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When visitors think of Louisiana, New Orleans often comes to mind first. However, Louisiana’s heart and soul lies in towns and small cities. Here are the state’s most beautiful places off the beaten trail.

Breaux Bridge

Breaux Bridge is a small city in the heart of Cajun Country near Lafayette, Louisiana. Known as the ‘Crawfish Capital of the World,’ the city hosts the annual Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival. Acadian settlers, descendants of French colonists who traveled from Canada and made a home in Louisiana, founded Breaux Bridge. Nearly 30 percent of the population speaks French, reflecting the area’s Acadian roots.

Lake Martin near Breaux Bridge in Louisiana, USA

Covington

Covington is a small city nestled at the fork of Tchefuncte River and Bogue Falaya River, across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans. Covington residents have taken great care to preserve the historic downtown streets, which are today lined with boutiques, galleries and restaurants.

Explore the best of Louisiana with these amazing tours and experiences throughout the state.

The quaint streets of Covington, Louisiana

Natchitoches

Natchitoches is the oldest settlement in the Louisiana Purchase area. The small city was established by French colonists in 1714 and named after the Natchitoches Native American tribe. Originally built along the Red River, Natchitoches suffered an economic downturn when the river changed its course. Today, the revitalized city is one of the most popular destinations in Louisiana. It is home to the Natchitoches meat pie and the oldest general store in Louisiana.

The Beau Jardin and Riverwalk in downtown Natchitoches, Louisiana

Grand Isle

Located on a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico, Grand Isle is a small fishing town that has proved resilient despite being battered by hurricanes throughout the years. The tiny town is the setting for The Awakening by Kate Chopin who spent her summers in Grande Isle for many years. The island is full of beautiful beaches, protected as part of Grand Isle State Park.

Explore Grand Isle, as well as other rivers and bayous, with these water tours of Louisiana.

A pelican flying over Grand Isle, Louisiana

St. Francisville

St. Francisville is a small town located within the Baton Rouge metropolitan area. It was established in the early 1800s, and much of the original architecture remains intact. St. Francisville is home to seven historic plantations, all of which are open to the public.

The Rosedown Plantation in St Francisville, Louisiana

St. Martinville

Founded by French explorers in the early 1700s, the small city of St. Martinville is considered the birthplace of Cajun culture. Over the years, more settlers came both from France and Quebec. Today, more than 18 percent of the population speaks French or Louisiana Creole French. St. Martinville’s primary crops are sugar cane and crawfish.

A crawfish boil in St Martinville, Louisiana

Thibodaux

Located along Bayou Lafourche in southern Louisiana, Thibodaux was founded by French settlers in the 1700s. The small city is known for Cajun culture and food specialties such as jambalaya and boudin. Thibodaux is also home to the beautiful St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, a landmark for the area.

Get a real taste of authentic Louisiana cuisine with these delicious food tours.

Thibodaux, Louisiana is famous for its jambalaya among other dishes

Labadieville

Labadieville is a small town in southern Louisiana, named after a French pioneer. The town has a multicultural history, as French, Spanish, and some German explorers originally settled the area. Labadieville is the site of the historic St. Philomena Catholic Church.

Explore the history, customs and traditions of Louisiana with these fascinating cultural tours.

Henderson

Near Lafayette, Louisiana, Henderson is a small town with a large Cajun population. About 37 percent of the population speaks French, including Cajun French, and 13 percent of the population is of Vietnamese descent. Henderson provides some of Louisiana’s best fishing opportunities and is known for delicious seafood.

An airboat on the swamp in Henderson, Louisiana

Opelousas

Opelousas is Louisiana’s third oldest city and calls itself ‘the spice capital of the world’ since famous Creole and Cajun seasonings such as Tony’s Chacheres are produced here. The city is named after the Appalousa Native American tribe and is home to a strong Cajun tradition. Nearly 10 percent of the small city’s population speaks French.
Explore the best places in Louisiana and its surrounding towns with these thrilling day trips.

About the author

Ann Marshall Thomas is a regular contributor to The Culture Trip, writing primarily about New Orleans and the Southern United States. She studied Political and Social Thought at the University of Virginia and lived in Besancon, France after graduation. An explorer at heart, Ann Marshall has traveled throughout North America and Europe, and in parts of South America and Asia. Her favorite cities are Istanbul, Paris, and her home city, New Orleans.

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