With the rise of shows like Swamp People on the tube, there’s commensurate interest in all things Cajun – from cuisine, to customs, to the lay of the land. There are a slew of folks down in southern Louisiana willing to show you’re their slice of heaven – from sophisticated, sometimes ghostly, tours of New Orleans to forays out into the bayou.
When you’re planning your next trip to the Big Easy, consider these options:
- Dr. Wagner’s Honey Island Swamp Tours takes you to the kinds of places you’ve probably only seen on TV – into a land of hanging moss, majestic Cyprus, and stealthy river critters.
- Best bring it along your camera and sense of wide-eyed wonder on this one, a half-day photo safari and walking tour of New Orleans. American Photo Safari is the organizer of this adventure, where professional photographers show you how to take better pictures. It’s open to all skill levels.
- Explore mossy, mystic plantations near the city of New Orleans. See the area’s cemeteries as you’ve never seen them before. The guides at Cajun Pride City/Plantation Tours are savvy and simpatico.
- No city on earth is a favored by the supernatural as the Big Easy. Believe it. Voodoo, mysticism and myth all mix down here – and the brew is heady. Haunted History Tours has generated lots of buzz over the years on A&E, The History Channel and other media. Go into this experience with an open mind – or, at the very least, suspend disbelief for a while.
- Get a map of New Orleans from your hotel concierge, lace up your walking shoes and strike out on your own. The Moon Walk down by the river offers easiest access if you’re staying in the French Quarter. It will take you past Jackson Square, the Aquarium of the Americas, and other sites. The Quarter itself can be confusing without that map. Oh, and if you’re heading out in the afternoon, pack an umbrella. The summertime in this city almost always brings a few rainstorms – and they can be formidable.
(Image: prayitno)
