7 Best Louisiana Towns For A Weekend Trip
Defined by thousands of miles of slow-moving, marshy waterways and swamps, Louisiana is a five-sense experience with a blend of cultures, Cajun cuisine, and exemplary Southern hospitality. The southern state along the Gulf Coast of the US even boasts the longest bridge over water in the US, spanning Lake Pontchartrain. The "North Shore" towns offer access to this 630-square-mile estuary, inland bay, or tidal lagoon connected to the Gulf of Mexico, including lake access from Covington's Columbia Street Landing. Just 20 minutes from Lafayette, Breaux Bridge shines through its crawfish farming and gastronomy, where crawfish étouffée was created, and restaurants first offered crawfish openly on their menus. No matter what you're craving from a weekend trip, Louisiana will serve it to you in style!
Breaux Bridge
Breaux Bridge is top-ranking among seafood lovers, extending its unique flavors into Cajun cuisine, Zydeco music, and top-rated stays like the Country Charm Bed & Breakfast. Known as the Crawfish Capital of the World, the town retains a humble feel, with a bustling, walkable downtown for shopping and dining. Bayou Teche is a popular spot for paddling for the public, and there's a full-service boat launch at Parc des Ponts , plus local outfitters for tours and rentals.
There's no other in the state like the happening Crawfish Festival annually over the May long weekend since the town's centennial celebration in 1959. Plan now to get your fill of the festive feel, étoufféed crawfish, and sunny days connecting with local fauna and flora south of town on Lake Martin with a loop trail, swamp tours, and a lakefront B&B. After exploring the hardwoods and swamps of the 9,500-acre Cypress Island Preserve alongside a boardwalk, stay shoreside for sunset photography.
Covington
Covington sits on the fork of the Bogue Falaya and Tchefuncte River, receiving endless praise for its gastronomy, the annual Three Rivers Arts Festival, and a rail trail downtown, connecting several towns through Louisiana nature via verdant miles for hiking and biking. Dating from 1907, the Southern Hotel is a polished piece of architecture with palm trees out front. Nearby, enjoy the top-rated Marianne Angeli Rodriguez Gallery, several other B&Bs, boutiques, and historic homes.
The Bogue Falaya River flows languidly through the tree-lined streets of the historic district and the Bogue Falaya Wayside Park, a secluded riverfront with oak trees and picnic amenities, before it spills into Lake Pontchartrain south of town. Thanks to the lush natural surroundings at the crossroads of French-Catholic and Anglo-Protestant traditions, over two dozen films were set in the area in recent decades. Finally, the scenic 31-mile Tammany Trace is ideal for biking, walking, and rollerblading.
Delcambre
Just half an hour from Lafayette, this small town is a major hub for harvesting seafood, particularly shrimp, and the annual Delcambre Shrimp Festival is an ode to the local industry. Travelers enjoy public docks and North Pier Marina for boating, fishing, and scenic strolls along the canal. Bayou Carlin is the heart of the area's fresh seafood and rich farmland, flowing south into the gulf and north to Lake Peigneur, just 15 minutes by bike from downtown.
The nearby Rip Van Winkle Gardens features trees and flower arrangements along the lake's eastern shore, Cafe Jefferson, and an on-site B&B. It is an ideal pedaling venture for lunch, photography, and sunset, spending a weekend in a botanical embrace and with peacocks on the property. The town, supplying nearby cities with fresh seafood, is not a restaurant destination per se, but with local seafood and a farmers market, you can even buy directly from the dock before driving home.
Grand Isle
Bookended by miles of pristine natural beaches, Louisiana's only inhabited barrier island emits wild beauty. The state park's breakwater beach to the east offers wildlife and postcard views, from swimming to the 2.5-mile hiking trail and the public fishing pier. Boaters can launch from the marina to the nearby Isle Grand Terre and explore the 19th-century ruins of Fort Livingston. Both Blue Dolphin Inn & Cottages and Bridge Side Cabins and Marina offer comfortable and affordable stays.
Just two hours from New Orleans, Grand Isle blends tropical vibes and heart-stopping sunsets for an authentic bayou escape with saltwater fishing outfitters and top-notch southern hospitality. Whether you're after off-the-beaten-path adventures or the slow-paced rustic charm, find tiny shells and even shark teeth to make a necklace and remember it by. Elmer’s Island Beach features saltwater marsh, coastal dunes, and beaches to the west for sunsets, wading, and shorebirds.
Natchitoches
Founded in 1714 by a French Canadian explorer, Natchitoches (“Nack-a-tish”) was the first permanent European settlement in the territory that became the Louisiana Purchase. The trading post on the Cane River reflects its European influence today through the beautiful Natchitoches National Historic Landmark District, a B&B lover’s dream in the bustling heart of downtown shopping and dining, with a view of the centuries-old architecture of the state's oldest town, the film site for "Steel Magnolias."
The Church Street Inn and Chateau Saint Denis Hotel are both great bets for a weekend stay. You'll have easy access to the central landmarks of the Cane River National Heritage Area, winding the river with historic sites, Creole plantations, and museums along the serene banks, like the replica Fort St. Jean Baptiste, open for tours not far from the original site. Wintertime visitors enjoy holiday shopping along the historic downtown riverbank, reflecting festival lights in the darkening waters.
Ponchatoula
Officially recognized as America's Antique City, this town is known for its strawberry harvest. Under an hour from New Orleans and Baton Rouge, travelers enjoy local farms for U-picking leading up to and during the Strawberry Festival in April. In addition to the plump, juicy berries, the area just northwest of Lake Pontchartrain grows local produce abundantly, with beautiful sites to explore and indulgent eats.
The word "Ponchatoula" was derived from Choctaw Indian words for "hair to hang." Draping Spanish moss on the ancient oak lends a homegrown, cozy feel alongside shops occupying historic buildings downtown with art, antiques, and handcrafted items. Score a well-priced room at the Colonial Inn Hammond, or for something more curated, the Historic Michabelle Inn occupies a grand 1907 Greek Revival mansion near to Zemurray Park, with a play area, a pond, and a gazebo.
St. Francisville
Just 30 miles north of Baton Rouge, St. Francisville is a great day trip to decompress or really unwind on a weekend filled with impressive nature, history, and Southern hospitality along a big bend of the snaking Mississippi River. Just west, the Cat Island Cypress within the Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge is a roughly 1,500-year-old bald cypress. The champion bald cypress holds the record as the largest cypress tree in the US and the largest tree of any species east of the Sierra Nevada.
Hotel Francis is a comfortable stay with an outdoor pool, while the iconic Myrtles offers elegant rooms in an allegedly haunted 1796 plantation home-turned-quaint inn, hand-painted stained glass, a wrap-around front porch, and centuries-old oak trees lining the driveway. Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site is another historic plantation turned museum, featuring 19th-century furnishings and formal gardens with shaded cobblestoned paths in hanging moss and guided tours.
Pick from this ensemble of small towns with endearing personalities for your next Southern escape. From the alluring Grand Isle beaches and birding to the state's oldest town of Natchitoches, the set for Steel Magnolias, each is adamant about bringing joy through nature and creativity for an inspirational escape through delicious food and riveting culture. Louisiana's famous wetlands are as integral to ecology and economy as to culture and tourism, offering riveting bayou charm, with over 400 named bayous shaped by the Mississippi River over thousands of years. The unique geography alongside historic plantations and a mix of cultures appeals to every type of traveler for birding, kayaking, and seafood.
