Louisiana
8 Most Inviting Towns in Louisiana
Featuring towns dating back to 1714, wetlands composing over 32% of the state, and the well-known Mardi Gras festival, Louisiana has it all: history, nature, and culture. To experience the state’s full array of experiences, however, visitors must venture out into the smaller, lesser-known towns awaiting visitors with incredible food, beautiful architecture, and breathtaking nature. So, explore the charm and hidden delights of Louisiana’s most inviting towns and discover why these spots are celebrated by visitors and locals alike.
Abita Springs
Despite its small population of approximately 2,700 people, Abita Springs has been a hot tourist destination since the 19th century due to its wells containing pristine, healing waters. Today, visitors flock from around the country to enjoy its craft beer made with the same pure water. The Abita Brewing Company is one of the best in the country and is an excellent stop to learn about the town’s history as well as the brewery’s unique brewing process. Visitors will also find that Abita Springs has a special energy surrounding it, with an artsy, eclectic atmosphere and local music scene. The Abita Springs Opry always has a great calendar full of Louisiana Roots music that visitors should check out to enjoy local music!
The Tammany Trace Bike Trail allows visitors to see the surrounding natural areas and is a rails-to-trails path that connects five towns in the area. It is great for bikers, hikers, and runners alike! Speaking of bikers, Abita Springs is home to the annual Louisiana Bicycle Festival, which hosts both vintage and art bikes and features a bicycle cruise through the town.
Greenwood
Aerial view of the pavilion and buildings with shingle roofs at the welcome center and rest area in Greenwood, Louisiana.
Greenwood, known as the “Gateway to Louisiana” due to its proximity to the Texas border, is a charming town that will certainly welcome visitors to the state. The small town is filled with activities for all ages. The nearby Wonder Oasis Waterpark will provide a fun day out for families, while the Crooked Hollow Golf Club will enchant golf lovers with its scenic course surrounded by tall pines. The American Rose Center features 118 acres of impressive gardens, making it the largest rose center in the country. For travelers visiting on the weekend, make sure to check out the town’s Saturday morning farmers market, filled with local produce and artisan goods.
Golden Meadow
Golden Meadow has an exciting history, as it is home to a centuries-old Cajun community that did not become an official city until 1950. This coastal town does not disappoint with its tasty, fresh seafood and is a tranquil destination for wildlife enthusiasts and fishers alike. Fishers can rent a cabin along Catfish Lake and enjoy a calm day out on the waters. The nearby Pointe-Aux-Chenes Wildlife Refuge, abundant in wildlife, will take visitors’ breath away with its variety of fish, waterfowl, and alligators. The refuge also has areas to camp, fish, and boat. Fishers should also check out the Golden Meadow-Fourchon International Tarpon Rodeo, an annual fishing event that brings in fishers from all over to participate.
Saint Francisville
In the rolling hills, about a half hour north of Baton Rouge lays the charming town of Saint Francisville. Travelers will feel immersed in the town’s southern charm, home to many historical sites and unique shops. The West Feliciana Historical Society Museum will make visitors feel inspired by the town’s history. The Royal Inn is also located in St. Francisville’s old town and is a truly luxurious bed and breakfast, even including a butler for its guests. For hikers, the Clark Creek Natural Area is a must-visit. Affectionately known as the “Little Grand Canyon” by locals, Clark Creek features seven beautiful waterfalls and trails for hikers of all levels.
Jeanerette
Jeanerette, Louisiana – St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church. By Dieter Karner, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Jeanerette certainly lives up to its nickname as the “Sugar City”, featuring a sweet atmosphere filled with music, food, and historic architecture. History lovers will appreciate the town’s sugarcane history and can visit the Jeanerette Bicentennial Park and Museum to learn about the sugarcane industry and its effect on the town over the past 200 years. Cooper Street Coffee is a great place to make a pitstop, where customers can appreciate the cafe’s cozy brick walls and live music sessions. Plan your trip to Jeanerette during Mardi Gras to experience the town’s colorful parades and participate in traditional balls.
