Spring and Summer Travel
Springtime is here, and the South is open for business. Find your new favorite hideaway with these sterling travel destinations.
Lafayette CVC
Spring is here, and Lafayette is waiting with open arms. The heart of Cajun and Creole Country is just the place to shake off the winter cold and find your favorite flavor of dance, community, and cuisine.
Baseball is back as the University of Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns take on the LSU Tigers on March 4th. McNeese State University on March 11th and 31st, and Southeastern Louisiana on March 24th, and a series against ULM from March 27th to 29th at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park. Join the Celtic Bayou Festival for a St. Patrick’s Day on March 15th, with a kick-off pub crawl taking place on March 14th. And if your taste buds need some attention, visit during the World Championship Crawfish Étouffée Cook-Off on March 31st, with professionals and amateurs competing side by side for the coveted distinction of being “world champion”, alongside live Cajun and zydeco music, plenty of dancing, and tons of étouffée.
Learn more about these exciting events and so much more at lafayettetravel.com.
West Baton Rouge
After the king cakes are sold and the Mardi Gras beads thrown, pack your bags and hit the road! Our parish celebrates spring with great family fun at the annual Kite Fest Louisiane’, where the skies are filled with kites of all sizes and shapes. Bring the family, & lawn chairs to enjoy kite flying, food vendors, live music, team kite flyers, along with fireworks, and a night kite flying extravaganza to close the fest. When staying with us, be sure to visit our accredited WBR Museum to learn more about our bittersweet story of sugar in Louisiana, along with “The Juke Joint” which features historical happy hours, open jams focusing on Cajun, bluegrass, and folk music. The pace of this parish is soothing and peaceful, with charm whichever direction you choose to take. Springtime travel is right around the corner, so let West Baton Rouge Parish be the heart of your next Cajun adventure.
Discover more at westbatonrouge.net.
Port Arthur CVB
Port Arthur is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, where wide-open waters, wild landscapes, and a vibrant coastal culture come together to create one unforgettable destination. Bordered by the Gulf of Mexico, Sabine Lake, and the Neches River, this Southeast Texas gem offers endless opportunities for boating, paddling, and world-class saltwater fishing. Anglers can cast a line for redfish, trout, and flounder while paddlers glide through calm marshes alive with birds and Gulf breezes.
As the official Cajun Capital of Texas, the city offers an irresistible mix of flavor, live music, and heritage. Explore it all at the Museum of the Gulf Coast, then savor spicy seafood and Tex-Mex, boudin, and Gulf-fresh delights on a waterfront patio while local musicians set the soundtrack.
Visit Port Arthur—true Texas with a Cajun twist!
Discover more at visitportarthurtx.com.
Louisiana Office of Tourism
With diverse landscapes and abundant wetlands, Louisiana is a haven for birds and a bucket list destination for birdwatchers of all levels. From the majestic Bald Eagle soaring over the cypress swamps to the Tricolored Heron exploring the coastal estuaries of Grand Isle State Park, our state boasts an incredible array of feathered friends. With more than 7,000 miles of coastline next to hundreds of miles of open water, Louisiana presents an ideal stopover for birds heading in all directions. The influx of human visitors through migration seasons is no coincidence, as the state’s bird population evolves through breathtaking ebbs and flows.
Whether you’re a seasoned birder or a curious nature enthusiast just starting out, Louisiana’s birding scene promises an unforgettable adventure. So fine-tune your wish list and let your daydreams take flight!
Learn more and start planning your visit at BirdingLouisiana.com.
Visit Mississippi
Spring brings out the best in us, from food to culture and people to share it with. The best flavors of all of these can be found in Mississippi. From Natchez to Gulfport, from Biloxi to Jackson, there’s always something new, exciting, and unexpected to find in the Magnolia state.
If you’re in the mood for world-class cuisine, Mississippi is the place to be, with the recent announcement of Hunter Evans of Elvie’s in Jackson and Austin Sumrall of White Pillars in Biloxi as James Beard Award Semi-Finalists for Best Chef: South. A Jackson native, Chef Hunter Evans has earned acclaim for his modern Southern-French cuisine at Elvie’s, located in the historic Belhaven neighborhood, while Chef Austin Sumrall, owner of the award-winning White Pillars in Biloxi, celebrates his third James Beard semifinalist recognition for Best Chef: South. But that’s not all. With ten culinary visionaries awarded the prestigious MICHELIN Guide at its inaugural American South ceremony, culture is always on the menu in Mississippi.
Learn more at visitmississippi.org.
Big Cypress Lodge
Rising unexpectedly from the banks of the Mississippi River, Memphis’s iconic Pyramid is home to Big Cypress Lodge, a one-of-a-kind destination inspired by the great outdoors featuring 103 guest rooms that blend rustic elegance with modern comfort and front porches overlooking Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid. Handcrafted finishes and views of the river or the Memphis skyline complement the cozy electric fireplaces and luxury bathrooms.
Dining is an experience of its own, from elevated Southern flavors at The Lookout, perched 300 feet above the city, to casual bites at Wahlburgers Wild and craft cocktails enjoyed with panoramic views. Spring invites adventure, whether it’s riding the country’s tallest freestanding elevator, exploring the indoor swamp with live alligators, bowling inside the Pyramid, or venturing out to nearby downtown Memphis landmarks.
Equal parts lodge retreat and urban escape, Big Cypress Lodge offers a stay unlike anywhere else in the South.
Learn more at big-cypress.com.
