With stories of hidden pirate treasure ringing in my ears, I journeyed to the hiding spot of one of Louisiana’s most colorful historical figures, Jean Lafitte. Born in France, Lafitte journeyed to the Louisiana territory and began a career as privateer and smuggler. His group of cohorts, named the Baratarians for their use of the surrounding Barataria waterways, managed to elude capture time and again. Their exploits and daring deeds are still talked about today.
When we arrived at the site of Jean Lafitte National Park and Preserve, a 23,000 acre nature preserve in Barataria, Louisiana, we stepped back into a relaxing walk through the past. The trails are built through the bayou, allowing us to observe wildlife up close and personal. We chose the three mile round trip hike and began our journey. The first half was largely through the bayou and was semi-shaded. From the wooden path we observed birds, squirrels, snakes, fish and frogs only inches away.
We continued onto the rocky path that wandered by a creek and an extensive section of bayou and listened to bull alligators informing us this was their territory. We had been walking for about half a mile when we heard shrieking, and, being nosy, we went to investigate. A family had been enjoying their lunch by the side of the bayou when an alligator swam up to them in search of sustenance. I snapped a picture of him before he began clamoring up the bank. On our way back we found a different alligator sitting in the middle of the path. Bryan’s suggestion, “Let’s just go around him,” was not well received. It was exciting to be so close to wildlife in their natural habitat.
The Jean Lafitte Park and Preserve is free to visit and located approximately 45 minutes outside of New Orleans. This was one of the highlights of our trip and they kids remarked how much they enjoyed it too. To help you make the most of your trip I’ve included some tips:
Summer in Louisiana is humid. Be sure to take water bottles on your hike. Three miles seemed like no big deal, but we were all ready for a (large) drink when we got back to the car.
Plan on spending two to three hours on the hike to observe all the wildlife and historical markers.
Be sure to wear comfortable shoes. I wore flip flops. It was not a good idea.
Did I mention this is a semi tropical environment with plenty of large, biting insects? Wear insect repellent.
Have you visited the Jean Lafitte Park and Preserve?
Pingback: Illinios' Bayou: Cache River National Wildlife Refuge - Simply Southern Mom
OMGosh! On one hand I would LOVE to see this but on the other hand – OMGosh!! I would FREAK if I saw that snake or alligators like that so close!!
That is gorgeous. I hadn’t heard of it before.
My kids would totally enjoy this, their favorite show is Wild Kratts. That snake is so NOT hiding. LOL
My boyfriend would absolutely love that! He’s really into gators. It looks like a beautiful place!
I love seeing alligators or crocodiles as long as they are far away. I have actually held a baby alligator twice in Florida.
That is pretty cool! I’d love to go see this park even though I’m afraid of snakes 😛
This looks like a fun trip. I would love to hang out here for a few hours.
I’ve only been to Louisiana once, about thirty years ago. I’ve always wanted to go back. We did not go there, it sounds interesting.
The pictures are nice to look at (in the comfort of my house). LOL I don’t think I like alligators too much.
It sounds really neat, the pictures are beautiful, and I’ll happily take your word on what a great place it is. I am more scared of the heart attack I would most certainly have from seeing a snake than I am of actually having one bite me. and alligators, oh nooooo. I. am. a. reptile. hater. My husband and son, however, would think it is the best place on Earth.
I would love to spend more time in Louisiana. I’ve been to New Orleans a couple of time and driven through on I-10 once, but I’ve never been to that site. I want to go!
Wow I love that this place is free! Definitely worth a stop to check it out if we’re ever in the area. My grandsons would get a kick out of this!
This looks like a really cool place to visit! We might just have to take a weekend trip and check it out!
I’m all itchy after seeing that snake! There is a park similar to this, but for South Dakota native animals. That one is cool. We had buffalo come really close to our car. I am so terrified of creepy crawly things, especially alligators and snakes.
Awesome post. Pictures are fantastic.
My kids would really love this place. I can handle seeing the alligators up close but I’m not so sure about the snakes!
oh wow that is really neat, so glass between you and the wildlife like at the zoo. Up close!
It seems Louisiana and FL. have a lot of similarities. You just made me miss Florida, lol Insects and all. 😉 This looks like a place my daughter would love to go (she’s the one, not the boys who LOVES this kind of stuff).
What fun! That would be awesome to go see. My kids would love it so would I. Awesome pictures you took
How neat! You know, when I was about 3 years old, my mom took me to a place called Gator Land. To this day, I still have nightmares about alligators LOL
I’ll have to do that next time I go down. That is so super cool, and I love the sneaky snake!
Oh my! These pictures totally freaked me out. There is nothing I hate more than alligators and snakes.
Oh my gosh! That is so cool but I would be so scared.
Alligators are so cool! As a kid I got to see them a lot on trips to FL but living in MN we don’t ever get to see them otherwise!
That would be such a cool place to visit. The gators would be interesting. The snakes though… I’m not too sure I’d get a kick out of seeing those up close lol.
I love the alligators. Snakes, I could do without. lol
Ahhhhh! I enjoy the photos. Not sure you could get me there, but my hubby and son would LOVE to go here! 🙂 I’ll definitely share it with them! 🙂
Love to see animals in their natural habitat. Looks like a great place to visit!
That park looks really awesome.
Wow! The alligators would be awesome, but I could do without the snakes. eek!
Ok, alligators just give me the creeps. But I would keep my distance.
It looks so green there! I’ve never been to that park.
Ooh this looks like awesome fun! I saw green water like that before at a park I visited in Florida.. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Neato! Well, I do have to admit snakes really creep me out… they are fun to look at in pics.. and from a distance!
Eek! Gators are so close!! You got
Some great shots
WOW Scary But Amazing Will Have To Go
Looks like some of the places I’ve visited here in FL. Nature is both beautiful and frightening.
This is such a beautiful place! I love posts about places in Louisiana. I love reptiles so this would be a great place to visit!
The thought of being upclose with snakes and alligators kinds of scares me. This would be a fun place for my hub to take our three sons.
What a cool park! I love any place that gives me the opportunity to see wildlife in their natural habitat!
I live in Florida so I see a lot of alligators, too!! This park looks fun and educational, too!!
yikes! I may not be that adventurous. I don’t think I want to see alligators and snakes up close. It is a beautiful setting and I can see how fun it could be for some
Oh my goodness, I seriously just got the worst shivers up my back with those pictures! EEK. Alligators and snakes really scare me. But i can’t deny this would be an amazing place to visit. So cool.
My kids would love this!!! I would from a distance, thanks for sharing.
I jump a little when I came upon the snake, seem pretty close for comfort. Even though it seemed cool, I can’t help but feel a creeped out.
Eek! I don’t know if I would do well with this adventure! Too many creepy crawlies!
I would love this so much. I can’t believe how close you can get to the wildlife. Amazing
Great picture of the gator, I don’t know if i would have been brave enough to get that close!
We’re going to be in Louisiana later this year and will have to check this out although all those snakes and alligators kind of freak me out!
I have never been there but I have been ziplining in New Orleans. Gators scare me but snakes scare me more. Beautiful photos!
This would creep me out but my family would love this!
That is really cool!! I have never seen this part of the country and would love to explore critters close up like you did !!
Hmmm, that snake seems VERY close. lol This looks beautiful! I love all that green!!!
So beautiful. I would love to visit one day.
That is so cool, I’ve always wanted to tour the bayou, adding this to my must-visit list!
That sounds like loads of fun. I would love to visit one day.
My boys would LOVE that. My oldest recently discovered the show Gator Boys and wants to go to visit Gatorland now. LOL.