Help me plan my trip to Cajun Country
 

I'm planning a trip to New Orleans, which is going to begin with a four-day weekend out of the city, exploring Cajun Country. I've seen the area around Breaux Bridge, St. Martinville, and New Iberia before, on day trips from New Orleans, but I'm looking forward to actually sleeping out there for a few days, so I can do less driving back and forth. I've never been into Lafayette.

I'm planning to stay in Breaux Bridge. My interests include relaxing and unwinding, seeing beautiful and/or interesting scenery, doing a little hiking, eating good food, and taking in some Cajun music.

What should I do? I've been to Cafe des Amis, and frankly I'd be happy to eat a whole weekend of meals there, but I figure I should probably try some other places too, probably in Lafayette. Here's a page full of restaurant suggestions, although I don't know how current it is: http://www.gumbopages.com/acadiana/cajun-rest.html I feel like Prejean's, at least, is a place that I shouldn't miss, right?

I'll probably try to hike around Lake Martin, which was beautiful when I did a boat tour there a few years ago. I've got a book that suggests some other hikes around that area too. Anything else in the area that I shouldn't miss?

Also, I feel like I should head down south of Houma, where I've never been before, to see some real Bayou Country, maybe on my way back to New Orleans. I've been trying to plot a trip using Cajun Country Guide, by Macon Fry and Julie Posner (a fantastic book, but 12 years old), and I'm having trouble putting together a real plan. So far all I've figured out is that I should try to drive along Bayou Pointe-aux-Chenes, and that I may need to be careful to do that at low tide if I want to make it back.

Here's a link that should help you.

http://www.fodors.com/pdf/fodors-cajun-country.pdf

Here's a few good places to stop and rest.

Get off I 10 at Exit 115 in Henderson, LA and go E on Highway 352 to Henderson Levee Road to Pat's Fisherman's Wharf for good cajun food. Go to Whiskey River Landing for good music and cold drinks. Robin's has good crawfish. Pat's Fisherman's Wharf @ 1008 Henderson Levee Rd., Henderson, LA 337 - 228 - 7512.
http://www.patsfishermanswharf.com/
Whiskey River Landing @ 1365 Henderson Levee Road, Breaux Bridge, LA 337 - 228 - 2277.
http://www.whiskeyriverlanding.net/
Robin's Restaurant @ 1409 Henderson Hwy., Henderson, LA 337 - 228 - 7594. LD. ***
http://www.roadfood.com/Restaurant/Reviews/1897/robins
Get off I 10 at Exit 109 in Breaux Bridge and go S on Rees Street or Highway 328 and go to Le Cafe for outstanding Po Boys. Or get Off I 10 at Exit 109 and go N on Highway 328 which is Anse Broussard Highway also to Poche Bridge Road. Go N to Main Highway and Poche Market and Restaurant for good Cajun cuisine for lunch. This is a buffet so you might really like it if you are in a hurry. Cafe Des Amis has outstanding food and music on Wednesday nights. There's also Zydeco breakfasts on Saturday morning at 8:30.
Le Cafe @ 124 Rees St., Breaux Bridge, LA 337 - 332 - 2500.
Poche's Market and Restaurant @ 3015 Main Hwy., Breaux Bridge, LA. 337 - 332 - 2108.
http://www.pochesmarket.com/
Cafe De Amis @ 140 East Bridge Street, Breaux Bridge, LA 337 - 332 - 5273.
http://www.cafedesamis.com/
Get off I 10 at Exit 101 in Lafayette, LA then go S on Hwy. 182 which is N University. Go less than a mile to Creole Cafe for good country breakfast or plate lunch.
Creole Cafe @ 1227 N. University Ave., Lafayette, LA 337 - 266 - 4648.
Or get off I 10 at Exit 101 in Lafayette, LA and go S on Hwy. 182 which is N University. Go S on University and it becomes W University. Take a right on Johsnton St. and go three blocks and take a right on W St. Mary Blvd.then go one block where you will find Old Thyme Grocery for good road food and the best po boys in LA.
Old Tyme Grocery @ 218 West Saint Mary Blvd., Lafayette, LA 337 - 235 - 8165.
Or get off I 10 in Lafayette, LA at Exit 101 and go S on Hwy. 182 which is N University. Go S on University and it becomes W University then it becomes E University. Go to Pinhook and take a right then go about 6 blocks to Blue Dog Cafe for great road food.
Blue Dog Cafe @ 1211 West Pinhook Road, Lafayette, LA 337 - 237 - 0005.
http://www.bluedogcafe.com/
Get off I 10 at Exit 82 and go N to Hawk's for fresh crawfish.
Hawk's Crawfish @ 415 Hawks Road, Rayne, LA 337 - 788 - 3266.
http://hawkscrawfish.com/home.htm
Get off I 10 @ Exit 64 in Jennings, LA and go S on Highway 26 to Frey's Crawfish House for good cajun food for lunch or dinner. They only serve dinner on T/F/S. Be sure to check their hours.
Frey's Crawfish House @ 919A North Lake Arthur Ave., Jennings, LA 337 - 246 - 5023.
http://freyscrawfish.com/

