7 Best Small Towns In Louisiana For A Crowd-Free Summer

Of all the US states with outsized legends, Louisiana sets itself apart. The region known as "The Pelican State" has long offered its melting pot of cultures to the world: from French heritage and jazz music to spicy cuisine and its storm-resilient cultural capital, New Orleans, also called "The Big Easy." But beyond Louisiana's larger cities, like New Orleans or the state capital of Baton Rouge, smaller towns have long welcomed out-of-state visitors. Perched along the Mississippi River, just next to the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America), the state's overlooked towns merit a second look. Towns like the ones below offer a pleasant visit without the summertime crowds. Here are the seven best small towns in Louisiana for a crowd-free summer.

Abbeville

For many, south-central Abbeville is among the most under-appreciated towns in the state. Here is a quaint corner of Cajun country, referring to the cultural mix of French-Canadians — many of them refugees starting from the French and Indian Wars of the mid-18th century — and other local cultures. Originally known as La Chapelle, the town eventually changed its name to Abbeville, which is French for "Abbot's Town," and a reflection of Catholic culture here. These days, Abbeville is a center for production of cotton, rice, and fossil fuels. The town's calendar features the Louisiana Cattle Festival, as well as the Giant Omelette Festival. Take in nearby natural wonders at Palmetto Island State Park, a great warm-weather choice.

Covington

Covington, at the southeast tip of Louisiana, was settled in 1813. The town can redraw its origins to the era of British West Florida, when colonial Britain dominated today's eastern Louisiana. Today's Covington features a clutch of colorful art galleries in its downtown Historic District. More local history lives on at the Covington Trailhead Museum, which honors local history with a short film celebrating the town's accomplishments. Admission is free.

Nature fans should come to Covington for Fairview Riverside State Park, which allows for biking, walking, and more. Cyclists rave about the Tammany Trace Bike Trail, which extends more than 30 miles and gives waterside views of Louisiana's famous sub-tropical scenery. This includes unusual local plant species like elderberry, huckleberry, mulberry, and other types.

Minden

Minden, a town in Louisiana's northwest corner, should entice the out-of-town guest with its natural and cultural offerings. The town's celebrated Main Street provides quaint shopping, dining, and coffee, like the Broken Bean and other options. Outside town, the Germantown Colony Museum, honors the legacies of German immigrants here. The German community helped establish the town in 1836. The town's historic district invites architecture fans to ponder the prosperity that built its Victorian-style houses. The Minden Recreation Complex offers exercise of all kinds — and shelter from the region's infamous summer heat.

For nature, Lake Bistineau is a popular local leisure spot, offering quiet and the classic Spanish moss so common in Southern landscapes. The Caney Lakes Recreation Area is ideal for walking, camping, and fishing.

New Iberia

West of New Orleans, the town of New Iberia bears a name that hints at a lesser-known aspect of Louisiana's immigration story. Newcomers from Spain named their adopted town like the Iberian Peninsula, where the countries of Spain and Portugal are found. The nearby Spanish Lake offers lovely views, and a similar clue about the region's early European residents. More natural beauty awaits at Avery Island, whose Jungle Gardens are both a botanical garden and bird sanctuary. Fun fact: Avery Island is the birthplace of Tabasco brand pepper sauce, the American condiment that some people put on everything.

New Iberia welcomes cultural travelers of all kinds. A former plantation called Shadows-on-the-Teche, which once cultivated sugar cane, is currently a museum. The Bayou Teche Museum shows more local history and the flavor of life that existed here for generations. Like in Minden, New Iberia's Main Street holds out shops, boutiques, and small-town charms of its own.

Plaquemine

In the south-central part of the state, the small town called Plaquemine pays steadfast tribute to its role in the region's industrial development. The Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site offers insight into how the local system of locks, which regulate water flow along man-made canals, set the tempo for boat traffic, and stimulated the economic growth of the region.

Students of religious history will gain new knowledge at the Madonna Chapel, a Catholic shrine for the Biblical figure of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. Some call it "the world's smallest church," which it might be, given its measurements of just 9 feet by 9 feet. Further local history will reward the visitor at the Iberville Museum, which emphasizes the long-gone settlers of the surrounding bayou, or swamplands.

St. Francisville

St. Francisville, in southeast Louisiana, was settled in 1807 at a bend of the Mississippi River. Its abundant natural beauty has been drawing visitors ever since. Animal fans come to experience Cat Island Natural Wildlife Refuge, as well as the Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area, both ideal visits in warmer weather. Culture aficionados tour the restored local plantations. Among the town's more unusual examples of Louisiana stately homes, the Wolf-Schlessinger House was once the home of German Jewish immigrants fleeing persecution in Europe during the late 19th century. The house is now the St. Francisville Inn, a bed-and-breakfast that allows guests to stay in a refined environment that reflects Louisiana's historical role as a place of welcome.

Thibodaux

Southwest of New Orleans, the small town of Thibodaux holds a big reputation as a food destination. The town operates a number of produce markets, and Spahr's Seafood Downtown, a beloved local institution, serves up Cajun classics. Also in town is Big Mike's BBQ Smokehouse, a temple to barbecue, baked beans, and other elements of Southern smokehouse traditions.

Thibodaux's natural attractions are equally interesting. The Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center, which is part of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, honors Cajun culture, and helps preserve it for future generations of locals and visitors. The town is likewise a destination for Zydeco music, a style associated with Cajun culture, whose foot-stomping rhythms accompanied dancing and other social gatherings traditional to this part of Louisiana.

A Blissful Summer Visit Awaits In Small-Town Louisiana

Places like these show how Louisiana, beyond its famous cities, might just show its best features through small-town life and culture. Cajun food and rhythms simmer on in destinations as diverse, and beautiful, as Abbeville and Thibodaux. Covington and New Iberia offer clues to the state's histories as a British and Spanish colony, amid its French and, finally, American chapters. Plaquemine's tiny Madonna Chapel is a fun detour for a selfie or two, while in St. Francisville, Jewish and other legacies confirm just how rich the state's cultural backgrounds really are. In summer or year-round, Louisiana's finest features will charm the visitor willing to seek out the state's crowd-free smaller towns.