10 Nicest Small Towns In Louisiana
Abita Springs has been putting up guests since the Long Branch hotel opened in 1880. Breaux Bridge throws its Crawfish Festival for neighbors and newcomers every May, a tradition dating back to 1960. Donaldsonville preserves the stories of the River Parishes at the River Road African American Museum. Between festivals and museums, you can watch alligator feedings in Natchitoches or spot nesting pelicans off Grand Isle. These ten towns offer some of the most welcoming experiences in Louisiana.
Natchitoches
As the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase, Natchitoches' views of the Cane River region and downtown architecture are the beating heart of the city's art scene. Gator Country Alligator Park, a seven-acre wildlife park with over 250 American alligators, reveals fascinating facts about the creatures' behavior and habitat with a petting zoo, live feeding demos, and a reptile exhibit. Exploring more of the wildlife in the Cane River Lake is as simple as cruising down the water on the Cane River Queen Riverboat to enjoy the views and sounds.
Downtown views are just as inviting as the waterfront views. As you discover Natchitoches' historic downtown area, where the businesses on Front Street sit on the city's brick-paved sidewalks, you'll appreciate the historic Southern architecture. You can purchase a beautiful keepsake of your own at the Natchitoches Art Guild and Gallery, also located on Front Street. The gallery displays and sells pieces from regional artists, as well as hosting annual events such as Art Along the Bricks in the spring.
Breaux Bridge
If you find seafood boils irresistible, you will want to stop by the city of Breaux Bridge, named the "Crawfish Capital of the World" in 1959. America's largest freshwater swamp is located nearby and is known as the Atchafalaya Basin. Over 100 species of aquatic wildlife reside in the river swamp surrounded by the cypress forest, and excursions like the Atchafalaya Basin Landing & Swamp Tours allow you to watch the bird, fish, and reptile wildlife. Seafood has always been essential to this city located along the Bayou Teche, where crawfish etouffee is said to have been created. To get a steaming serving of fresh local crawfish, stay for the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival. The annual May festival has brought crowds together with authentic Cajun music and heritage since 1960. You will get your fill of crawfish prepared in a variety of traditional meals and at the beloved crawfish-eating contest.
To claim your own piece of Breaux Bridge culture, the downtown area is home to a number of shops that give the city a unique identity. In the Lagniappe Antique Mall, dealers from across the Southern region come together at the 17,000-square-foot marketplace to sell antiques. You will feel like you're transported back in time on the showroom floor, with shelves lined with vintage glassware, clothing and trinkets.
New Iberia
The Bayou Teche also stretches into New Iberia. Located on Main Street, the Bayou Teche Museum educates guests on the city's history. Exhibits trace the story of the Teche region, covering its importance during the Civil War and the Mardi Gras celebrations of the past. Thanks to this legacy, the city embraces the motto "Joie de Vivre," or "joy of life," in their lively downtown. Nowhere is this seen better than at the annual Bayou Teche Fest, which brings local vendors and families together in a celebration of the region. In honor of the snaking, 125-mile waterway, wooden boats are a feature of the festival.
Authentic and famous local flavors are available year-round in Iberia Parish. Near the city is Avery Island, famous for being the origin of Tabasco sauce. A trip to the island is where you can experience the TABASCO Brand Museum and dine at Restaurant 1868 for a characteristically spicy Cajun dish. Also on Avery Island is the Jungle Gardens, full of diverse botanical and animal wildlife on over 170 acres, which opened to the public in 1935.
St. Francisville
St. Francisville carries on the unique celebrations in its downtown area. The Arts for All of St. Francisville organization stages the annual Yellow Leaf Arts Festival for families in October, with local artists gathering for family-friendly events and artist meetups. If you're feeling inspired, the Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area is a top choice for hikers and wildlife watchers. The variety of bird and plant species in the hardwood forests, such as the Cooper's hawk, as well as the rugged hills, are favorites for photographers hoping to capture the natural beauty of St. Francisville. For a crash course on local history, the Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site provides educational tours. The house and formal gardens have been restored to their original state to allow guests to fully grasp the gravity of the plantation's legacy.
Abita Springs
Abita Springs opened its first major resort, the Long Branch, in 1880, so it has a long reputation for welcoming visitors. A good starting point for the town's history is the Abita Springs Trailhead Museum. Despite being a single-room museum, it is packed with town culture and history preserved for visitors and residents alike. At the Trailhead, you can also stop by the Abita Springs Art and Farmers Market on Sundays. Stalls are abundant with locally sourced poultry, produce and seafood. Craftsmen are also on hand to share their handmade creations.
Another outdoor hot spot is the Tammany Trace. What was once a railroad corridor that connected multiple towns by train was transformed into a trail popular with hikers and bikers.
