Hello Louisiana

[Bill_T]

Deb and I will be passing thru the lower half of Louisiana in late March. Never been there and would like recommendations on campgrounds and eateries. We try to stay out of the cities and enjoy the backwoods. Camping in Forest Service, COE's, state parks, and old deer hunting sites.
Looking online I see tours being offered for airboat rides and swamp tours. Sounds interesting. What will the weather be like that time of year?
Thanks for your comments.

[Bill_T]

Well guys we are at Palmetto Island right now. Very nice park, wish we could stay longer. We also have been to Grand Isle SP and ate at the Starfish Rest. And yesterday (Sat.) ate at Shucks. Man! That was some good food. Even brought some of their bread pudding back with us and had a midnight snack.

Today we are pulling out for Lake Fausse SP for a few days. Stocked up on the bug spray at Wally World yesterday.

Thanks for the tips. And happy camping.

Bill T

[notlost]

I'm not sure if you've visited La yet but we are currently in Palmetto Lake SP---i would highly recommend it. big sites, very clean park, beautiful! we're extending our stay here since it's so nice.
i would second the tabasco factory and konrico tours (can do both in 1 day).
today we went to martin lake in breaux bridge and it was phenominal...drive down rookery road alongside the river and see birds (lots), alligators, turtles. we even saw an owl! it was a real find. all free!!!
NOTE TO ANYONE GOING TO Palmetto Lake SP---the bridge on route 82 is closed and the roads into the park are very tricky. make sure to call the park before you head out and they will give you directions. follow them exactly. we have a 42' mh and we arrived in heavy rain. it's doeable, but not fun

[Maurice45]

We are currently camped in Palmetto Island State Park south of Abbeville. Beautiful place with great facilities and currently nearly empty! Were just at Grand Isle State park with the same circumstance. Highly recommend both. Ate at Shucks in Abbeville yester day had grilled oysters, baked redfish and crawfish etoufee between DW and I fantastic food! Love south Louisiana

[Bill_T]

Thanks Larman.

[Laman]

BayouBoys wrote:
If your looking for backwoods camping, Lake Fausse Point State Park is very backwoods. Great campground for relaxing and fishing, but quite a drive from civilization.

There are some specific instructions on routing to Lake Fausse SP be sure and pay attention to them but it is a great place to see the Atchafalaya Basin.

There are so many things to see and do in that part of La., I am a native and still find new things to do and see every time we go back. This spring will be the Breux Bridge Crawfish festival and then the Boudain Trail on the agenda, have to get ready to let out the belt after that trip.

I would suggest going to the tourist board web sites for the South La. parishes, they have a wealth of info.. Sadly though get ready to travel some roads that are not the smoothest!

[Bill_T]

With all the recommended places to stay and eat we may have a hard time getting to our final destination in Texas. Sure am glad we set aside two weeks for La.
Thanks for all the tips and keep them coming.

[padredw]

I "second" all that KIT CARSON has said in regard to Nachitoches. It is one of our favorite places to visit.

[Kit_Carson]

Come on up to the center part of the state to the town of NATCHITOCHES. It is the oldest settlement in the Louisiana Purchase. Very quaint town with lots of history. The movie Steel Magnolias with Dolly Parton, Sally Fields, etc was filmed there. If you should decide to go there please try a Natchitoches meat pie from a local restaurant LASYONE'S. Several old plantation homes along the Cane River to explore....the most popular being Melrose Plantation.

[reubenray]

Bill T wrote:
Thanks for the tips folks. I'm writing them all down.
I've often wondered, are the crawfish I hear of so often the same as what we call a crawdad? Kind of a miniature lobster. If so, how is there enough meat on them to taste?

Yep - look at the following link.

http://www.wwltv.com/story/news/local/orleans/2015/02/18/some-say-spike-in-wages-causing-soaring-crawfish-prices/23654973/

[ksbowman]

We just came thru La to Livingston (east of Baton Rouge). Stayed at Lakeside rv, great place and only $19 PA. The bridges were terribly rough, but the roads were pretty good. Somebodies brother inlaw must have got the bridge contracts and they were the first ones he had ever done.

[Wadcutter]

padredw wrote:

Fountainebleu state Park in Mandeville is an excellent park to explore that part of the state and close enough to go into New Orleans for the day.

Agree! And just down the road at Madisonville is Fairview-Riverside State Park. Some very nice sites near the Bayou.

We stayed at Fountainbleu SP once. Nice park. We stayed several times at FRSP. A couple of times we were at FRSP there were movies being shot at the 'mansion' on the grounds. The last time we stayed there was over an Easter week. Every local knucklehead and their half-wit brother was in the place. Loud music until way late (2-3 AM). Drunks yelling all night. We said something to the park rangers the one morning and his only reply was "Yeah, we get those kinds in here over holidays."

[padredw]

Fountainebleu state Park in Mandeville is an excellent park to explore that part of the state and close enough to go into New Orleans for the day.

Agree! And just down the road at Madisonville is Fairview-Riverside State Park. Some very nice sites near the Bayou.

[Bill_T]

Thanks for the tips folks. I'm writing them all down.
I've often wondered, are the crawfish I hear of so often the same as what we call a crawdad? Kind of a miniature lobster. If so, how is there enough meat on them to taste?

[PetVet]

Fountainebleu state Park in Mandeville is an excellent park to explore that part of the state and close enough to go into New Orleans for the day.