Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve and the Barataria Preserve are within easy reach of New Orleans and can be visited in a half day or less. Choose an airboat tour that fits your style, from a slow, sleepy crawl to watch wildlife to a thrilling high-speed ride through cypress swamps. Nature guides onboard point out alligators, turtles, snakes, and other swamp critters.
Explore the history and traditions of the Acadian or Cajun people through exhibits, dioramas, crafts, and live performances at the Acadian Cultural Center in Lafayette, the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center in Eunice, and the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux. History buffs should visit the site of the War of 1812’s Battle of New Orleans at the Chalmette Battlefield and Chalmette National Cemetery.