I’ve always been a backyard birdwatcher; building birdhouses and putting up feeders to see what I can attract. Just recently photography has become a hobby de jour. I see an event called Featherfest in Galveston which combines the two. This seems right up my alley.
The Creole Nature Trail is a 108-mile driving trail; one of the 43 designated All-American Roads in the USA. The road loops through Southwest Louisiana between Lakes Charles and the Gulf of Mexico in an area referred to as the Louisiana Outback. The Outback is an incredible mesh of natural ecosystems: marshes, prairies, and beaches providing an amazing opportunity for viewing wildlife in its natural habitat. […]
Traveling along I10 towards the Creole Nature Trail, I notice innumerable advertisements for crawfish and boudin. I’ve had plenty of crawfish while traveling through the southeast, but only have a cursory knowledge of boudin. Much to my surprise, there is a Boudin Trail in the Lake Charles, LA area. […]
The distinctive Louisiana Jazz sound didn’t develop solely in New Orleans but the Crescent City did spawn its growth. Born as a French settlement with strong Caribbean influences in the 1700s, the city was central to Jazz creation. These West Indian influences gave the city a more relaxed attitude in culture and especially music; creating a tradition of music and celebration. As New Orleans grew into a diverse world port, the melding of cultures was reflected in its music.
When first planning my trip to New Orleans, the number one thing on my list to see was the Huey P. Long Bridge. I’m sure that is not a very popular tourist attraction but one that has been on my list for 30 years. The 8,000′ long cantilevered steel truss bridge rises 150 above the Mississippi River and was opened in 1935. But that has nothing to do with its significance to me. […]
Paddle Wheel steamers are a part of the Mississippi Rivers’ history, from the plantation era, to the Civil War, through the gay nineties and into the 21st Century. From utilitarian uses to entertainment, the paddler was developed during a time which it could navigate the Mississippi’s shallow waters as well as upriver against strong currents. The paddle wheeler is engrained into the lore of the river. […]