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A visit, call or e-mail to the Lafourche Parish Visitor Center located on Hwy.1 and U.S.90 along Bayou Lafourche can provide information about things to see and do throughout the area.
The Jean Lafitte National Park Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux tells the story of the Acadians who settled along the bayous and the wetland swamps of southeastern Louisiana, with extensive exhibits and artifacts. Their history, language, music, and architecture are interpreted as well as everyday life among the Acadians of the region, then and now. The Center is open Tuesday - Thursday from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Friday - Sunday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Monday from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.. A musical Cajun Jam Session takes place every Monday evening from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. All musicians and dancers are invited to the impromptu sessions. Anyone aspiring to be a Cajun musician is most welcomed. The Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center is located at 314 St. Mary St. in Thibodaux along the banks of Bayou Lafourche. A spacious boardwalk affords an excellent view of the bayou. Click here for more information and directions. Several large plantations are easily accessible in the area. Madewood Plantation located in Napoleonville on LA. 308 north of Thibodaux, is considered the finest example of a Greek-Revival mansion in the state. Tours are available daily. Other plantations near by are Oak Alley Plantation and Laura Plantation both located on LA. Hwy. 18, north of Thibodaux via LA. Hwy. 20. Oak Alley's quarter mile alley of twenty-eight sheltering oak trees, over 250 years old, still greet you today. Laura is a Creole Plantation and the American home of Br'er Rabbit. Laura is one of the oldest and largest existing plantation complexes on the River Road with 12 historic buildings, including 2 manor houses, slaves quarters and Creole cottages.
Laurel Valley Plantation is the largest surviving 19th and 20th century sugar plantation in the United States. The sugar cane fields, the slaves quarters, and general store featuring local arts and crafts still exist as a tribute to a way of life of the early settlers along Bayou Lafourche. The General Store , located on LA. Hwy. 308 about a mile south of Thibodaux, is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. and weekends 11 a.m.- 5 p.m.. The Center for Traditional Boat Building recently constructed a work area where local boat builders demonstrate their workmanship on scheduled days. For more information call 1-985-447-5216 or click here for details. The
Edward Douglas White Historic Site, located 4 miles north
of Thibodaux on LA. Hwy. 1, features exhibits about the life and
accomplishments of both Governor E.D.White I and U.S. Chief Justice
E.D.White II. The exhibits are contained in an antebellum Creole
cottage which sits on six acres of land dotted with massive old
oak trees, surrounded by sugar cane fields. The grounds are available
for picnics and general recreation. Bus Tours, Senior Groups,
School Groups, etc. are welcome.
Thibodaux
is the parish (county) seat for Lafourche. It is graced by moss-laden
oaks, plantation homes, and lush sugar cane fields. Thibodaux
is a quaint university town which can boast of several clean city
awards. Nicholls State University has provided educational
opportunities to many of the local as well as regional citizens. Local citizens call Nicholls "Harvard on the
Bayou." Click
here to visit the Nicholls State University website In addition to the sugar cane related industries, Thibodaux is quickly becoming a recognized center for excellent health care facilities. New technology, a growing medical staff, and new facilities have made local health care readily available. Its Cajun heritage gives Thibodaux a unique appeal. Many local restaurants serving Cajun as well as regular fare, weekend festivals, Mardi Gras parades, and some of the best outdoor recreation that South Louisiana has to offer is only minutes away.
The Kraemer area, located on LA. Hwy 307, has swamp tours that offer some of the most spectacular scenery of all the Louisiana swamps and bottom lands. The swamp boat guides are experienced alligator hunters who have lived, worked and played in the swamps all their lives. Be sure to bring your camera because all of these tours are sure to be an opportunity to see a lot of wildlife. Religion has always been a very large part of the Acadian's lives, especially the Catholic Church. The small communities along the bayou have nice, large churches which are surrounded by neat well-maintained above-ground cemeteries. St. Mary's Church has a large, neat, well kept cemetery where the first casualty of World War II is entombed.
Bayou Lafourche affords a picturesque scenic drive as it meanders south to the Gulf of Mexico. Driving south through the communities of Raceland, Lockport, Larose, Cut Off, Galliano, Golden Meadow, Leeville, and Fourchon enables a visitor to experience the different lifestyles that make up the Cajun way of life. The bayou itself changes from a lazy, slow moving stream surrounded by sugar cane fields, to a widened, quick, vibrant and busy waterway. Especially noticeable is the increased boat traffic--from offshore oil-related vessels, pleasure crafts, shrimp boats, oyster boats and small mud boats. Click here to visit the Town of Lockport website Bayou
Lafourche meets the Gulf of Mexico at Port Fourchon. Here
the oil and gas industry, recreational and commercial fishermen
work side by side. The Port serves as a terminal for much of the
oil activities in South Louisiana. Supply boats, oil drilling
vessels, oil field personnel, repair docks, and labor crews all
work out of this area. Port Fourchon also is home to many fishing
camps and shore birds, ducks, and other migratory birds finding
food and refuge there.
For
more information, comments or questions please |
2001 Lafourche Parish Tourist Commission®