Natchitoches
Light trails at the Minor Basilica in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
Founded in 1714, Natchitoches provides visitors with an immersive historical and cultural experience as the oldest city in Louisiana. Visitors can stroll down the 33-block historic district, lined with beautiful architecture and various businesses, including candy shops, boutiques, art galleries, and more. The American Cemetery is another magnificent historical stop, featuring graves dating back to colonial times. Cane River Padel and Peddle Sports provides an afternoon full of water adventures, with canoe, kayak, and pedal boat rentals. To end an eventful day, travelers can visit Maglieux’s Riverfront Restaurant for gorgeous views of the river and fantastic, traditional Cajun food and seafood.
Breaux Bridge
Known as the Crawfish Capital of the World, Breaux Bridge is another must-visit town for seafood lovers. The town’s cuisine, history, and cajun zydeco music give it a warm, inviting environment that visitors from all over the country will love! The town’s center features cozy boutiques and antique shops. Travelers who venture to the outskirts of the town will find beautiful natural areas such as Lake Martin, home to an abundance of wildlife as well as moss-draped cypress trees. Breaux Bridge is also filled with cozy, quaint inns and bed and breakfasts. Check out Bayou Teche Bed and Breakfast, a restored hotel from the 19th century with an excellent location near various seafood restaurants. But make sure to save your appetite for the town’s annual Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival if you will be in town!
Minden
Aerial view of Minden, Louisiana.
Minden is a charming town filled with history, culture, and nature. Its downtown area features a memorable red-bricked main street and a historic district dotted with beautiful Victorian-era homes. A short trip out of town will lead to the Germantown Colony and Museum, a preserved settlement in the wilderness that immerses visitors in life during the German-based Utopian Movement. Also on the outskirts lies Lake Bistineau State Park, a natural oasis filled with the state’s Tupelo and Cypress trees as well as an impressive variety of fish species. The state park includes five hiking trails, campsites, and cabins to immerse naturegoers in the outdoors. Travelers with a flexible calendar should visit the Webster Parish Fair, which features a parade through the downtown area, as well as rides and games for the family.
Discover Louisiana’s Hidden Gems
Although these eight towns may not be the most well-known in Louisiana, visitors who make the trek out to them will not be disappointed due to their rich blend of history, culture, and natural wonders. From the healing waters and tasty beer of Abita Springs to the vibrant charm and nature of Breaux Bridge, each town offers something unique to its visitors. So, consider adding these destinations to your itinerary and immerse yourself in the warmth and hospitality that define Louisiana’s small-town charm.
Louisiana
Federal appeals court upholds Texas’ Ten Commandments law. What does it mean for Louisiana?
A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld a Texas law requiring public schools to post the Ten Commandments, just weeks after the same court allowed a similar Louisiana law to take effect.
A majority of judges on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Texas’ law, which is nearly identical to Louisiana’s, is constitutional and does not violate students’ religious freedom. In February, the court lifted an injunction on Louisiana’s law, which cleared schools to put up the posters, but the judges said it was too early to rule on that law’s constitutionality.
Tuesday’s ruling could bode well for Louisiana’s law if it eventually returns to the 5th Circuit, considered the country’s most conservative federal court of appeals.
In their majority opinion, the judges rejected the argument that posting the Ten Commandments in classrooms would pressure students to honor the biblical mandates or adopt particular beliefs.
“To plaintiffs, merely exposing children to religious language is enough to make the displays engines of coercive indoctrination. We disagree,” the majority wrote about the Texas law, known as S.B. 10. A minority of the court’s active judges dissented.
Even though Tuesday’s ruling only addressed the Texas case, defenders of Louisiana’s legislation celebrated it as a victory. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said the 5th Circuit’s argument in upholding Texas’ law was identical to the one Louisiana made in defense of its law.
