Louisiana Town Earns ‘Most Picturesque’ Honors

Louisiana is a land of photo opportunities if you ask me. Almost everywhere I point my camera there seems to be an image worthy of capture for enjoyment at a later date. But if we're being honest, most of the snaps I like to take and save are of our amazing natural scenery. But there is something to be said for the unique and picturesque charm of some of our smaller communities as well.

The publication and website NCTRAVELGUIDES recently disclosed the results of a project conducted by members of their team. The project was to list and rank the Top 120 Most Picturesque Small Towns in America. I won't argue with the town they chose at the top of the list, Fredricksburg, Texas. It's truly a charming moment in time when you have a moment to spare there.

The number three choice on the list, Orange Beach, Alabama is another favorite that's enjoyed by Louisiana travelers too. Seaside Florida also made the list and no, I can't argue with that choice either. And, despite my Starkville Mississippi upbringing, I won't even argue with the inclusion of Oxford Mississippi as the number 25 entry on the list. (It's a State/Ole Miss thing, if you ain't from the South you won't get it).

But where I do take exception to the NCTRAVELGUIDES ranking is the fact that they only found one small town in Louisiana that was worthy of making their Top 120 list. Of all the amazing small towns we have in Louisiana, you guys only found one?

The survey on the NCTRAVELGUIDES website says the criteria for choosing towns for the list started with a comparison of 500 small communities around the nation. Those compiling the data looked at search trends, popularity with photographers, and popularity for photography with the general public to whittle the number of towns down from 500 to 120.

Yet, the old-world charm of Natchitoches didn't make the cut. The iconic crawfish capital of the world Breaux Bridge didn't make the cut. The peaceful sanctuary of Magdalen Square and Abbeville is not good enough for NCTRAVELGUIDES. Y'all, they left off Grand Isles, Saint Martinville, Abita Springs, and even the quaint quietness of Saint Francisville. Oh, wait, they got ghosts. 

What is the Only Louisiana Town to Make the TOP 120 List of Most Picturesque Small Towns in America?

Covington, Louisiana is the choice of the NCTRAVELGUIDES survey. Really, Covington, you say? Okay, I get it, kind of. Covington does have its moments but is it really more picturesque than Saint Francisville or Grand Isle?

I guess that choice is in the eye of the beholder so while I don't agree with the ranking and the towns left off the ranking I still do have a bit of a bone to pick with NCTRAVELGUIDES. That bone is this, you only found one town in Louisiana worthy of your list? And you ranked that town at number 91? I guess that's what you get when you choose "picturesque" based on "computer data".

Regardless, I will give the NCTRAVELGUIDES kudos for shining the spotlight on some of our nation's true treasures, the smaller communities that haven't become homogenized by mainstream corporate America. It's good to see that places where a friendly smile and locally owned businesses thrive in the harsh reality of today's modern economic climate.

So, thanks for offering us 120 different reasons to get off the Interstate and take the backroads or state highways to a different place in time where the pace of life seems to be slower and the vibe better.