These 11 Towns In Louisiana Were Ranked Among US Favorites In 2024
The state of Louisiana, so named after the Sun King, Louis XIV of France, contains a gallery of excellent small towns ranked among US favorites in 2024. From the bayous and backwaters near the Gulf of Mexico all the way to forested regions and towns close to the big cities, you will not feel so remiss when exploring the beautifully historical and naturally appealing small towns of the Pelican State. So, do your best to follow a legal system that Napolean Bonaparte inspired as you visit these 11 towns in Louisiana, ranked among US favorites in 2024.
Breaux Bridge
Breaux Bridge was first founded by Acadian pioneer Firmin Breaux originally as a footbridge across the Bayou Teche in order to connect with Lafayette. These days, Breaux Bridge has prospered into the Crawfish Capital of the World, where many such crawfish can be found in the Atchafalaya Basin, one of North America’s largest river basins. Lake Martin, on the other hand, has a number of alligators you should watch out for, while the Fourgeaud House, the former dwelling of a prestigious doctor from France, has a collection of articles that you ought to peruse. The oldest Creole/Acadian structure in town, Silvestre Broussard House, gives a glimpse of 1811, and a place like Silver's Travel Plaza & Casino has an assortment of games and Cajun foods for you to win big or lose all. Immerse yourself deeply in the Cajun culture during the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival in May, where funky Zydeco music and Cajun foods will satisfy anyone’s appetite for more.
Abita Springs
About an hour away from the big cities of Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Abita Springs is a great place to relax and explore. Whether you are sampling exquisite craft beers like TurboDog and Andygator from Abita Brewing Company or biking through the Tammany Trace bike trail, these activities and events are sure to keep you engaged and merry in Abita Springs. Stroll about through Lake Pontchartrain, Fontainebleau State Park, and Lake Maurepas. Tour the ancestral grounds of the Abita Mystery House and listen to Cajun, Zydeco, and Bluegrass music at the Abita Springs Opry. Most of all, be sure to participate in the annual Louisiana Bicycle Festival every April. Should you get exhausted from all the exploration, then settle down at the Abita Springs Hotel.
Natchitoches
About an hour away from Shreveport, the small town of Natchitoches beside Sibley Lake and the Red River used to be a Natchitoches Native American village. It is the oldest settlement in the Louisiana Purchase and the first French colony in the state since 1714. It is among the many historic sites that still endure, including the Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site, which survived much of the French and Indian War. Natchitoches also experienced the American Civil War in 1864 when Union soldiers crossed the town after failing the Red River Campaign.
The Prudhomme-Rouquier House, the Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile, and the Minor Basilica are some of the many historic buildings that still retain much of their splendor. One can traverse El Camino Real, “The King’s Highway,” to travel from the Natchitoches Parish and all the way to Mexico. Or you can just traipse through the Kisatchie National Forest and the Cane River National Heritage Area and attend a Mardi Gras festival from January to February. If you are interested in Natchitoches, then book a room at the Sweet Cane Inn or Chateau Saint Denis Hotel.
Farmerville
Get your game together as you venture into the sportful town of Farmerville. From Lake D’Arbonne’s bountiful waters, where fisherfolks compete for the most amount of fish caught, to several national forests, such as the D'Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge and the Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge, there is no deficit of destinations for you to go gallivanting about in Farmerville. Be careful, however, when going through the Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge lest you encounter Louisiana’s renowned alligators. And in the last weekend of July, you should definitely attend or at least compete in the annual Louisiana Watermelon Festival if you are an enthusiast for watermelons. Less than two hours away from Natchitoches, you can seek your accommodations at either the D'Arbonne Lake Motel or Edgewood Plantation B&B.
Minden
Minden, situated midway between Shreveport and Farmerville, was initially built into the shape of a parallelogram when it was conceived in the 1830s. The town was also founded by a band of German Utopians led by a mystic leader named “Count Leon,” which the Germantown Colony Museum, part of the Louisiana Secretary of State’s museum system, explains more deeply. Lake Bistineau and Dorcheat Bayou are beautiful, and in October, the town is packed with parishioners during the Webster Parish Fair. There is more to see and experience in Minden, so consider staying a while in fine lodgings like The Villas at Spanish Court.
Leesville
Approximately an hour away from Natchitoches lies the small town of Leesville, named after Robert E. Lee, who served as a Civil War General. Though Leesville is far away from most of the states where the Wild West blazed, it did experience its fair share of violence when it was once a No-Man’s Land where infamous outlaws like Leather Britches Smith, as well as Coushatta and Atakapa Native Americans, battled. These days, you can enjoy peaceful treks through South Toledo Bend State Park and the Sabine National Forest. At Camp/Fort Polk, you can admire the biggest military base in Louisiana, constructed in 1941 in case World War II raged on American soil. In October, do attend the West Louisiana Forestry Festival, or perhaps enjoy Leesville’s Mayfest in May.
