15 Best Things to Do in Houma (LA) - The Crazy Tourist (2024)

Deep in Bayou Country, surrounded by the sprawling waters of the Atchafalaya Basin and wetlands on the Gulf of Mexico, Houma is a city that resembles few in the United States

A whole system of bayous and canals converges at Houma, creating a tangle of busy waterways in the center of the city.

Many thoroughfares are divided down the middle by canals trafficked by small vessels, with shrimp boats docked in front of their skippers’ homes.

Houma is a springboard for adventures in the swamps and fishing charters in one of the country’s richest inland fisheries.

Cajun culture is a big draw too, from its mouthwatering cuisine to Mardi Gras and a style of music that has endured for some 300 years.

1. Wetlands Cultural Byway

15 Best Things to Do in Houma (LA) - The Crazy Tourist (1)Source: Realest Nature / shutterstock

It’s impossible not to be fascinated by the epic region of wetlands buffering Louisiana from the Gulf of Mexico. In Houma you’ll have the privilege of exploring these wilds by road, which isn’t always possible elsewhere.

The Wetlands Cultural Byway is close to 290 miles long, connecting more than 20 communities on several state highways. You can arm yourself with a map from the Houma Area Visitor Center at 114 Tourist Drive in Gray.

This will guide you to remote towns and villages sustained for centuries by trapping, shrimping and small-scale farming.

This remoteness has allowed tight-knit families to keep hold of their cultural heritage to a degree rarely seen in America.

Among the many attractions and experiences awaiting you on this route are preserved downtowns, antebellum plantations, natural heritage areas, museums and cultural centers, world-class seafood restaurants, birding sites, Native American burial mounds, bayou overlooks and endless guided adventures, from fishing to swamp tours.

2. Cajun Cuisine

15 Best Things to Do in Houma (LA) - The Crazy Tourist (2)Source: bonchan / shutterstock

It’s no surprise that the unofficial capital of Bayou Country should have some of the best and most authentic Cajun cooking in the world.

We’re talking gumbo, charbroiled oysters, white beans, catfish, boudin sausage, crab cakes, red beans, po-boys, crawfish étouffée and a lot more.

Boiled seafood is a way of life in South Louisiana, and in the last few years the local tourism bureau has created the Bayou Country Crawfish Trail.

There are more than 30 stops within a short road trip of Houma, for gumbos, po-boys, boiled and even live crawfish.

Crawfish season peaks around February to mid-May, and this is prime “head” season for crawfish boils, with potatoes, corn and sausage.

Tail meat remains on menus for the rest of the year, and shows up in gumbos, crawfish pie, po-boys and étouffée.

3. Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge

15 Best Things to Do in Houma (LA) - The Crazy Tourist (3)Source: dconvertini / Flickr | CC BY-SA

A unit of the Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex, this 4,619-acre protected space, just southwest of Houma, is made up of cypress-tupelo swamp and freshwater marsh.

Crisscrossed by levees and waterways, the refuge’s expansive freshwater marshes are a habitat for thousands of migratory waterfowl, while the wooded zones offer key habitat for neotropical migratory birds in spring and fall.

These environments are visitable by boat, but you can drive the one-mile Mandalay Nature Trail, just off Black Bayou Dr.

You stand a great chance of sighting wildlife along this misty swamp walk and there are interpretive boards here detailing the Terrebonne Basin and its native species.

4. Swamp Tours

15 Best Things to Do in Houma (LA) - The Crazy Tourist (4)Source: Pierre Jean Durieu / shutterstock

Roads will only take you so far around Houma, and so the best way to encounter Bayou Country is on an airboat or similar vessel.

Fortunately there’s a catalog of local businesses waiting to provide this experience for you. Skimming across these swamplands, you’ll enter an environment that has captured the imaginations of visitors for centuries.

There’s no better way to get closer to the amazing diversity of wildlife inhabiting these cypress-dotted ponds, creeks and bayous, from American alligators to armadillos, turtles, snakes, otters, bobcats, deer, beavers and a kaleidoscope of birdlife.

The choice of experience can be intimidating, but you can plan your adventure with the help of the Houma Area Visitor Center..