“Our law clearly was always constitutional,” she posted on X, “and I am grateful that the Fifth Circuit has now definitively agreed with us.”
Louisiana’s Republican-controlled Legislature passed the law in 2024, which requires all public K-12 schools and colleges to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom. A group of parents quickly challenged the law in court, and a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction that stopped the state from enforcing the law.
In February, the 5th Circuit reversed the lower court’s decision, saying it had been premature to block the law before it took effect. The judges said they could not rule on the law’s constitutionality before seeing how it played out in schools.
But in the case of Texas’ law, which that state’s Republican-led Legislature passed in 2025, the court did rule on the merits.
Rejecting arguments made by attorneys for the Texas families who challenged the law, the 5th Circuit majority said that requiring public schools to post the Ten Commandments does not amount to the government endorsing a particular religion, which the U.S. Constitution forbids. The law also does not impose religious beliefs on students, the judges wrote.
“As noted, S.B. 10 authorizes no religious instruction and gives teachers no license to contradict children’s religious beliefs (or their parents’),” the majority opinion says. “No child is made to recite the Commandments, believe them, or affirm their divine origin.”
The Texas families were represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Texas, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, with the law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP serving as pro bono counsel. The same groups, including Louisiana’s ACLU chapter, represented the Louisiana families.
In a statement Tuesday, the organizations said they are “extremely disappointed” by the 5th Circuit’s ruling, adding that they expect to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“The First Amendment safeguards the separation of church and state, and the freedom of families to choose how, when and if to provide their children with religious instruction,” the groups said. “This decision tramples those rights.”
Nearly all major industries in Louisiana added jobs over the past year, signaling momentum for a stronger future, according to a recent report from Leaders for a Better Louisiana.
The organizat…
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SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — Police say a man shot and killed eight children, including seven of his own, following a domestic dispute in Shreveport.
The incident took place early Sunday morning, April 19, on West 79th Street in the Cedar Grove neighborhood. According to the Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office, the victims included three boys and five girls, aged between three and 11-years-old. Seven of the children were siblings, while one was a cousin. Two adult females were also injured, including one who was shot at a home located in the 500 block of Harrison Street.
One of the adults was inside the home on West 79th Street when the children were killed. She managed to escape through a window with two of the children and reached the roof. The woman jumped down with one of the children. Unfortunately, the other child did not manage to escape. Police later found his body on the roof with a gunshot wound. The surviving child was taken to the hospital with a broken leg.
The children were identified by their mothers as Jayla (age 3), Shayla (age 5), Kayla (age 6), Layla (age 7), Markaydon (age 10), Sariahh (age 11), Khedarrion (age 6), and Braylon (age 5).
Authorities say the suspect and father of the victims, Shamar Elkins, was the only person who fired shots that led to the juveniles’ deaths.
Authorities noted that Elkins stole a vehicle near West 79th Street after he shot the victims. He was pursued by patrol officers into Bossier Parish, where they discharged their weapons and fatally shot him on Brompton Lane. Louisiana State Police will take over the investigation involving the officers.
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux expressed his thoughts on the matter, saying, “We have a hurting community. We have hurting families. We have hurting police officers, coroner’s personnel, fire department, sheriff people, and this affects the entire community. We all mourn with these families. I ask, it’s a Sunday morning. I ask all of you who are, who are listening, who might be able to. Pray at your services this morning for not just this family, for all the victims, for the victims who are at the hospital, and for the Cedar Grove community and for the community at large.”
Attorney General Liz Murrill also commented on the tragic shooting, stating, “Multiple law enforcement agencies are investigating this tragic situation. We do not yet know all the details, but I am deeply saddened by the senseless loss of life. I’m praying for the victims and their family members in the wake of this devastating violence.”
According to the Director of Strategy and Communications, Mary Nash-Wood, two of the children attended Summer Grove, and at least four attended Linwood Charter School.
The police have not determined a motive. More updates will be provided as the information becomes available.
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