Louisiana RV Camping Offers More Than Just Great Cajun Food

Louisiana camping gives visitors a unique experience to write home about. From the Black Bayou of the north to the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana campgrounds are quite beautiful. The state is commonly called “The Sportsman’s Paradise” and with good reason. Louisiana is a mass of hiking and biking trails, lakes and rivers. It is home to more alligators than any other state in the nation. So don’t be surprised if you see lots of signs to gator attractions as you RV Louisiana.

The northeastern section offers great Louisiana camping. You will discover a wonderful cultural mix with the cuisine as well as the people. It is a tantalizing mix of Crawfish meets Texas Longhorn. The Shreveport/Bossier area is a great place to play, with a multitude of attractions to choose from. The museums, galleries and casinos in the city and the outdoor recreation areas beside the water allow entertainment possibilities that can not be beat. Not far from Shreveport is the Cross Lake. The lake allows fishing, skiing and swimming. Swimmers should be aware that this lake is home to alligators.

Cypress Black Bayou Reservoir is a terrific spot for Louisiana camping. This beautiful lake is surrounded by lush trees and has its own zoo and Nature Center. This is a fun place to take the family. Swimming, boating and fishing are all part of the normal routine here. There are plenty of Louisiana campgrounds near the lake for you to choose from.

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Monroe is located in northeast Louisiana. This beautiful city is full of museums and galleries. The Museum of Natural History Division of Zoology has one of the largest and most complete fish collections in the United States. Tours are available by appointment. This city seems to have a museum for everything from dolls to airplanes. The Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo is a popular family attraction, with over 500 animals from around the world. The zoo features a boat excursion ride and a draft hors-drawn wagon ride. It is even possible to sit on these magnificent Percheron horses for a ride you will always remember.

As you RV Louisiana toward the Gulf of Mexico, visit Cajun country. Lafayette is “The Heart of French Louisiana”. Here you can taste authentic Cajun cuisine and explore a world of festive music and dance. Lafayette is like visiting another country without ever leaving the U.S. The people are friendly and happy to let you share in their French culture. The Mardi Gras celebration is only five days long in Lafayette, culminating the last Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Lafayette has the second most popular Mardi Gras celebration in Louisiana and promises that the five day celebration has all the music, costumes, balls and parades without the big city hassles.

While Louisiana camping around Lafayette there are numerous swamp tours by boat available. If you enjoy art, Lafayette has numerous art galleries to walk through. Another nice attraction in the area is Vermilionville, a recreation of the life of the early French settlers in the late 1700’s to the late 1800’s. This living museum is a great educational experience for the whole family. It includes 18 structures, six of which are original structures.

An RV trip through the southern section of Louisiana would not be complete without a visit to a plantation. The San Francisco Plantation in Garyville has been restored to the time in history that it was most prosperous, just prior to the Civil War. The main house is exquisite. This magnificent plantation gives daily tours. For information and pricing consult the San Francisco Plantation website.

RV Louisiana to New Orleans, there is more here than wild Mardi Gras parties and parades. The City sits on the southern edge of Lake Pontchartrain. Swimming and boating on the lake are permitted however it is recommended that swimmers check the water quality before they go to the lake and it is further recommended that swimmers wait three days before entering the lake after it rains. Rain washes impurities off the land into the lake.

The city has museums and galleries that bring to life the diverse cultures that have built Louisiana. Possibly the most impressive attraction in New Orleans is the Audubon Nature Institute. Visit the Audubon Zoo for a fun filled day to remember. This is one of the top five zoos in the United States. The zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals. They take great pride in the natural habitats they have created to keep the animals comfortable. The zoo even has a white alligator in the Louisiana Swamp exhibit. New Orleans is also home to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas (which is one of the top five aquariums in the U.S.) and the Audubon Insectarium (a one of a kind hands on museum).
New Orleans is famous for their Mardi Gras celebration which starts much earlier than the celebration in Lafayette. It starts in January and to midnight the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. You will find many Louisiana campgrounds around New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.

Louisiana camping is an educational and beautiful vacation. It is as though you are in another country. The diverse cultural heritage has created an environment that is quite unique.

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