Weekend Getaways

Authentic Cajun culture in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana


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M

Molly Feltner

    If you really want to experience Cajun culture, get out of New Orleans and head into the bayous of southwestern Louisiana, where the original Cajuns—French-speaking Acadian exiles from Canada—settled in the mid-1700s. About two hours from New Orleans, St. Martin Parish is considered the heart of Cajun country, a lush, steamy swampland that helped shape the language, music, and cuisine of this unique culture.

    On a weekend away, you should try to visit the two small communities of St. Martinville and Breaux Bridge. In

    St. Martinville

    , visit the

    Museum of the Acadian Memorial

    ($2); St. Martin de Tours, the "mother church" of the Acadians founded in 1765; and the Evangeline Oak tree and statue, two memorials dedicated to Acadian heroine depicted in Longfellow's epic poem

    Evangeline

    . Just outside of the town center, the

    Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site

    ($2) provides insight into the early Cajun settlers on the banks of the Bayou Teche.

    About 20 minutes north,

    Breaux Bridge

    , the self-titled "Crawfish Capital of the World," gives visitors a hearty taste of modern Cajun culture. You can sample both local music and cuisine at

    Cafe Des Amis

    ' Saturday morning Zydeco Breakfast ($4 cover) or at

    Whiskey River Landing

    , which hosts live Cajun or Zydeco bands Sunday evenings.

    Before leaving the area, you must go on a swamp tour, preferably with

    Bryan Champagne

    , a Cajun who grew up in the Atchafalaya basin swamp. For a mere $20, Champagne will take you on a boat tour of the waterways, where you'll float by 500-year-old Cypress trees draped in Spanish moss, see alligators and dozens of bird species, and learn about how the Cajuns made a living off the swamp.

    To learn more, go to

    Cajun Country.org

    .

    Read more of the

    50 Affordable Stateside Escapes

    .

    Have a recommendation for St. Martin Parish, or another great Louisiana getaway? Post your comment below.