Covington
The Tammany Trace also connects to another city on Louisiana's Northshore, Covington. If you discover that nature watching down south is your ideal activity, then the Blue Swamp Creek Nature Trail is a destination you will not want to skip. Walk alongside Louisiana wetlands to see the native trees and greenery of the Blue Swamp, where native savanna vegetation like longleaf pines makes up the landscape.
There are more opportunities for sightseeing in the downtown area teeming with art and history. Several city blocks are transformed into the Three Rivers Art Festival in the fall. Roam around 200 artists' booths presenting artworks crafted in a variety of mediums down Columbia Street. Also downtown is the historic H.J. Smith & Sons General Store and Museum. The hybrid store and museum has been family-run since 1876, selling lumber and hardware while displaying artifacts, including a hand-operated washing machine made of wood.
Thibodaux
Located along the Bayou Lafourche, Thibodaux is a place to absorb Cajun culture. The communities that settled along the bayous created their own rich cultures, which are preserved today thanks to institutions like the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center. You are welcome to learn more about the Acadian culture by watching the center's short film and immersing yourself in the special exhibits. A relaxing boat tour down the Bayou Lafourche to the E.D. White Historic Site emphasizes how essential the waterway was in connecting Southern communities.
Downtown Thibodaux buzzes with excitement when the city kicks off the Thibodeauxville Fall Festival. Artists, musicians and families gather downtown to enjoy the rubber duck race down the bayou. On a night out, you will want to explore the businesses that comprise Thibodaux's historic downtown streets. Fremin's Restaurant occupies the former Roth Drugstore building constructed in 1878 and continues to honor the building's legacy of serving the community with a menu full of local flavors.
Minden
Minden is a city bursting with Louisiana culture and scenery. Lake Bistineau State Park is a great source of nature watching. The park grounds are replete with wildlife, including a forest of cypress and tupelo trees. For a relaxing day on the water, anglers have a range of fish to catch, including bluegill and yellow bass. Picnicking and ambling down one of the park's trails is another avenue to appreciate the views the park has to offer.
Food and festivals are also an important part of Minden's reputation for Southern hospitality. Crawfish Hole #2, the family-run offshoot of the original Crawfish Hole in Natchitoches, serves the Minden community Cajun Creole plates and catfish dishes for a helping of cultural cuisine. Another draw to the town's culture is the annual Minden Mardi Gras Fasching Parade. The festival is a blend of German Fasching festivals and Louisiana Mardi Gras celebrations complete with vibrant floats and pageantry in downtown Minden to commemorate the season.
Donaldsonville
Founded in 1806, Donaldsonville's historic landmarks and businesses in the downtown area preserve the community's legacy. The River Road African American Museum is a must-see deep dive into the town's regional history. Since 1994, the museum's exhibits detail the rich entrepreneurial, political and innovative lives of the local Black community in the River Parishes. Crescent Park is also a window into history. While today the waterfront park is a popular place to picnic along the Mississippi River, it served as a welcoming spot for travelers arriving in the river town in the 1800s.
Downtown is also full of Southern flavors. The Grapevine Café and Gallery brings together the art of Cajun cooking and a curated exhibit under one roof. Like many destinations in Donaldsonville, the restaurant's restored 1920s-era building is a window into the Donaldsonville of the past.
Grand Isle
Grand Isle describes itself as a "sportsman's paradise" for the incredible abundance of sea life that fishermen flock to the town to catch. The opportunity to catch more than 280 species of fish beckons eager recreationists to fishing excursions and prime onshore locations. Grand Isle State Park is a popular spot for visitors looking to head up trails seeking an outdoor adventure, with campsites, beaches on the Gulf of Mexico, and fishermen casting their lines on the 400-foot pier to catch speckled trout. The trip to the coastal community is complete with a meal at one of the various seafood businesses that will satisfy a fisherman's appetite, like the shrimp and shellfish offerings at Kim Chauvin's Seafood Company. To observe undisturbed wildlife, head over to Queen Bess Island, a refuge for regional bird species. The island spans 37 acres and supports more than 4,400 nests each year as a breeding ground for brown pelicans, tri-colored herons and more.
Where The Welcome Never Closes
The hospitality in these towns is built on institutions that never stopped serving their neighbors. H.J. Smith & Sons has kept its Covington storefront open since 1876, and Fremin's feeds Thibodaux from a corner building that has stood since 1878. Festivals carry that same spirit outdoors each year, sending rubber ducks down Bayou Lafourche in Thibodaux each fall and Fasching floats through downtown Minden at Mardi Gras. In towns like these, a visitor rarely stays a stranger for long.
