Acadiana region

The Acadiana region in south Louisiana is known as Cajun country, named for the French-Canadians who settled in the area in the 1700s. Today, chances are, you’ll pick up the thick permutation of the French Cajun language as often as English. Each of the 22 parishes that make up the region promises exotic scenery, stellar food and some foot-stomping zydeco.

New Iberia Parish is home to Avery Island, a subtropical slip of land perched atop a hunk of rock salt so deep that it’s thought to reach down 29,000 feet or more — that’s deeper than the height of Mount Everest.

Tabasco pepper sauce might be the best-known commodity to come from Avery Island, but this place is a booming tourist destination. Rabid birders will be thrilled to know that the island’s Jungle Gardens (Highway 329, Avery Island. 337-369-6243, junglegardens.org, @JungleGardensLA) now offers customized bird tours for individuals or groups. Recently, the Tabasco factory opened a visitor’s center featuring a restaurant serving up Cajun fare. Naturally.

St. Martin Parish sits in the Cajun Heartland. Don’t miss a tour of the mysterious Atchafalaya Basin that makes up the largest river swamp in the nation. The wetlands draw legions of visitors who come to see the moss-covered cypress trees, forests of eerie hardwood stumps reaching through the murky waters, and the abundant wildlife.

Meanwhile, literature and history buffs who appreciate romance and tragedy will want to make their way to Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site (1200 N. Main St., St. Martinville. 337-394-3754, crt.state.la.us) and bask in the shade of the Evangeline Oak, made immortal by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his epic poem that expressed the plight of Acadians ousted from Nova Scotia who traveled to the region and became the Cajuns we know today. The site is just steps from the Museum of the Acadian Memorial.

Once you’ve spent a full day taking in the third-oldest city in the state, you’ll want a comfortable place for some downtime. The Old Castillo Bed and Breakfast (220 Evangeline Blvd., St. Martinville. 337-394-4010, oldcastillo.com), adjacent to the park, lies on the banks of the Bayou Teche, beneath the branches of the Evangeline Oak. This genteel hotel, furnished with period pieces, is listed on the National Register of Historic Homes, and is the oldest operating bed-and-breakfast in Acadia.

For a home-cooked lunch of authentic Cajun and Creole fare, head up the road a piece to Lafayette. At La Cuisine de Maman (300 Fisher Road, Lafayette. 337-205-9899, bayouvermiliondistrict.org, @Vermilionville), take a seat, tuck your napkin into your shirt and prepare to feast. You can select from the buffet or off the menu. The circa-1800s home offers tables in a glassed-in porch with views of the surrounding Vermilionville Living History Museum and Folklife Park.

North Louisiana

Of course, history runs much deeper in the region. Poverty Point (6859 La. 577, Pioneer. 318-926-5492, crt.state.la.us) was granted World Heritage recognition in 2014. This vast, ancient network of mounds and ruins on Bayou Macon — lowland Delta country in the northeastern part of the state — is dated between 1700 and 1100 B.C. Poverty Point was the name of a plantation that once stood on the site. Today, it stands as an important reminder of an extraordinary past when its inhabitants went to great lengths to create a sophisticated culture. To tour, visitors can select from a self-guided driving (or walking) trail or hop on a tram. If you plan to stay overnight, check out a waterfront lodge in nearby Poverty Point Reservoir State Park.

Anglers, particularly those hoping to lure bass, will want to make plans to take a fishing vacation at Toledo Bend Lake(1601 Texas Highway, Many. 318-256-5880), considered by Bassmaster Magazine as the best bass fishing lake in the nation. The lake hosts various fishing tournaments throughout the year for both amateurs and pros. While bass is king here, catfish, crappie and bream also are plentiful. Toledo Bend Lake is the place to snatch copious amounts of lunkers (bass over 10 pounds). Visitors to the area will find a variety of places to stay. The tony Cypress Bend Golf and Conference Resort offers suites and a spa, along with fine dining while Wildwood is the place for full-service cabins, private ponds and a boat launch. If fishing and roughing it go hand in hand for you, there’s plenty of camping available in the area.

The northern part of the state also claims the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum (800 Front St., Natchitoches. 318-357-2492, louisianastatemuseum.org, @LaStateMuseum), which opened in 2013. The 27,000-square-foot museum is home to the Sports Hall of Fame’s permanent collection of memorabilia celebrating the achievements of more than 300 Louisiana athletes and sports figures.

Natchitoches — pronounced nak-it-tish — isn’t simply about sports, though. Founded in 1714, it’s considered the oldest permanent settlement in the state. The 33-block National Landmark Historic District gives visitors a look at the past peppered with plenty of shopping and dining opportunities. Film buffs might recognize Natchitoches as the filming location for “Steel Magnolias.”