Experience the great outdoors with Choice Hotels. Our Louisiana hotels are conveniently located near a number of picturesque gardens, stunning parks, and astounding wildlife. Take a look at the scenery and greenery that Louisiana offers.
In Sportsman’s Paradise
Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge
140 Richland Place, off Highway 165 North
Monroe, LA 71241
318-387-1114
Established in 1997 through a unique partnership with the city of Monroe Louisiana, this park is situated on 2,000 acres of scenic lakefront property. Some 4,000 species of flora and fauna make their home in the park, which offers gorgeous lakefront views and pristine wooded swamps. Activities at the park include fishing, hunting and wildlife observation.
Chemin-a-Haut State Park
41656 State Park Road
Bastrop, LA 71220
318-283-0812
This park is one of the most pristine spots in Louisiana’s vast wilderness. As such, some of the activities enjoyed at the park are bound to be aquatic. From swimming opportunities which tell of Louisiana’s southern situation to boating and fishing, this natural destination will provide the ultimate respite in which to return to the state of nature.
Kalorama Nature Preserve
7197 Collinston Road
Collinston, LA 71229
318-874-7777
Guests traveling to Louisiana who want to view the way the land once was are encouraged to pay a visit to Kalorama Nature Preserve, where nature can be found undisturbed and in its most serene state. The gorgeous plant and animal life which inhabits the preserve typifies the natural beauty of Louisiana like almost no other location in the state.
In Crossroads
North Toledo Bend State Park
2907 N. Toledo Park Road
Zwolle, LA 71486
318-645-4715
This state park is located on Toledo Bend Reservoir and offers more than 900 acres of pristine nature and top-notch recreation. As one of the nation’s largest man-made reservoirs, the aquatic body is the perfect location for the swimming, boating and fishing you’ve been meaning to unleash on your trip to Louisiana. Otherwise, you can pack a picnic and sit by the water while you enjoy your delicious home-packed goods.
Hodges Gardens
5102 Bob Bullock Loop
Florien, LA 71429
318-586-3523
Stunning plant life awaits you at Hodges gardens in the beautiful Crossroads region of Louisiana. Come here to witness a spectrum of plant life – over 300 species of green, wooded specimens make this park the perfect destination for the botanically inclined. Re-commune with the simplest and purest form of nature at Hodges Gardens.
Kisatchie National Forest
229 Dogwood Park Road
Provencial, LA 71457
318-472-1840
One of the largest national forests in the country, you’ll enjoy the trappings of Kisitatchie’s over 604,000 acres – one of the largest collections of public lands in the country. Covered by bayous and bald cypress groves, a pristine otherworldly world awaits visitors to Kisitachie, which is renowned for its essentially southern natural beauty.
In Cajun Country
Cajun Country Swamp Tours
1226 N. Berard Street
Breaux Bridge, LA 70517
337-332-6365
One of Louisiana’s most famous natural features is its swamps. Sprawling out over hundreds of miles, these swamplands dot the coastline where Louisiana meets with the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to being a beautiful and unique natural setting, the swamps provide an ecosystem in which hundreds of fascinating species of plants and animals thrive. Learn about and explore these interesting biological havens with a knowledgeable and friendly tour guide.
Acadian Cultural Center
501 Fisher Road
Lafayette, LA 70508
337-232-0789
This natural attraction contains the story of the Acadian (Cajun) people who settled here, in the bayous, prairies, and marshes of southeast Louisiana. Enjoy displays and exhibits that explain the origins, migration, and culture of the fascinating Acadians and the other groups who live in the area. There’s also a bookstore selling a wide variety of crafts, music, and books as well as a visitor center featuring story-telling, dance, and more.
Cypremort Point State Park
306 Beach Lane
Cypremort Point, LA 70538
This state park is the only natural location with proximity to the Gulf of Mexico which is reachable by car. As such, visitors will want to load their vehicle with natural enthusiasts to experience the park’s natural beauty, as well as its excellent sailing, fishing and swimming facilities.
In Plantation Country
BREC’s Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center
Baton Rouge, LA 70810
225-757-8905
Explore Bluebonnet Swamp, located in the heart of Louisiana, and afterwards visit the comprehensive nature center, where you’ll find a host of nature programs designed to environmentally educate eager minds. Take a tour of the 9,500 sq ft Nature Center building and then follow a trail to explore the 65-acre cypress-tupelo swamp and magnolia-beech upland hardwood forest. Here you’ll see a variety of wildlife, including many different types of birds as well as foxes, raccoons, bobcats, snakes, turtles and alligators.
Bonnet Carre Spillway
16302 River Road
Norco, LA 70079
The Bonnet Carre Spillway is a vital element of the flood control plan which has been designed to secure the Lower Valley of Louisiana. As such, this spillway protects New Orleans and other levy communities when floods occur. Explore the surrounding area for a glimpse into Louisiana’s natural beauty, and then visit the spillway to see how man has coped with the forces of nature.
Friends of Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge
St. Francisville, LA 70775
225-635-4753
Established in October of 2000, this wildlife refuge is home to more than meets the eye. Of course, you’ll be in stunning appreciation of the plants and animals which call the refuge their home - over 6,000 species in all. But look closely, and you’ll see a whole new world through the eyes of the refuge – insects, small shrubs, and more are just some of the surprises which await you.
In Greater New Orleans
Cajun Pride Swamp Tours
4535 Charlene Court
New Orleans, LA 70127
504-467-0758
Explore the outback of the great Louisiana bayous with Cajun Pride Swamp Tours. Join a group of curious explorers with an expert guide at your head and travel into some of the most fascinating landscapes known to man.
Westwego Swamp Adventures
504 Laroussini Street
Westwego, LA 70094
504-467-0758
Authentic Louisiana swamp tours are the specialty of Westwego Swamp Adventures. It’s fitting that you pay them a visit, as the swamplands of Louisiana are one of the state’s most compelling attractions. At Westwego, a tour schedule dense with deportations means only one thing – exciting and amazing trips through some of Louisiana’s most attractive landscapes.
Global Wildlife Center
26389 Highway 40
Folsom, LA 70437
985-624-WILD
Come here to experience the great outdoors with all of its denizens intact. This center strives for excellence in the area of animal preservation, and as such has created the perfect environment for over 3,000 animal species to call their home. Perfect for children, adults, students and teachers alike to embrace the values of active conservation and the preservation of wildlife.
