Setting Up Camp In St. Martin

What better way to really get a chance to know the real Sportsman’s Paradise than by setting up camp and staying for a few days? Around St. Martin parish, even the great outdoors seems to extend some of that well-known Southern hospitality. Nature-lovers can easily find plenty of room to stretch out and enjoy views like no other, entertainment most every day, and of course local company—if you don’t mind gators! (We’re kidding. Mostly.)

There’s ample opportunity around to get up close and personal with the unique flora and fauna of South Louisiana. Bring the whole family out for a stroll through Cypress Island Preserve, and don’t forget your binoculars! The Preserve is one of the premiere birdwatching destinations in the South, especially in the spring, when all manner of waterfowl come to nest and the migrating songbirds are all a-flutter.

Don’t pitch your tent yet, though! For a true Cajun country experience, you have to get yourself out on that water. Rent a canoe and glide through the mysterious channels of the Atchafalaya Basin and Bayou Teche, or maybe a rip-roaring airboat tour is more your speed? Either way, there’s plenty of waterways in St. Martin to explore, and plenty of fish to catch while you’re at it--the local sac-a-lait and channel catfish fry up real nice.

Once you’re ready to settle in, you could just sling a hammock between two of the area’s ubiquitous cypress trees, but don’t worry if you’re less inclined to rough it. Stay on the water overnight courtesy of Houseboat Adventures, or set up your base camp with more amenities by parking your RV at Poche’s Fish-n-Camp (with five stocked ponds on site) or Cajun Palms RV resort (pools and a tiki bar). Whichever you choose, feel free to kick back, stay awhile, and feel the heartbeat of Acadiana.