The Cajun Riviera Is The Perfect Southern Winter Travel Destination

Compared to the rest of the country, Louisiana winters are adorable. We are blessed to have a fairly mild winter across the board, with just a handful of days where we may get a hard freeze. Sometimes, the stars align and parts of the state even see snow, even if it is just a dusting. Well, if you can't hit the slopes this winter, I've got a pretty wonderful alternative. The Cajun Riviera is one of the best winter travel destinations in Louisiana, and it's also one of the most underrated. Here's everything to know about spending a few days along the Gulf Coast in Louisiana.

Nicknamed the “Cajun Riviera,” the stretch of beaches along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana is one of the most underrated places in the entire state.

People often flock over to Alabama or Florida’s beaches without knowing we’ve got our very own coastal beach in our backyard!

This beachfront Vrbo in Louisiana is just the ticket for a long weekend of beach bumming.

It’s located right on the water but still fairly close (one hour) to Lake Charles, just in case you want to explore good ole’ Lake Chuck while you’re in the area. The Creole Nature Trail is absolutely worth working into your vacation, and you’ll pass through a good portion of it on your way to this Vrbo.

The property directly overlooks Little Florida Beach, a hidden gem if there ever was a hidden gem.

It’s about five miles west of the more popular public beach, Holly Beach. If you kept heading east from Holly Beach, you’d run into Rutherford Beach. Both are lovely Louisiana beaches in their own right, but this one is certainly more secluded. There are only 25 homes in the area, so you may even have the beach all to yourself!

There are three bedrooms and two full bathrooms in the rental.

It can sleep up to seven people without ever feeling crowded.

Downstairs, there’s a fish cleaning station and a grill for cooking.

There are also crab nets available for use, and plenty of large gumbo pots for boiling up a fabulous seafood feast.

Louisiana’s beaches are a goldmine for sea shelling. It’s also pretty common to find shark teeth, too.

Keep your eyes peeled during those casual beach strolls!

Nearby, the Peveto Woods provides endless opportunities to do a little birdwatching.

The 40-acre sanctuary is a popular pitstop for migratory birds. As many as two million birds use the sanctuary every year! Keep your eyes peeled for beauties like the rose-breasted grosbeak, cerulean warbler and the hooded oriole. They’re some of my favorites!

At the end of the day, you’ll be treated to a sensational sunset over the water.

Pull up a patch of sand and your favorite beverage and enjoy Mother Nature’s show. You might even get lucky and see some dolphins.

Visit the Vrbo listing to check dates and availability, fire up the group chat, and start planning your winter vacation today!