The Best Southern Summer Travel
The sun is bright, and there is a whole world worth exploring. Find your new Summer Travel obsession somewhere among these beautiful Gulf Coast destinations and attractions.
Lafayette CVC
Summer in Lafayette is packed with live music, outdoor adventures, and some of Louisiana’s best food experiences. Spend the day paddling bayous, taking a swamp tour, or relaxing at Moncus Park before exploring local art and culture at Vermilionville Living History Museum & Folklife Park. Seasonal events like Creole Culture Day and Acadian Culture Day keep the calendar full all summer long. Evenings come alive with Cajun and zydeco music at dancehalls and neighborhood venues across the region. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer stay, Lafayette offers an easy mix of food, music, and culture that makes summer travel memorable.
Learn more at lafayettetravel.com.
Historic New Orleans Collection
This August 7th through the 9th, the Historic New Orleans Collection will be hosting the 2026 New Orleans Antiques Forum at the Williams Research Center. Titled Material Belief: Objects of Faith, Spirit, and Tradition, the forum shines a light on items from which belief and beauty spring: stained glass and Kiddush cups, carved wooden pews, and even devotional candles. By exploring the intersection of the spiritual and material worlds, a rich landscape of antiques shaped by belief, devotion, and spiritual practice, the Historic New Orleans Collection welcomes guests from around the region to bask in the divine wonder and historical curiosity of the items we instill with such cosmic awe.
A free history museum and research center devoted to the people, places, and traditions of New Orleans and the Gulf South, there’s never a better time than Summer to give the Historic New Orleans Collection a visit. You’ll certainly learn something and, perhaps, come away with a whole lot more.
Learn more about the 2026 New Orleans Antiques Forum at hnoc.org/events/antiques-forum-2026.
West Baton Rouge CVB
At the peak of the Horace Wilkinson Bridge, you enter West Baton Rouge Parish, where the aroma of roasting Community Coffee beans welcomes you. Our hidden culinary gems feed you, and our hospitality impresses you.
Stay with us a while and experience our upcoming Oldies but Goodies Fest in the fall, where we host a championship cook-off, live music, and an epic car show! Visit West Baton Rouge Parish to soak up our Blues, Views, and BBQs.
Learn more at westbatonrouge.net.
Avoyelles Parish
Why travel far when the perfect getaway is waiting right here in the center of Louisiana? Come experience a staycation on one tank or less in beautiful Avoyelles Parish, where relaxation, recreation, and family fun come together. Spend your days exploring our scenic outdoors with fishing, paddling, nature drives, and small-town charm around every corner. Then cool off and unwind with the indoor tropical pool at Paragon Casino Resort, offering year-round fun for families and visitors of all ages.
For RV travelers looking to settle in and stay awhile, Avoyelles welcomes you with comfortable camping options at Gator Grounds RV Waterpark Resort in Bunkie or the relaxing RV accommodations at Paragon Casino Resort RV Park. Whether you are planning a weekend retreat or an extended road trip stop, Avoyelles Parish offers the perfect mix of adventure, comfort, food, gaming, and French Creole hospitality.
Learn more at travelavoyelles.com.
Canton, MS
Visit Canton, Mississippi, this Summer for a day of small-town charm with a big southern heart. With a history as rich in food and culture, where timeless charm meets modernity around the glorious, beautiful Greek Revival Courthouse, there’s always something new and exciting happening in Canton.
The bi-annual Canton Flea Market and Arts & Crafts show is taking place on May 14th, featuring artisans from across the nation with handcrafted items like jewelry, pottery, and unique arts & crafts. With hundreds of superior artists and craftsmen within walking distance of the downtown area, the community comes alive with art and life.
This June, the 41st Annual Balloon Festival takes to the skies of Mississippi from the 26th through the 28th. Join the Canton locals and visitors from around the region at the Canton Multipurpose Complex to witness a wonderland of beautiful balloons light up the Summer skies.
To learn more, visit CantonTourism.com.