Saint Francisville
About 35 minutes from Baton Rouge, Saint Francisville contains a plethora of amenities along the Mississippi River. From the Grace Episcopal Church to Angola Museum’s stories about America’s largest maximum-security prison, the Louisiana State Penitentiary, you will find a diverse cast of attractions in Saint Francisville. To learn all about the War of 1812 that affected Louisiana, attend a cannon demonstration at Audubon State Historic Site every July 6.
The Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site and the Greenwood Plantation may have been filming sites for movies such as “Louisiana,” “North & South,” “GI Joe II,” and “Jeepers Creepers III,” but they also delve into the history of plantations that many African-American enslaved people endured. When it comes to the outdoors, the Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge and Cat Island Cypress are great destinations to go exercising. When it comes to lodgings, the Hotel Francis, St. Francisville Inn, and Hemingbough Guest House are among the finest accommodations you can relax at when vacationing in Saint Francisville.
Morgan City
Morgan City, about 60 miles away from Baton Rouge and Lafayette, can be found “right in the middle of everywhere.” Specifically, you can find it on the banks of the Atchafalaya River, so named from the Attakapas word for “long river.” The town was where the first Tarzan movie was filmed in 1917. On the coast bordering the Gulf of Mexico, one can partake in the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival on Labor Day weekend.
The International Petroleum Museum provides more insight into the significance of black gold to Morgan City. The Great Wall, a flood barrier on the Atchafalaya River, has ensured the regulation of water among other bodies, such as Flat Lake and Lake Palourde, as well as protecting the wildlife at the Atchafalaya Delta Wildlife Management Area and Game Preserve. Morgan City’s contributions to the American Civil War can best be seen at the Union fortress of Fort Starr. More surprises await in the magnificent small town of Morgan City.
Grand Isle
Two hours south of New Orleans, the small town and narrow barrier island of Grand Isle juts out into the Gulf of Mexico. As the “Sportsmen’s Paradise" and one of the most beautiful islands in Louisiana, Grand Isle is the go-to destination for fishing and birdwatching—the latter specifically found at the Grand Isle Birding Trail, which is mainly composed of oak trees. Beachgoers will fall in love with the expansive shoreline of the Grand Isle State Park and Elmer’s Island Beach. Meanwhile, those with tons of energy and stamina can do jumps and other obstacle courses at the Wake Side Cable Park. Those with soother temperaments might enjoy butterflies and Louisiana’s flora at the Butterfly Dome. Come see more from the many barrier islands around Grand Isle that have protected Louisiana’s communities from the worst of hurricanes, and feel safe and sound at Bridge Side Cabins and Marina, Sun & Sand Cabins, or Blue Dolphins Inn & Cottages.
Opelousas
Opelousas—once called Le Poste Des Opelousas in 1720—is an underrated small town riddled with historical and cultural influences on Louisiana’s Acadian, Creole, Zydeco, and Cajun cultures. From local music pioneer Rob Bernard, who improved Swamp Music, to Clifton Chenier, known as the King of Zydeco and who made Opelousas the Zydeco Capital of the World, Opelousas has contributed much to Louisiana as the third oldest settlement in the state.
Travelers can enjoy seasonal walks and treks through the Thistlethwaite State Wildlife Management Area, along the Bayou Teche, or to the relatively close Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge. On January, consider celebrating the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in honor of one of the greatest African-American icons, while from August to September the Original Southwest LA Zydeco Music Festival will show how expertly the citizens of Opelousas perform Zydeco. New sights and sensational events await in the small town of Opelousas.
Bastrop
Approximately 30 miles north of the city of Monroe, the riveting small town of Bastrop is a convenient stopover to a handful of natural parks and scenic locations in Louisiana’s northernmost segment. Named after a nobleman named Felipe Enrique Neri, Baron de Bastrop, in the year 1796, Bastrop has remained the heart of Morehouse Parish with its well-preserved courthouse and other structures.
Of course, the main attractions are landscapes beyond Bastrop. So go sightseeing for Louisiana’s diverse animals at either the Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center or the Georgia Pacific Wildlife Management Area. Meanwhile, the Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge, fed by the Ouachita River, contains plentiful wetlands and forested areas hiding even more of Louisiana’s reclusive and elusive fauna. Tamer and less dense areas near Bastrop include Chemin-A-Haut State Park and Handy Brake National Wildlife Refuge. No time like the present, so get going on your journey through Bastrop’s many scenic features.
Experience the unique Cajun, Acadian, Zydeco, and Creole cultures from these excellent small towns in Louisiana, ranked among US favorites in 2024. With Morgan City’s marshes and swamps, Grand Isle’s beaches and birds, and Saint Francisville’s immersive history and film-worthy locations, travelers will never grow weary and bored from all the memorable treks and trails in Louisiana’s best small towns. Wherever you wish to go and however you intend to satisfy your curiosity about these destinations, be mindful of all the alligators and be respectful of the past and present cultures that have captivated many individuals in Louisiana.
