11 Things Longtime Louisianians Wish They Could Tell Newcomers

Louisiana has some of the best food in the world, and if you’re a picky eater, you’ll be missing out. Yes, sometimes our food doesn’t look at appetizing, but I promise you, those are the best dishes.

Those little mom-and-pop shops are the best. Those are family recipes, cooked with love, and served with style. Do yourself a favor and seek out the mom-and-pop restaurants in your neighborhood.

I’ve lived here my entire life and every summer I’m still surprised it’s as hot as it is.

Say goodbye to good hair days and learn to embrace the frizz.

Our bayous and swamps are absolutely mesmerizing, and you need to spend some time checking them out. Louisiana has over 20 state parks, so find one near you and go exploring.

It’s just the right thing to do.

Or do the slight head nod gesture. Any type of acknowledgement is fine.

Yes, New Orleans is magical and it’s our biggest tourist attraction, but do some research and explore other parts of the state. Northern Louisiana has a different landscape than southern Louisiana, and you’ll love the rolling hills. Central Louisiana is great for hiking, you can spend days in the Kisatchie National Forest and not even make a dent in the trails there. Southwest Louisiana is wonderful for authentic Cajun/Creole food/culture, Baton Rouge is an amazing city with a bustling nightlife… Do I need to go on? There’s something for everyone in all areas of Louisiana, and you should take the time to explore it all.

Unless you’re referring to the parish, then you’d say "OrLEENZ", but if you’re talking about the city, just go with "New OrLINDZ" I know, I’m sorry, I didn’t make the rules.

I mean, you’ll still see them if you go out to the swampy/marsh areas, but you won’t be seeing them cross the roads… probably.

The food, the football, the culture… We’ll defend it all to the ground.