We spent a few days in that area about 4 years ago. It was a lot of fun. We stayed at Cajun Country Cottages outside of Breaux Bridge, which we really liked. The cottages are on a small lake - rustic, but very comfortable. Reminded me of the cabin my family used to have.

Lake Martin was definitely a highlight of our trip - we took a boat tour with Butch Guchereaux. It was June and alligator mating season, so no hiking near the lake, but I think other times of the year you can.

We also went to the Jungle Gardens on Avery Island near the Tabasco Factory - that was a surprise highlight of the trip.

In New Iberia, we toured Shadows on the Teche, which was neat and had lunch at a place on the main street called the Laignappe Cafe (probably spelled it wrong) which was really good.

Littleman, thank you for those fantastic and detailed suggestions! I'm entering them into my GPS now. I regret that I have but ten meals to enjoy. If I may, can I ask another food-related question? I'm landing at MSY on a Friday, at around noon, and then picking up a rental car and heading out to Breaux Bridge. It will take me a few hours to get there, and I'm thinking of stopping somewhere for lunch along the way. I guess I might be able to make it as far as Baton Rouge before I get hungry. Is there someplace noteworthy between MSY and Baton Rouge where I might want to stop for lunch, or should I just stop someplace quick and easy, and keep traveling?

November_moon, I thank you for your suggestions too. The last time I was in Louisiana, I loved my boat tour of Lake Martin too. I think I had actually called Butch Guchereau first, but he wasn't working on the day when I was there, so he recommended Norbert Leblanc. He was fantastic too.

I was thinking about Jungle Gardens, but I wasn't sure it was worth the stop. I'll check out the web site.

We were in the area, so we went to Jungle Gardens because it was there. We ended up spending hours there and only left because we were really hungry and hadn't brought anything to eat. The place started out as a refuge for the snowy egrets - built by the McIlhenny family - the Tabasco people. They started building gardens around the refuge and over time it got bigger anf bigger. You actually drive through the gardens, stopping along the way to see the different places.

Here ya go Hawksbill. LaPlace is on your way to BR. If you want great fresh seafood and an outstanding view of Lake Pontchartrain get off I 10 at Exit 209 and go N on Highway 51 one mile to Peavine Road. Take a right and go another mile to Frenier Landing Restaurant. The Crab Trap is also a great place for fresh seafood next door to Frenier Landing. CT is only open Thursday/Friday/Saturday for dinnner.
Frenier Landing Restaurant @ Peavine Road, LaPlace, LA 985 - 224 - 2178.
http://www.frenierlanding.com/
Crab Trap @ 100 Peavine Road, Laplace, LA 985 - 651 - 4150.
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/57/14304...b-Trap-Laplace
If you have never been to Middendorf's Restaurant you must stop at Exit 15 off I 55. This is 15 miles N of I 10 but a great place for good seafood. Go E to Highway 51 and turn right. Go S about a mile to some fine fresh seafood right off the boat. They also serve great salads, gumbo, sandwiches and steaks. Stop to rest even if you don't eat. Get a cold drink and head back.
Middendorf's @ 30160 Highway 51, Akers, LA 985 - 386 - 6666.
http://middendorfsrestaurant.com/

Littleman, that was phenomenal. Thank you! I have certainly never been to Middendorf's, so I guess that's where I'm going first. I'm getting hungry already...

http://www.eunice-la.com/

For the real Cajun country, visit Eunice where many people still speak French. Eat at Nick's on Second and dance at D.I.'s. On Saturday morning go to an authentic jam session at the music store. Go to the Liberty Theatre on Saturday night for a Cajun Version of he Grand Old Opry. Go to the Park Service Museum to see how Cajuns have lived in this area since it was settled in the late 19th century.