5. Mardi Gras

15 Best Things to Do in Houma (LA) - The Crazy Tourist (5)Source: Mike Flippo / shutterstock

Houma has one of the biggest Mardi Gras celebrations in Louisiana, with more than a dozen active Krewes.

Starting with the Krewe of Hercules two weeks before Fat Tuesday these groups make their way along Bayou Terrebonne towards downtown from Southland Mall, in a dazzling spectacle of glowing themed floats, marching bands and tons of throws for the assembled crowds.

The Krewes continue to roll until the Krewe of Kajuns close out the season on Fat Tuesday. Throughout this time there’s a series of family-friendly events, and lots of opportunities to indulge in delicious king cake, the traditional carnival dessert.

6. Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum

15 Best Things to Do in Houma (LA) - The Crazy Tourist (6)Source: Infrogmation of New Orleans / Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 3.0

Set right on the bayou in the heart of Houma, this museum is a multifaceted look at life in Terrebonne Parish, where generations of people have forged a life on the water.

You’ll discover all of the different livelihoods supported by this unique environment, including fishing, shrimping, oystering, water-based hunting, alligator harvesting, mining, water transportation and tourism/recreation.

The museum gives you a walk-through experience with a lot of interactivity and endowed with memorable exhibits like The Wetlands Wall, a 46-foot-long curving mural documenting the natural history of the region.

7. Fishing Charters

15 Best Things to Do in Houma (LA) - The Crazy Tourist (7)Source: Penny Richard / shutterstock

The immense expanse of marshlands yawning out to the south of Houma is one of the greatest inland fisheries in the whole of the United States.

The bayous in this part of the state abound with speckled trout, redfish and black drum in the shallows, while bigger species like grouper, cobia and king mackerel lurk in the deeper zones.

Despite this abundance, this huge sweep of South Louisiana has only recently come to the attention of the fishing world, and many of the long list of fishing charter companies available in Houma have only been in business a couple of years.

There were more than 40 at the last count, so you’re sure to find the company and package that is right for you.

8. Pointe-aux-Chenes Wildlife Management Area

15 Best Things to Do in Houma (LA) - The Crazy Tourist (8)Source: Realest Nature / shutterstock

Towards the coast southwest of Houma, the Pointe-aux-Chenes Wildlife Management Area protects a piece of that vast region of wetlands, interwoven with canals, bayous and ponds.

In winter the reserve is a habitat for waterfowl of the Mississippi Flyway, and there are also nesting rookeries of egrets, herons and bald eagles.

The wildlife management area provides two birding decks if you want to observe these winged residents, while alligators, otters, wild horses and white-tailed deer are regularly spotted.

There’s a public boat launch along Pointe-aux-Chenes Rd, and a great way to experience this environment is on a paddling trip.

PAC Kayak Rental is based a bit further down the road at the Pointe-aux-Chenes Marina, providing fishing charters and accommodations, but also maintaining a big selection of kayaks for self-guided day trips.

9. Cajun Music

15 Best Things to Do in Houma (LA) - The Crazy Tourist (9)Source: Wendy Kaveney Photography / shutterstock

Thanks in part to its isolation out in the swamps, Houma’s traditional Cajun culture survived the advent of radio and homogenized popular culture in the 20th century.

This has now been safeguarded for future generations, and one of the great manifestations is Cajun music, which has an unmistakable sound going back deep into the 1700s.

Led by accordion and rubboard, Cajun music can be enjoyed at a host of venues around Houma, often accompanied with dishes like gumbo seasoned with filé and fried catfish and whitebeans.

For a condensed list you’ve got Friday nights at the The Jolly Inn Cajun Dancehall (1507 Barrow Street), Friday nights at A’Bears Cafe (809 Bayou Black Drive), Friday and Saturday nights at Bayou Delight Restaurant (4038 Bayou Black Drive) and Tuesday lunchtimes at Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum (7910 Park Avenue).

10. Downtown Houma

15 Best Things to Do in Houma (LA) - The Crazy Tourist (10)Source: Infrogmation of New Orleans / Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 3.0

Give yourself a little time to see more of Houma’s old downtown area. This is mostly on Main Street, which bends with the course of Bayou Terrebonne.

