How to Visit Houma, LA

For most people, a visit to Louisiana means going to New Orleans, but the state of Louisiana has more to offer. You can also find excellent Cajun food, lively Cajun dance halls, charter fishing, swamp tours, breathtaking birding trails and sanctuaries and an exotic wildlife park in Houma. The home to the fictional Swamp Thing comic book character is also known for its Mardi Gras celebrations and its rich Cajun culture. Many of Houma's residents still make their living as their ancestors did, as shrimpers, oystermen, crabbers, fishermen and trappers. Houma's unique brand of Cajun living is only 59 miles, or an hour and 15 minutes' drive, from New Orleans.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Fly into the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY). Booking a flight into the large New Orleans airport will be cheaper than flying into Baton Rouge. Plus, your drive will be shorter. Make sure you rent a car along with your flight. Many online booking websites offer specials if you book your flight and car together.

2. Decide where you want to stay in Houma. The city has national chain hotels and motels such as Best Western, Comfort Inn, Day's Inn, Holiday Inn, Howard Johnson, La Quinta and Ramada Inn. There are also local hotels and motels like A'Bear's, the Lake Houmas Inn and Plantation Inn. Boudreaux's Marina in nearby Chauvin offers charter fishing, marsh tours, boat launch and a waterfront restaurant and bar. If you want a more local experience, stay in a Bed and Breakfast. There are eleven in Houma and two in nearby Bourg. At both the Cajun House of Hospitality and A La Maison Crochet Bed and Breakfast, French-speaking hosts will prepare you a full Cajun breakfast each morning.

3. Plan a fishing and hunting adventure and rent a fishing camp from Cocodrie Louisiana Rental Properties. There are local charter boats available so that you can take advantage of the wonderful offshore, shoreline and marsh fishing. Cocodrie Rentals can help you make all your plans. Plus, you can tie up your boat just steps away from your accommodations. If you bring your own boat, you can also dock it just a half mile away, at the Bayou Bait and Tackle Marina, where there is a boat launch, bait and fishing information.

4. Take advantage of the rich natural surroundings. Houma has seven different companies offering swamp tours. Call ahead to make reservations. None of the companies take credit cards; but Airboat Charters, Inc. accepts PayPal. The "Ecotour" offered by Wetland Tour & Guide Services, LLC and hosted by Captain Wendy does more than introduces the splendor of Louisiana's wetlands. Captain Wendy also educates her passengers about the plight of the disappearing wetlands and the importance of protecting and restoring them. She also talks about local women working in the fishing industry. You can also admire Houma's land terrain by touring the Terrebonne Loop, which includes five of the most beautiful areas in South Louisiana. When you follow the loop, you will find long, isolated stretches of brackish and salt marshes. Visit the website for the America's Wetland Foundation for more information.

5. Make sure to sample the Cajun food and music. After a day's adventure, treat yourself to some authentic Cajun cuisine at local favorites like Abears Cafe, Bayou Delight, Big Rock's Catfish House, Dave's Cajun Kitchen, Griffin's Poboy and Grille. At Bogwalk Seafood, they have all-you-can-eat snowcrabs and dungeness crabs. Balance all the fried food with a meal at Bare Essentials, a local whole foods restaurant.

Tips & Warnings

• The Houma Travel website has contact information for every business mentioned above.
• Call ahead for swamp tours and boat rentals. Plan your vacation around their availability. They may be harder to schedule than a room at a hotel or Bed and Breakfast.

Resources

• Houma Travel website
• Boudreaux's Marina webpage
• Crochet House Bed and Breakfast website
• America's Wetland Foundation website