The Cajun Coast

Make the most of St. Mary Parish this summer, from a month of local merchants in May to Cooking on the Coast this June.

Sponsored by the Louisiana Office of Tourism

Though it’s just a ninety-minute drive from New Orleans, Lafayette, and Baton Rouge, St. Mary Parish feels worlds away from dense urban life. Located along Louisiana’s central coastline, the destination is a repose of natural beauty and historic small town charm in the heart of the Atchafalaya Basin. This summer is the perfect time to visit, thanks to a few newly developed campaigns from the Cajun Coast Visitors & Convention Bureau.  

Bring on Bayou Shopping Days

All month long Bayou Shopping Days will take over the Main Street districts of Morgan City, Berwick, Patterson, and Franklin. Shop small among the twenty-seven participating retailers along the Cajun Coast for a chance to win the grand prize of $500 in gift certificates. Here’s the scoop: get your official Shopping Days Promotion passport, either at any of the participating storefronts, or by downloading online here. Every $10 you spend earns you another stamp on your passport, and you can get up to two stamps at each shop. Once you collect fifteen stamps from eight or more locations, send in your passport to be entered into the drawing. The winner will be announced on June 14.

And here’s the kicker: despite the name, Bayou Shopping Days isn't just a shopping spree; local businesses will also be hosting special events throughout the month to encourage collective participation. From yoga at the lake to painting classes, pop-ups, and downtown block parties, there’s something for the whole community, and everyone's invited. 

A Little Lagniappe

Make the most of your time on The Cajun Coast by taking advantage of the region's myriad of recreational excursions and entertainment on and off the waterways. Cruise along the Bayou Teche Scenic Byway for incredible views of its one hundred and twenty-five miles of pristine wetlands, or set out on a swamp tour in the Atchafalaya Basin and get eye-to-eye with wading wildlife. Plus, with its low-lying landscape, kayakers and canoers will find a slew of paddling trails (over two hundred and fifty miles' worth!) to get lost in. For fishermen, the Cajun Coast offers Louisiana’s best all in one convenient locale—anglers can take their pick of casting in freshwater, saltwater, brackish, and offshore. 

In Patterson, golfers will find it’s par for the course to take the time to tee up at the Atchafalaya Course, which—with its lush Basin vistas—is one of Louisiana’s must-play greens. Or if you’re feeling lucky, try your betting hand at either of St. Mary’s gaming houses, Cypress Bayou Casino Hotel in Charenton or the Amelia Belle Casino. Though not for the easily spooked or faint of heart, there's even an Overnight Ghost Tour in Franklin, where “the afterlife is more active than the nightlife.” You’ll explore the bygone Bayou Teche town’s haunted history—and investigate possible paranormal activity—all on foot. 

Coming Soon: What's Cooking on the Coast

The start of June calls for the kickoff of the parish’s first ever Restaurant Month, What’s Cooking on the Coast, to celebrate the best Cajun and Creole contenders the coast has to offer all month long. With each St. Mary municipality allocated a weekend to showcase its local culinary scene, diners will find lots of lunch and dinner specials as well as menu adaptations, from creative fresh-off-the-dock seafood dishes, to classic po-boys and plate lunches, to made-to-order BBQ meats and more. For more information, lodging discounts, and other can’t-miss outings, head to cajuncoast.com.