The oldest commercial architecture tends to be between Lafayette St in the west and Barrow St in the east, in a little district dotted with restaurants, bars and a handful of local stores.

One eye-catching building is the Beaux Arts former city hall, repurposed as a performing arts stage at Le Petit Theatre.

To the rear, a stretch of Bayou Terrebonne has public walkways in the blocks opposite the Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum.

There’s a farmers’ market on the first Saturday morning of the month at the Downtown Houma Marina, as well as weekly makers’ market on Tuesdays (3pm to dark) in the south of town at the Terrebonne Parish Main Library Parking Lot.

11. Southdown Plantation & Museum

15 Best Things to Do in Houma (LA) - The Crazy Tourist (11)Source: Z28scrambler / Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 3.0

A little way west of downtown Houma, Southdown Plantation & Museum testifies to the sugarcane industry that drove the local economy until well after World War II.

These operations were set close to waterways for east of transport, and Southdown is no different, sitting next to the Little Black Bayou.

Once covering more than 1,000 acres, Southdown Plantation was founded in 1828, while the pink and green mansion on the property was first built in 1858 and then expanded later in the century.

You can head inside to see authentic period furnishings, exhibits covering the sugarcane industry, Native American artifacts and collections relating to Mardi Gras.

On the grounds you can see preserved quarters for enslaved people, as well as a plantation worker’s cabin dating to 1885. When we wrote this article the Southdown Plantation & Museum was temporarily closed to repair damage from Hurricane Ida.

12. Regional Military Museum

15 Best Things to Do in Houma (LA) - The Crazy Tourist (12)Source: Infrogmation of New Orleans / Wikimedia | CC BY 3.0

Terrebonne Parish has a long history of service in the nation’s armed forces, and found itself on the potential frontline in the event of a German U-Boat attack during WWII.

There was a giant blimp base in Houma to counter this threat, while German PoWs were put to work in this region, in the sugarcane and rice fields.

South of downtown Houma, the Regional Military Museum tells these stories, while displaying artifacts, memorabilia and accounts relating to every conflict from the American Revolution to the United States’ 21st-century operations.

There’s some historically important hardware to go with these displays, including a Bell UH-1 Iroquois “Huey” helicopter that saw combat in Vietnam, a former Air Force F-4 Phantom, an XM474 Pershing Missile Carrier offering rides to the public, and one of President Eisenhower’s Air Force One Aero Commanders.

13. Greenwood Gator Farm

15 Best Things to Do in Houma (LA) - The Crazy Tourist (13)Source: Greenwood Gator Farm & Tours / Facebook

Just west of Houma you can visit a genuine alligator farm to discover another facet of life in the Louisiana swamps.

Greenwood Gator Farm offers tours, in which you’ll learn the life cycle, habits and commercial uses of this iconic reptile, and may even hold a live young alligator. There’s also a petting zoo, with small domestic animals like mini horses.

The farm puts on entertaining demonstrations, and there’s an educational element, presenting the history of alligator farming in Louisiana.

In recent years it’s also been possible to climb aboard an airboat here for an hour-long guided tour of the swamps, given by Tim “The Gator Man” Domangue.

14. Chauvin Sculpture Garden

15 Best Things to Do in Houma (LA) - The Crazy Tourist (14)Source: rezendi / Flickr | CC BY

One of the most unique attractions in the region is this sculpture garden about 15 miles south of Houma.

A labor of love by self-taught folk artist Kenny Hill, the Chauvin Sculpture Garden is scattered with scores of polychrome sculptures in concrete.

Hill was a mysterious and reclusive figure who began this project after moving to Chauvin in 1988, and one day simply walked away, never to be heard from again.

There’s a religious thread running through these works, entwined with self-portraits by Hill. A public park, the sculpture garden draws up to 10,000 visitors a year and was undergoing restoration work at the time of writing, following Hurricane Ida in 2021.

15. Ardoyne Plantation

15 Best Things to Do in Houma (LA) - The Crazy Tourist (15)Source: Z28scrambler / Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 3.0

Just northeast of Houma you can visit a working sugar cane plantation with a history going back to 1838.

