Editor’s Note: Finding Your Louisiana

Whether September and October are still hot or hopefully, notes of coolness have hit the air, these months are the perfect time to start thinking about fall travel. Unlike summer travel, which often includes pools or beaches, fall adventures feel more like road trips and camping to me.

There are so many things to do in the state of Louisiana and the surrounding areas that whether you’re enjoying a staycation, a closecation (traveling close to home — I just made up this term), or a proper vacation, you could fill an itinerary with new towns to check out, cultural events, museums and state parks to visit. Oh, and let’s not forget college football! Driving to see a game and staying the weekend to try a new brewery or cool eatery is fall travel at its finest.

In this issue, Misty Milioto highlights so many fun things to do, you couldn’t possibly fit them all into one fall travel season. For instance, DeSoto Parish has a driving itinerary through new West-Central Louisiana, which they’re calling “Find Your Unwind.” That’s a slogan I can get behind. She also mentions Lafayette’s Festivals Acadiens et Créoles in October. If you haven’t gone to this one yet, you definitely should.

If you’re a little more adventurous and prefer places off the beaten path, check out Cheré Coen’s article on hidden Louisiana spots. Coen breaks the state down by regions and mentions a few places you may not know about. From the smallest chapel to zip-lining with gators to Pinky the Pink Dolphin, Coen includes the random, the bizarre and the historical in her exploration of Hidden Louisiana.

Generally, I’m much more adventurous when I travel to a different state or country. I’ll research where to go or once I’m there, ask locals their favorite place. But here, at home, I can be a little lazy. I go to the same old spots and visit the same towns I’ve been before and that I know I like. This fall, I’m challenging myself to be more of an explorer in my own backyard. These two articles are great starting spots to sketch out places to visit. Maybe you can also uncover some of your own hidden treasures in your travels.

What’s your favorite hidden Louisiana spot?