Enjoy nature in all seasons
With the Gulf of Mexico bordering the southern part of the state, not to mention the majestic Mississippi River, numerous lakes and some 8,000 km of navigable waterways (rivers, bayous, creeks and canals), water sports activities here enjoy an exceptional playground. Kayaking and canoeing are very popular activities, and there's no shortage of good spots, particularly in the bayous and swamps. Another popular activity is river tubing, or tubing as it's known here. The Northshore region of Greater New Orleans is renowned for its tubing.
For those who prefer to put on their boots, the state abounds in hiking trails. Cycling is also very popular, whether on the road or in the mountains. For a great ride near New Orleans, we recommend the Tammany Trace circuit, which stretches over some 50 kilometers between Covington and Slidell (tammanytrace.org).
Louisiana is also renowned for its superb golf courses, of which there are dozens here, including Louisiana's Audubon Golf Trail, home to the most exclusive of them all (audubongolf.com). Created in 2001, this circuit includes golf courses designed by Arnold Palmer, David Toms and Pete Dye. In 2004, the latter presented one of his other magnificent creations: the TPC Louisiana, home of the annual Zurich Classic of New Orleans. To preserve the beauty of the landscape and the wildlife, each course is a member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program.
Of course, a host of other activities are available in Louisiana, including rock climbing (indoor centers), aerial courses and zip lines, skydiving, horseback riding...
Teasing fish or game
Hunting and fishing are popular activities in Louisiana. The famous lodges exploit a territory while offering their services. They offer packages for expeditions that must be booked in advance, but they take care of everything: accommodation, equipment and accompaniment by qualified guides. You can also opt for a hunting or fishing trip lasting a few hours, but in any case, you need to be in possession of a license (usually included when booking an expedition with a lodge or outfitter). Hunting and fishing licenses are available online from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (wlf.louisiana.gov), at Walmart stores and at many authorized retailers. Note that under an agreement between Louisiana and Texas, it is possible to fish in border waters with a Louisiana-issued license. This includes Caddo Lake, Toledo Bend Reservoir, as well as Sabine Lake, Sabine River and Sabine Pass.
Here are three typical Louisiana experiences:
Sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico promises great catches here: barracuda, cobia, mahi-mahi, king mackerel, blue marlin, yellowfin tuna, etc. Severalfishing charters are based south of New Orleans, including Buras, Venice, Grand Isle and Cocodrie, not to mention the Calcasieu River estuary near the Texas border.
Crayfish fishing. In Kaplan, in the heart of Cajun country, Barry Toups, manager of Crawfish Haven Mrs Rose's B&B, offers this unique experience. Of course, you'll be able to sample your catch on the spot, and you'll be taught the proper way to shuck the beast without missing a crumb. Although there are plenty of crayfish fishermen in Louisiana, Barry is the only one to offer this type of excursion to visitors during the season (winter and spring).
Alligator hunting. While alligator hunting is legal in Louisiana, it is highly regulated. Hunters must not only have a license specifically for alligator hunting, but must also own a certain amount of wetlands (or have permission to hunt on someone else's property). If they meet these conditions, they can register with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (wlf.louisiana.gov/subhome/alligator) and receive their tags, which they must affix to each alligator killed.
The hunting season lasts one month, with different dates depending on the region. It begins on the last Wednesday in August in the east and the first Wednesday in September in the west, and lasts only 60 days. During this period, hunting is permitted from sunrise to sunset.
On the professional sports side
The beloved sport of Louisianans and Americans in general, NFL (National Football League) soccer is a veritable religion. And attending a Saints (New Orleans' home team) game at Caesars Superdome, one of the world's largest domed structures, is sure to impress! The team has been elevated to iconic status ever since it won the Super Bowl in 2009, showing the whole of America that Katrina hadn't got the better of the city's vitality. It was also the only time the team won the NFL championship.
Don't miss the tailgate party at Champions Square during a game. All the lawns around the stadium are covered with tents that fans pitch to mark out the area where they'll be spending the evening. Some bring their sofas and TVs, others the barbecue and sometimes even the fridge!
The regular season runs from early September to early January, followed by the championship matches in early February. Louisiana will host the Super Bowl in 2025 at the Caesars Superdome. College soccer is also very popular, with the local team LSU Tigers, a member of the NCAA network that groups all the teams in the country (ncaa.com/sports/football/fbs).
Alongside this highly popular sport, there's also basketball (with the New Orleans Pelicans team, a member in good standing of the NBA and domiciled at the Smoothie King Center), not forgetting non-professional sports teams such as Crescent City FC and the New Orleans Jesters in soccer, and NOLA Gold Rugby in rugby.
