Woman on airboat swamp tour in Louisiana bayou watching an alligator near cypress trees

🌿 Experiences

Things To Do
in Louisiana

Adventure, culture, nature, and nightlife — Louisiana packs more experiences per square mile than almost anywhere on earth.

Filter by Interest

Airboat swamp tour in Louisiana bayou with cypress trees and alligator in water Top Pick

Adventure

Airboat Swamp Tours

Glide through cypress forests at speed on an airboat, spotting alligators, herons, and otters in the wild. Depart from New Orleans, Houma, or Breaux Bridge.

⏱ 2–3 hrs 💰 $25–$55 Year-round

Book through: official tour operators or Viator.

Louisiana bayou at sunset perfect for kayaking Scenic

Water Sports

Bayou Kayaking & Canoeing

Paddle silently through ancient bayous at your own pace. Atchafalaya Basin, Bayou Teche, and Lake Martin all offer guided kayak tours.

⏱ Half/Full day 💰 $45–$120 Best: Oct–Apr
Cypress trees reflected in bayou water perfect for birdwatching

Nature

Birding & Wildlife Watching

Louisiana is on the Mississippi Flyway — one of the great bird migration routes. 470+ species recorded. Grand Isle, Sabine NWR, and Atchafalaya Basin are top spots.

🦅 470+ species Best: Mar–May

Recreation

🎣 Freshwater & Saltwater Fishing

Louisiana is a world-class fishing destination. Redfish, speckled trout, largemouth bass, and alligator gar in abundance. Charter boats depart from Venice (offshore), Houma, and Morgan City.

License Required Year-round

Hiking

🥾 Hiking Trails

Kisatchie National Forest offers 100+ miles of trails in North Louisiana. Chicot State Park has beautiful lakeside trails. Fontainebleau State Park on Lake Pontchartrain is perfect for families.

Many free Best: Oct–Apr
New Orleans jazz street scene Bourbon Street at night Must-Do

Music

Live Jazz & Blues

New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz. Frenchmen Street's three-block strip has the best live music in the world every single night. Skip Bourbon Street; this is the real deal.

🎷 Spotted Cat, Frenchmen, and Spotted Cat Music Club are top venues.

Mardi Gras parade with colorful float in New Orleans

Culture

Mardi Gras Celebrations

Experience the world's greatest festival. The parade season runs January through Fat Tuesday. Each neighbourhood krewe parade has its own character — from family-friendly floats to elaborate masked balls.

Cajun dancers at a zydeco dance hall in Lafayette Louisiana

Cajun Culture

Zydeco & Cajun Dancing

Lafayette's dance halls are pure joy — live accordion, rubboard, and fiddle, with dancers of all ages spinning on wooden floors. Randol's Restaurant and Blue Moon Saloon are classics.

Oak Alley Plantation with live oak alley Historic

History

Plantation Tours

The Great River Road is lined with antebellum plantation estates. Oak Alley, Whitney (focused on enslaved history), and Houmas House are unmissable.

Museum

🏛️ National WWII Museum

Rated #1 attraction in the entire USA on TripAdvisor multiple years running. Located in New Orleans. A staggering, emotionally powerful tribute to the people who fought WWII. Plan a full day.

Heritage

📜 Civil Rights History

New Orleans played a crucial role in Civil Rights history. Visit the Tremé neighbourhood (oldest Black neighbourhood in America), the Backstreet Cultural Museum, and Dillard University.

Family

🦁 Audubon Zoo & Aquarium

New Orleans' Audubon Zoo is one of the top zoos in the nation, with White alligators, white tigers, and a spectacular Louisiana swamp exhibit. The Aquarium of the Americas is equally impressive.

Family

🐯 Mike the Tiger at LSU

Visit the world's most famous live mascot at his 15,000 sq ft on-campus habitat at LSU in Baton Rouge. Free and open to the public — kids absolutely love it.

Family

🚢 Steamboat Natchez

Cruise the Mississippi River on the authentic steam-powered Steamboat Natchez from New Orleans' French Quarter. Two-hour jazz cruises with dinner options. Perfect for all ages.

Vibrant New Orleans Bourbon Street nightlife Iconic

Nightlife

Bourbon Street & French Quarter

New Orleans never sleeps. Bourbon Street is the famous party strip, but Frenchmen Street, Magazine Street bars, and the Marigny neighbourhood offer more sophisticated evenings.

Entertainment

🎰 Casino Culture

Harrah's New Orleans is the largest land-based casino in the US Gulf South. Boomtown Casino and Belle of Baton Rouge offer gaming on the river. Riverboat casinos abound on the Mississippi.

Events

🍸 Cocktail Culture

New Orleans invented the cocktail. The Sazerac (world's first cocktail), Milk Punch at Brennan's, and Hurricanes at Pat O'Brien's are essential drinking experiences. Visit the Sazerac House museum, free admission.

Safety & Practical Tips

🌡️ Heat & Humidity

Louisiana summers are brutal — routinely 95°F+ with 90%+ humidity. Stay hydrated, wear sunscreen (SPF 50+), take breaks in air conditioning, and schedule outdoor activities for early morning or evening.

🦟 Mosquitoes & Insects

Bring DEET-based insect repellent, especially for swamp tours and outdoor activities. Mosquitoes are abundant from April–November. Long sleeves at dawn/dusk help significantly.

🐊 Alligator Safety

Never approach, feed, or harass alligators — it's illegal and dangerous. Alligators are present in virtually all natural water bodies in Louisiana. Keep children and pets away from water's edge.

⚠️ Hurricane Season (Jun–Nov)

Monitor the National Hurricane Center. Have evacuation routes planned. Follow all official evacuation orders immediately if issued. Check our hurricane guide before travel.

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