The Travel Diaries
Louisiana: Small Towns, Swamps & Southern Soul - Destination Special
From the jazz clubs and Mardi Gras parades of New Orleans to the swamps, dance halls and small towns of Acadiana, this Destination Special explores a side of Louisiana, USA that many visitors never get to see. We travel west along Interstate 10 into the heart of Cajun and Creole country, a region shaped by its French language, distinctive music, extraordinary food and deep connection to the surrounding bayous. Louisiana travel and culture writer Herman Fuselier shares the traditions behind Jazz Fest and Mardi Gras, introduces the sounds of Cajun and Zydeco music, and explains why the true heart of Cajun country lies beyond New Orleans. Cajun French musician Jourdan Thibodeaux joins me from his home on Cypress Island, overlooking the Atchafalaya Basin. We discuss language, identity, life in the swamp and the importance of experiencing South Louisiana authentically. Finally, Lori Johnson Walls of Johnson’s Boucanière in Lafayette introduces the dishes every first-time visitor should try, from crawfish étouffée and po’boys to beignets and a proper Louisiana boudin. Destination Recap Cities, towns and regions New Orleans, USA Baton Rouge, USA Acadiana, USA Atchafalaya Basin, USA Lafayette, USA Breaux Bridge, USA Opelousas, USA Eunice, USA New Iberia, USA Lake Charles, USA Sunset, USA Arnaudville, USA Washington, USA Cypress Island, USA Henderson, USA Mamou, USA Avery Island, USA Vacherie, USA Places mentioned New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, New Orleans, USA French Quarter, New Orleans, USA Café du Monde, New Orleans, USA Eunice Cajun Mardi Gras, Eunice, USA La Poussière Cajun Dancehall, Breaux Bridge, USA Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival, Breaux Bridge, USA El Sido’s Zydeco & Blues Club, Lafayette, USA Festivals Acadiens et Créoles, Lafayette, USA Johnson’s Boucanière, Lafayette, USA Dwyer’s Café, Lafayette, USA Poor Boy’s Riverside Inn, Lafayette, USA Olde Tyme Grocery, Lafayette, USA Borden’s Ice Cream Shoppe, Lafayette, USA Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival, Opelousas, USA DezMeaux’s Boudin, Opelousas, USA Steamboat Warehouse Restaurant, Washington, USA Hotel Klaus , Washington, USA Fred’s Lounge, Mamou, USA Cypress Cove Landing Houseboats , Henderson, USA TABASCO Factory and Avery Island, Avery Island, USA Laura Plantation, Vacherie, USA To find out more about visiting Louisiana, go to ExploreLouisiana.com . If you’d like to find out who’s joining me next Tuesday, come and follow me on Instagram and TikTok . I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. I’ll be back on Sunday with another episode of Unpacked, this time with Suzannah Ramsdale, Lifestyle Director for The Standard. With thanks to... Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.co.uk/host . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
