8 Epic Adventures Every Louisianian Must Take In 2018

This 150-acre nature park located in Lafayette is perfect for a day trip. Their mission is to teach about the importance of conserving our natural habitats that are crucial to our ecosystems. There are six miles of nature trails to explore that will lead you along the Vermilion River, and they also have special events and night hikes throughout the year. They’re located at 1205 E. Alexander Street Lafayette, LA 70501 and you can read more about the Acadiana Park Nature Station in our previous article here.

There’s nothing better than a good bowl of gumbo on a cold winter day. Many restaurants claim to have the best gumbo in the state, but we’ll let you be the judge. Click here to read our gumbo trail article to get a jump start on the best restaurants to visit on your road trip.

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar is the oldest building in the country currently being used as a bar. Built between 1722 and 1732, the building is believed to have been used by the infamous Jean and Pierre Lafitte as their home base to run their smuggling operation. Staff and guests have reported seeing apparitions, disembodied voices, and creepy glowing eyes coming from the fireplace. You can find it at 941 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA 70116. Read more about the history of this bar in our previous article here.

EPIC is an outdoor recreation center in Lafayette with attractions like zip-lines bungee trampolines, archery targets, and more. One of their most popular attractions is an impressive 40-foot slide that will propel you into the air, landing safely on an airbag. You can find EPIC at 130 North Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Scott, LA 70583. Learn more about EPIC in our previous article here.

If a houseboat isn’t for you, consider a cabin overlooking the water. Several state parks have cozy cabins you can rent and there are many independently owned places where you can rent a cabin to make your own memories with friends or family. Here are some of our favorites.

There’s nothing quite like spending a day on the bayou. Swamp tours are fun for the whole family and you’ll have an amazing time flying through the bayous and swamps learning about the area from some knowledgeable guides that grew up in the area. Click here to find a tour near you.