Lake Fausse Pointe State Park

The Atchafalaya Basin is the largest swamp in the U.S., providing fresh water for a wide swath of south Louisiana. Smack in the middle is Lake Fausse Pointe State Park, a great introduction to the peculiar beauty of the region's fertile wetlands.

The region’s history alone brings many visitors to the park. Once occupied by the Chitimacha tribe, the French, Spanish and Acadians (French-speaking exiles from Canada better known today as Cajuns) have at various times claimed ownership of the area throughout the past 300 years.

Exploring the park is all about the boardwalks. Keep your boots dry as you hike the elevated walkways through healthy stands of cypress trees, taking in views of the park’s namesake waterway or neighboring Dauterive Lake.

Get an even closer view of the lakes with a canoe, kayak or flat boat, available for rent at the park’s visitors center — ask about the canoe trail while you’re there. Seeing the waterlogged forests with a paddle in hand is perhaps the best way to get a feel for what the region must have looked like thousands of years ago. Lake Fausse Pointe State Park’s boat launch offers an opportunity to get out on the water quickly and conveniently.

Grill out under the canopies of cypress trees, and afterwards, get some rest at one of the park’s primitive campsites, canoe campsites (that require paddling in), RV sites and cabins. The cabins, in particular, are worth checking out — they’re suspended by piers that add an especially rustic vibe to the surroundings.

While you’re in the area, visit one of the historic sites nearby to learn more about the swamp’s backstory. The Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site is right in St. Martinville, and the Jeanerette Museum over in Jeanerette shows the history of Louisiana's sugar cane industry. Don’t leave the area without trying some world-famous Cajun cooking, found throughout Lafayette and New Iberia.

Entrance fee: $3 per person; free for seniors age 62 and older, and children age 3 and younger.