My Louisiana Summer Bucket List
Summer is right around the corner, and every year I always say I am going to expand my horizons, and take road trips that are fun and unique, but also close to home. We have so many incredible and interesting people, places and things to do here! So, even though I've done a couple of these things before, they are still on my bucket list for late spring / summer in Acadiana. Let me know what your bucket list adventures look like this year, y'all!
- Tabasco/ Avery Island - last year Tabasco did a multi million dollar renovation, and upgraded their already awesome tours of the plant on Avery Island. This place is so much fun, and I can't wait to see the new museum and new tour!
- Atchafalaya Basin / National Heritage Area - Since we are known as the Sportsman's Paradise, it would be nice to take a ride through our beautiful Atchafalaya Basin, which is the biggest river swamp in America. It's natural beauty would be perfect to fish in, or take a swamp tour. I'm not brave enough to go alligator fishing, but it would be (kinda) fun to see one in their natural habitat
- Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World - this seems like such a touristy thing to do, but I've always wanted to go! You can see Mardi Gras floats being made, meet the artists who design them, and even try on costumes. Located next to the Ernest Morial Convention Center in New Orleans
- Deep Sea Fishing or Shrimp Boat Trolling - either one of these would be great, and I know I that there are plenty of charters out of Grand Isle. I've never been on a shrimp boat either, but these are things that are oh so Louisiana, and I want to try them! I always buy my shrimp off the boats in Delcambre, and those folks are good, hard working people.
- Go on the Louisiana Po Boy, Boudin, and Culinary Trails - stopping at all of the locally owned places to get food and drinks unique to Louisiana sounds heavenly
- Pick Your Own Farms - there are a ton of places to pick seasonal fruits and vegetables here in Louisiana. My favorite is usually blueberries, which are available in June and July
- Travel the River Road - Louisiana has a long history of preserving architectural buildings, and the antebellum homes and historic sites along the Mississippi River are no exception. These centuries old buildings are also the frequent sites of movie and tv series being filmed here. Oak Alley, Laura, San Francisco, and Destrehan Plantations are some of my favorites. You can visit them for a tour, or maybe even go to one of the events they have on the grounds during the summer. Several of them also hold annual arts and crafts festivals on the beautiful and lush grounds.
- Go to a Summer Festival - Bayou Country Superfest tops my list, but there are a lot to choose from! Fourth of July festivities in Erath are legendary, and they have been celebrating for almost 80 years. I also love Satchmo Summerfest in New Orleans
- Get a Season Pass to Blue Bayou / Dixie Landing - not only getting to swim at the park every day, but ride the rides, and see the outstanding outdoor concerts they have throughout the summer on Saturday nights