15 Most Beautiful Places In Louisiana, According To Locals

Louisiana’s nickname is the Bayou State for good reason. According to the National Ocean and Atmosphere Administration’s Office for Coastal Management, 32% of the state is occupied by wetlands. And some of Louisiana’s most magical scenes can be hiding among the swamp’s bald cypresses and moss-covered oaks. Many folks have visited New Orleans and admired the ornate French Colonial architecture on display. But if you’ve ever been curious about what other wonders the state might have up its sleeve, your insight that there’s more to Louisiana than the Crescent City is entirely accurate. From the River Parishes running for 120 miles along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge to Acadiana (also known as Cajun Country or the French Louisiana region), we tasked Louisiana locals with scouring the state for its most awe-inspiring, gorgeous spots. Here are the 15 most beautiful places in Louisiana, according to locals.

Meet the Experts

• Maggie Heyn Richardson is a writer living in Baton Rouge and the author of "Hungry for Louisiana, An Omnivore's Journey."

• Chelsea Brasted is a New Orleans-born writer with over a decade of experience exploring Southern culture through food, music, travel, and entertainment.

Related: 20 Most Beautiful Places In Alabama, According To A Native Alabamian

Atchafalaya National Heritage Area

This area spans 14 parishes and encompasses one of the nation’s most ecologically diverse regions. The Atchafalaya River Basin is the country’s largest river swamp. The best way to explore the area is via an airboat tour where you can encounter the region’s native flora and fauna, from water tupelo trees to alligators. Richardson says an airboat tour of the swamp is a must as there’s “no place like it on Earth.”

atchafalaya.org; 337-228-1094

Jungle Gardens on Avery Island

This privately owned “island” (it's surrounded on three sides by coastal marshes) is located just three miles inland from Vermilion Bay on Louisiana’s southern coast. The 2,200-acre area is the birthplace of Tobasco hot sauce and sits atop a large deposit of solid rock salt. Visitors can head to the island to see the Tabasco factory, as well as its adjoining Jungle Gardens and Bird City wildfowl refuge that’s known for lush foliage and excellent birding.

junglegardens.org; Hwy. 329, Avery Island, LA 70513; 337-369-6243

City Park

The Cajun version of Central Park has a little something for everyone, from gondola rides on lagoons to incredible works of art in the Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Take a stroll around Big Lake or see what’s in bloom at the New Orleans Botanical Garden, every inch of City Park offers excitement and beauty.

neworleanscitypark.org; 504-482-4888

Cypremort Point State Park

There may not be a more beautiful sight to take in than a sunset on the water. To see Louisiana’s best, head to Cypremort Point State Park, which is located on Vermilion Bay. Known as a mecca for watersports, everyone pauses to bask in the brilliant purples, pinks, and oranges that splash into the sky as the late afternoon transitions to evening.

lastateparks.com; 306 Beach Lane, Cypremort Point, LA 70538; 337-867-4510

Louisiana State University

The sprawling LSU campus is open for everyone—not just students—to explore. Think roofs covered in Spanish tile, buff-colored buildings that mimic those on Stanford’s campus, and colorful murals. Surrounded by a forest of moss-draped live oaks, it doesn’t get any more idyllic than LSU’s purple-and-gold-loving campus. Worried about the toll of football season? There’s no reason for alarm: “A vigorous anti-litter program during game days makes sure it stays beautiful,” says Richardson.

Clark Creek Natural Area

This state park and natural area splits its geography between Louisiana and Mississippi. With 700 acres that are home to 50 waterfalls, the elevation change on some of its trails is unusual for south Louisiana, but the extra effort begets rewarding views of cascading falls in return.

Downtown Natchitoches

Folks have always been fascinated with the cobblestoned streets and cast-iron balconies of New Orleans, but Natchitoches, the state’s oldest city, gives the Big Easy a big run for its money when it comes to the title of Louisiana’s most beautiful city. Pronounced NACK-a-tish, the city’s downtown (33 blocks running parallel to the Can River) has the feel of a smaller French Quarter. You’ll get all the beautiful Spanish and French influence in architecture and ambiance with far fewer crowds and mayhem.

natchitoches.com; 780 Front Street, Suite 100, Natchitoches, LA 71457; 1-800-259-1714

Kisatchie National Forest

Located in central Louisiana, this outdoor preserve encompasses more than 600,000 acres of rolling piney forests. As one of the largest protected lands in the state, Kisatchie is open for everyone to take adventure of all the great outdoors has to offer, including fishing, birding, swimming, hiking, camping, and mountain biking. Not up for anything strenuous, see the area’s natural beauty via the Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway.

fs.usda.gov/kisatchie; 318-473-7160

American Rose Center

If you’re a gardening or horticulture enthusiast, the American Rose Center in Shreveport might be a bucket list item. The center is the country’s largest park dedicated solely to roses and the home of the American Rose Society’s national headquarters. To see the gardens when its blooms are at their best, visit from mid April through late May or mid September through late October.

rose.org/visit-public-gardens; 8877 Jefferson Paige Rd, Shreveport, LA 71119; 318-938-5402

Crescent Park

Part of New Orleans’s French Market District, this 20-acre urban park connects the community to the Mississippi Riverfront. The park offers bike paths, native landscaping, and multiuse pavilions, but Brasted loves it most for its views of the New Orleans skyline. She contends that the park’s vantage points are some of the best, especially its view of the Crescent City Connection bridge arcing over the river.

crescentparknola.org; 2300 N Peters St, New Orleans, LA 70117; 504-636-6400

Poverty Point World Heritage Site

One of the U.S.’s 25 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Poverty Point is steeped in history that dates back more than 3,400 years. The site is a series of raised earthen mounds and their accompanying channels and ridges, that were constructed by indigenous peoples between 1700 and 1100 BCE. Today, you can take a guided walking tour of the incredible relic of the past and learn more about its history in the accompanying museum.

povertypoint.us; 6859 La. Hwy. 577 Pioneer, LA 71266; 318-926-5492

Toledo Bend Reservoir

Southerners love a lake scene, and this 185,000-acre manmade reservoir that on the Louisiana-Texas border is no exception. Nationally recognized was a top destination for bass fishing, the scenic spot is also popular with families, nature enthusiasts, and just about anyone who appreciates a nice view of the water. Two state parks, North and South Toledo Bend State Park, offer amenities and easy access to the glittering waters.

Old State Capitol

In 1845, Louisiana lawmakers gave the green light for Baton Rouge to become the state capitol. Two years later, workers began construction on the new state capitol building. Though it is no longer used by legislators, the iconic structure still has an important purpose as a museum and National Historic Landmark. Don’t just see it from outside. The stained-glass dome is a sight to behold.

louisianaoldstatecapitol.org; 100 North Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70801; 225-342-0500

Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area

You’ll find unexpected ecosystems in this wildlife management area. From rugged hills to bluff to ravines, the “blufflands” of Tunica Hills are home to certain species of plants and animals not found anywhere else in the state. Choose one of three hiking trails and get ready to see an abundance of wildlife including the rare Coopers hawk and maybe even a black bear.

wlf.louisiana.gov/page/tunica-hills

Lake Martin

One of the state’s largest nesting colonies for many species of water birds, wildlife is abundant on this lake located just south of Breaux Bridge and east of Lafayette. Birders will delight in the biodiversity of this year-round rookery that brings together egrets, herons, ibises, and spoonbills. Brasted loves this spot for its “moss-draped cypress trees, calm lake, and chance to see a gator or too.”

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