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Unwind Amid the Tranquil Beauty of Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou

Just 35 miles south of New Orleans, Lafourche Parish offers an unapologetically exuberant take on Cajun culture

Escaping “down the bayou” to Lafourche Parish is a genuine adventure indeed—one that welcomes visitors with natural beauty, unforgettable cuisine, and a storied history. Friendly people extend warm greetings as guests ease into this wild wonderland and say goodbye to everyday stress.

Bayou Lafourche: Louisiana's Defining Waterway

Meandering through Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou is its defining waterway, historic Bayou Lafourche, which links together a constellation of distinct small towns on its way to the Gulf of Mexico. It was along this secluded bayou that Acadian settlers carved out a new way of life. By its banks, beneath its spreading live oaks, and in its food and music, those traditions are still easy to find today.

First stop along the bayou is Thibodaux, the parish seat and home to Nicholls State University, numerous historic and cultural sites, and a thriving downtown thick with local eateries and shops. Continue along Highway 1 and you’ll come to Raceland, home to Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Welcome Center, and Lockport, where you can get to grips with the swamp from the dry-footed comfort of a 440-foot wetlands boardwalk. In the town of Larose, meet friendly folks and experience one of Louisiana’s biggest free food festivals, the French Food Festival, held every October.

Continuing down Highway 1, hugging the bayou, and you’ll be entering one of the nation’s finest recreational fishing areas. Communities like Golden Meadow and Leeville give visitors easy access to saltwater marshes, as well comfortable lodges and accommodations to refresh and compare catches between outings. And at Port Fourchon, witness where Bayou Lafourche finally empties into the gulf, in a community known for its rich sport fishing and wild coastal beauty.

With a fascinating history, authentic cuisine, outdoor activities, and welcoming residents, Lafourche Parish offers a one-of-a-kind escape, that will make the big-city grind seem like a distant memory.

See more for yourself through this new video series and plan your visit today.