Ardoyne Plantation has been in the same family for six generations, and the focal point is a romantic Gothic Revival mansion, built in 1888 and on the National Register of Historic Places.

Full of whimsical details, this house is thought to be the largest surviving residential building of its kind in Louisiana.

Touring the house you can peruse interesting and diverse family collections like plantation workers’ pay tokens, more than 300 antique travel spoons, 2,000+ books, Newcomb pottery, carved cypress knee dolls, and much more.

When we compiled this list Ardoyne Plantation was temporarily closed to the public but due to reopen in the very near future.

15 Best Things to Do in Houma (LA) - The Crazy Tourist (2024)

FAQs

What is Houma La famous for? ›

The city is noted for its numerous waterways, and many antebellum homes, including the Southdown Plantation (c. 1859), are in the vicinity. A U.S. government sugar experimental station is nearby. Pointe-au-Chien Wildlife Management Area, established in 1968, is about 12 miles (19 km) to the southeast.

Is Houma LA a small town? ›

Houma is a town in Louisiana with a population of 33,094. Houma is in Terrebonne Parish. Living in Houma offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. Many families live in Houma and residents tend to lean conservative.

Which swamp people live in Houma? ›

Grand Bois, Louisiana United Houma Nation RJ, along with his son Jay Paul, is featured in the History Channel's Swamp People, a reality series about alligator hunting.

What is the most famous bayou in Louisiana? ›

Bayou Teche is the most famous and the most handsomely endowed bayou in the state, curling for miles through south central Louisiana, west of the Atchafalaya Swamp. The Bayou Teche Byway hugs the slow-moving bayou that runs through the three parishes of St. Martin, Iberia, and St. Mary.

What is the racial makeup of Houma LA? ›

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Houma, LA are White (Non-Hispanic) (67.5%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (20.4%), American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic) (4.01%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (3.23%), and Two+ (Hispanic) (1.37%).

What is the friendliest small town in Louisiana? ›

Q: What is the friendliest small town in Louisiana? A: Making an appearance again, Natchitoches was named one of the friendliest small towns in the U.S. on Travel Awaits' 2022 list.

What is the meaning of Houma? ›

Houma was named after the Native American tribe who settled here, the Houmas Indians. The word houma or ouma means “red” in the tribe's language, which referred to the sun or possibly to their war emblem, the crawfish.

What language do they speak in Houma Louisiana? ›

The language of the Houmas, Uma, is part of the Western Muskogean family of languages and was unwritten. Since colonization, the community has spoken French and English.

What is the least populated town in Louisiana? ›

Mound is a village in Madison Parish, Louisiana, United States. With a population of 12 at the 2020 census, it is Louisiana's smallest village by population. Its ZIP Code is 71282.

What is the cost of living in Houma, Louisiana? ›

The cost of living in Houma, LA is 1% higher than the state average and 8% lower than the national average. Houma, LA housing is 17% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 5% less pricey.

What is the history of Houma? ›

In 1848, Houma was incorporated as a city by an act of legislature. By this time, industry in Houma consisted largely of farming plantations, seafood, fur trading and logging industries. The cultivation of sugar cane was the principal agricultural industry in the parish. The first plantation was established in 1828.

What is the most famous thing about Louisiana? ›

One of the things Louisiana is best known for is Mardi Gras, which is French for “Fat Tuesday.” Mardi Gras is celebrated in a variety of ways around the state, but most include eating king cake, participating in parades, and costuming. The holiday represents an integral part of Louisiana's culture and heritage.

What is the Bayou known for? ›

Bayous provide habitat for animals as diverse as shrimp, wading birds, and alligators. Bayou Bartholomew is the longest bayou in the world and is located in the U.S. states of Arkansas and Louisiana. It is about 603 kilometers (375 miles) long and contains more than 100 different species of fish.

What is Terrebonne Parish known for? ›

Known for our endless bayous, dark-water swamps, red crawfish, and food festivals, Terrebonne Parish is a unique part of “Cajun Country”. Terrebonne Parish consists of 987.358 square miles in land and 1079.330 square miles in water for a total area of 2066.88 square miles.

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