This Quiet Louisiana City Is Hiding In Plain Sight
Louisiana is in the southern United States and is influenced by a rich mixture of French, Spanish, African American, and Native American heritage. Louisiana has three geographical regions: lowlands, terraces, and hills, accompanied by numerous bayous, which are slow-moving, marshy waterways. Nothing epitomizes Louisiana more than Natchitoches, the oldest permanent settlement in the state, with a history spanning over 300 years. From its historic downtown to its scenic bayou vistas over Cane River Lake, to its easy access to Kisatchie National Forest, this quiet Louisiana city is hiding in plain sight.
National Historic Landmark District
The Natchitoches National Historic Landmark District spans 33 square blocks across downtown Natchitoches. The district is comprised of restaurants and bars, shops and galleries, as well as historical homes and sites. It is also the host to annual festivals and music events within the community. Front Street is at the center of downtown and houses many unique shops and restaurants, such as Louisiana’s oldest general store, Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile. It is known for its old-fashioned service, which includes housewares, hardware, and cookware. Notably, their 1910 cash register is still in working condition and is used daily.
Lasyone’s Meat Pie Restaurant specializes in authentic Louisiana Cajun and Creole cuisine. It is a family-owned and operated restaurant that has been frequented and enjoyed by locals and visitors alike for over 40 years. Although their meat pies made them famous, they also offer several other dishes that contribute to their popularity, including Southern fried catfish and bread pudding.
The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum is the combination of two Louisiana museums: the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, which showcases and celebrates the careers and accolades of Louisiana native athletes, coaches, and sports stars; and the Northwest Louisiana History Museum, which highlights the region’s cultural heritage, early settlement history, and diverse communities that shaped this part of the state. Located in downtown Natchitoches, the museum’s striking louvered copper exterior resembles the shutters of plantation homes. At the same time, its flowing interior walls are designed to mirror the movement of Cane River Lake.
Cane River Lake
Cane River Lake is a 36-mile-long oxbow lake that was formed after the Red River’s course changed in 1836. Today, the river is primarily used for recreation, offering the opportunity to fish all day and then docking at the riverfront in downtown Natchitoches. Campsites, vacation rentals, RV parks, and boat launches are dotted along the river. It is regarded as one of north Louisiana’s secret fishing spots, with popular catches including largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill, and striped bass.
The landscape around the Cane River is filled with colonial forts, plantations, churches, cemeteries, and homes. Melrose on the Cane is a historic house museum located downstream from Natchitoches, but still within Natchitoches Parish. Over 200 years of history await discovery across multiple historic buildings, including a collection of work by Clementine Hunter, a renowned African American folk artist.
Kisatchie National Forest
Kisatchie National Forest spans over 604,000 acres, comprising seven parishes that are separated into five managed units called Ranger Districts. One of these is the Kisatchie Ranger District in Natchitoches Parish, which is accessible from Natchitoches. The district is spread across 102,000 acres of bluffs, byways, and bayous. It offers visitors numerous outdoor recreational opportunities, including 50 miles of multi-use trails for activities such as biking and horseback riding, 12 miles of wilderness hiking trails, and 17 miles of national scenic byway.
In addition to several outdoor recreational opportunities, there are also several day-use areas that offer different amenities, including trails, picnic sites, and water access. The Kisatchie Bayou Recreation Area offers day-use picnicking, swimming, fishing, 20 miles of kayaking or canoeing down Kisatchie Bayou, camping opportunities on the banks of the bayou, and access to a 10.5-mile biking and horseback riding trail.
Louisiana's Hidden City
If you have your heart set on visiting Louisiana and want to stray off the beaten path and avoid the crowds that flock to much larger cities like New Orleans, then Natchitoches may be the place for you. It has everything Louisiana is known for: influences from diverse cultures that extend back hundreds of years, bayou vistas, hidden outdoor spots for premier fishing, and ample opportunities to explore the outdoors. Natchitoches is a prime example of a quiet Louisiana city that is hidden in plain sight, offering everything that people love about Louisiana.
