Group Tour Magazine - August 2023 - 82

SOUTHEA S T
Spiritual Sites
Louisiana's River Parishes are home
to a rich spiritual community. Visit
these beautiful worship spaces to
learn more about the history of
the area's African American and
Catholic communities.
Shell Bank Bayou, River Parishes region, Louisiana
STORIES FROM
THE SWAMP
Louisiana's River Parishes region offers a unique
blend of cultural and outdoor experiences
BY KATHERINE LAWLESS
B
82
AUGUST 2023
etween Baton Rouge and New Orleans lies Louisiana's River Parishes,
a 30-mile strip of land unlike any other. Th e region's culture is rooted
in traditions from the Germans, Acadians, French, Spanish, Native
Americans, and enslaved Africans who lived there, resulting in a
diverse travel experience. As your groups tour the small towns, plantations,
and swamps, they'll experience authentic Louisiana living.
Just before the Civil War began, there were more than 300,000
enslaved people in Louisiana, and that period in history is represented
at several plantations in the Louisiana River Parishes area.
For example, Destrehan Plantation is a living history museum with
interpreters who guide visitors across the property and through the
history of the Destrehan family, the lives of the enslaved, and the plantation's
architectural features. Meanwhile, the Whitney Plantation is
the only former plantation site in Louisiana with an exclusive focus
on slavery and its impact today. Th rough exhibits and artwork, visitors
can learn about the generations of enslaved Africans who tended
to the plantation's indigo, rice, and sugar crops.
In addition to learning about Louisiana's history, groups should
make time to explore Louisiana's unique outdoors. Swamp tours are
some of the most popular experiences in Louisiana, and the River
Parishes region is no exception. In Shell Bank Bayou, get up close
and personal with nature with the guidance of Wild Louisiana Tours.
Historic Riverlands Christian Center,
formerly Our Lady of Grace Catholic
Church, was the fi rst African American
Catholic Church in the River
Parishes where Black people could
freely worship without segregation
from white churchgoers.
In Vacherie, Our Lady of Peace
Catholic Church has a long history of
inclusive worship. In the late 1800s,
priests there were insistent that Black
Catholics be allowed to practice their
faith. Today, the church has a monument
dedicated to this part of history.
St. Michael the Archangel Catholic
Church is home to the oldest
working Henry Erben organ in
Louisiana as well as an homage to
the Lourdes Grotto, where the apparition
of the Blessed Virgin appeared
to St. Bernadette Soubirous.
Kayak through the historic Manchac cypress
swamp, which was once a destroyed logging
ghost town. Cajun Pride Swamp Tours is
another local favorite. Led by native Cajun
captains, the tours are both a local history
lesson and a wildlife safari. Keep an eye out
for alligators, wild pigs, raccoons, and more.
After all that exploring, your group is bound
to be hungry. Not only is there excellent jambalaya
and gumbo at many area restaurants,
but your group can also dine on catfi sh from
Lac des Allemands, aka the " Catfish Capital
of the Universe, " and follow along on the
Andouille Trail to try the famous French-German
sausages. If your group is interested in a
hands-on culinary experience, visit Spuddy's
Cajun Foods in Vacherie, where you can make
your own andouille and smoked sausage.
PHOTO CHASE GUTTMAN
Group Tour Magazine - August 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Group Tour Magazine - August 2023
