Photo: Maya West
	Houma serves as the starting place for many swamp adventures.

Passport to swampy adventures

Southeastern Article,
February 17, 2012

Few landscapes feel more pristine — or more beautiful — than wetlands.

These places, where cultures and landscapes converge, are among the richest natural resources North America has to offer. 

The southern coast of Louisiana provides a home to many of the most pristine wetlands remaining in the U.S.

Rich soil, stately tupelo trees and deep swamps are nourished by the waters of the mighty Mississippi River along with coast. These wetlands, together with the river delta and the Atchafalaya Basin provide a home for wildlife and a place where Cajun culture flourishes. 

To put it mildly, the last decade has not been kind to the coast and its wetlands. But the people and the landscape have proven resilient. 2011 brought a record number of tourists to the Gulf of Mexico, a trend that is continuing into this year. 

Houma, the heart of the wetlands, is a place to anchor for anyone the least bit curious about the wetlands. Just 55 miles from New Orleans, the city has everything a group tour planner needs to put together a pleasing itinerary from dusk to dawn and dawn to dusk. 

With more than 2,500 square miles of swamps and bayous bordered by the Gulf of Mexico, the Houma area offers plenty of opportunities for adventures. 

Even for groups without seasoned naturalists, the time outside yields access to a one-of-a-kind ecosystem including one of the biggest estuary systems anywhere where fresh water converges with the salty seas of the Gulf of Mexico. 

Eco-tour operators based in greater Houma lead treks on land and sea. 

Some tours take place via motorcoaches or vans, while others travel by kayak or airboat, all setting out to discover the wonders of the Atchafalaya Basin — the largest swamp in the U.S.

	Photo: Donald Hobern
	A visit to Louisiana’s wetlands offers a chance to see alligators in their natural habitat.

Whatever mode of transportation, the swamps and bayous mean spotting alligators and rare bird species.

Anglers will come back from Houma with a fish story or two to share.

Houma’s other offerings are reflected in the Cajun joie de vivre found throughout the region, whether it’s Mardi Gras or another time of year. 

The Cajuns have a word for the extras that seem to defy categorization — lagniappe. 

Houma-only extras are spurred on by a long history and a rich mix of cultures waiting to be discovered in its historic sites, museums, dancehalls, restaurants and other interesting places to explore in reach of the wetlands.

A visit to Southdown Plantation House & Museum is a prime way to soak in Houma’s heritage. 

The former sugar plantation home now provides a place for the Terrebonne Historical & Cultural Society to preserve and share local history. All tours have an escort, and groups with 10 or more members enjoy special rates and attention.

The ninth annual Voice of the Wetlands Festival is Oct. 12 to 14 at Southdown Plantation. Houma-based Voice of the Wetlands is a nonprofit organization seeking to preserve and restore Louisiana’s wetlands.

Houma Area CVB
(800) 688-2732
www.houmatravel.com

Southdown Plantation House & Museum
(985) 851-0154
www.southdownmuseum.org

Voice of the Wetlands
(985) 870-8622
www.voiceofthewetlands.org