Destinations in Our State 20 L ouisiana has a certain kind of magic that’s hard to put into words, and it’s even harder to fully explore. Whether you’ve lived here your whole life or you’re just passing through, there’s a good chance you haven’t seen all of it. Beyond the French Quarter, Tiger Stadium on a Saturday night, and flavorful fusion eateries, there are places hiding in plain sight. From a Nobel Prize-winning observatory hiding in the Livingston Parish pines to a gator farm that’s been in the same family for generations, these destinations across The Boot are absolutely worth the drive. UNIQUE
BY MADELINE PISTORIUS
BY MADELINE PISTORIUS | PHOTO BY KLEINPETER PHOTOGRAPHY | 2025–26 COVER KID DELANI T.
1. TABASCO FACTORY & JUNGLE GARDENS Where: Avery Island Price: Adults: $15.50; Children: $12.50; Seniors/Veterans: 10 percent off The only place on Earth where Tabasco has been made since 1868 sits on a mysterious salt dome island in the middle of South Loui- siana, and you can tour the whole operation. Don’t skip the Jungle Gardens while on the island, where 170 acres of exotic plants, roaming deer, ancient Chinese pagodas, and alligators are out for all to see. It’s two different experiences on one island. 2. THE MYRTLE’S Where: 7747 Hwy. 61, St. Francisville Price: Adults: $20+; Children 12 & under: $12+; Military ID: $13+ One of America’s most famously haunted homes sits in the rolling hills of St. Francisville and still operates as a bed and breakfast—so yes, you can actually spend the night (if you dare). The daytime tours are family-friendly and packed with stories, but the after-dark
ghosts tours are where things may get spooky. Louisiana history, mystery, and drama are all wrapped into one here. 3. VERMILIONVILLE VILLAGE Where: 300 Fisher Rd., Lafayette Price: Adults: $12; Seniors: $10; Students 5–18: $7; Children 5 & under: Free Immerse yourself in a living, breathing Cajun village where costumed interpreters cook, play music, and demonstrate crafts exactly as they were done between 1765 and 1890. It covers the daily life, music, and food of the area’s early Cajun and Creole people. When the accordions and fiddles come out, all ages are welcome to dance. 4. GLOBAL WILDLIFE CENTER Where: 26389 Hwy. 40, Folsom Price: $18–55 A real safari, right here in Louisiana. Global Wildlife Center loads you onto an open-air wagon and turns hundreds of roaming giraffes, zebras, camels, and lemurs loose around you. Feed them right out of
your hand, and trust us, they all will be looking for a snack!
5. KLEIBERT & SON’S GATOR TOURS Where: 40511 West I-55 Service Rd., Ponchatoula Price: Adults: $20; Children ages 3–12: $15; Children 2 & under: Free. Louisiana’s first alligator farm is still run by the same family and feels nothing like a tourist trap. Meet crocodiles, caiman, giant snapping turtles, snakes, emus, and peacocks—it’s a wild zoo straight from the bayou. 6. TOLEDO BEND Where: Sabine Parish Price: Free to visit; fees vary for activities The largest man-made reservoir in the South stretches 65 miles along the Louisiana-Texas border, and most Louisiana families treat it like their own private lake. Although world-famous among bass fisherman, it’s almost completely off the radar for everyone else, leaving the water wide open to swim, fish, kayak, and camp alongside.
24 JUNE 2026 | BRPARENTS.COM
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