle Gardens, two similarly scenic botanical preserves. The first spans some 15 acres of semi-tropical flowers shaded by ancient oak trees and guarded by Buddhist statues and statuesque peacocks. The second is a 170-plus-acre herb and bird sanctuary located on nearby Avery Island, a salt dome celebrated as the source of Tabasco sauce. A tour of the Tabasco factory and a meal at the Tabasco restaurant are salty finishes to an Avery Island excursion. Rest up at La Maison du Bayou Petite Anse, an authentic bayou-based cottage.

Grand Isle

True to its name, Grand Isle is a terrific town on a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico. Oceanic activities like swimming, boating, fishing, and beachcombing are Grand Isle's obvious attractions, but it also offers inland adventures at Grand Isle State Park. Covering 140ish acres at the eastern tip, the park has lush foliage, hiking and horseback riding trails, views of historic Fort Livingston, and various types of campsites, including tent-only. While being rocked to sleep with a warm sea breeze is heaven for some, others prefer to stay at the Blue Dolphin Inn & Cottages with easy access to air conditioning, shops, restaurants, and annual events like the Grand Isle Migratory Bird Celebration.

Ruston

Topping Natchitoches' Montana-esque pine hills, Ruston neighbors a whole damn mountain. It is a "damn" mountain because it does not qualify as an actual mountain, but at 535 feet above sea level, Driskill Mountain looks like a mountain, sounds like a mountain, and is the highest natural point in Louisiana. Access to this picturesque peak is a short hike and a drive from Ruston, which claims its own oasis called Lincoln Parish Park, a 280-ish-acre preserve with a forest, lake, and one of the best mountain biking trails in America. Between the park and mountain is Ruston's range of harmonious haunts like The Cottage of Ruston Bed & Breakfast, Mitcham Farms, and Bad Wolf BBQ, which is said to have the best barbeque in the state.

Mandeville

Located just south of Abita Springs, Mandeville is perhaps the most scenic stop on the Tammany Trace. The tiny city straddles Lake Pontchartrain, so Tammany tracers get wonderful aquatic views alongside luxuriant looks of Northlake Nature Center and Fontainebleau State Park. As they continue on to Lacombe and Slidell, they also pass the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge and Camp Salmen Nature Park. They would be wise to overnight in Mandeville, though, especially at Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast, an award-winning historic inn offering amazing rooms, foods, and garden views.

Louisiana has a rough and tumble reputation as a state hacking its way through gator-infested undergrowth. But many of its small communities, like St. Francisville, Breaux Bridge, Natchitoches, Abita Springs, New Iberia, Grand Isle, Ruston, and Mandeville, have pleasant downtowns flanked by big and bright terrain. Say bye to the bayous and hi to hills, beaches, botanical gardens, and even a mini-mountain during a serene Louisiana weekend.