Louisiana Swampland Adventure

May 4-5, 2012

It was just an overnight trip, but we thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Louisiana's Swampland. Starting with Avery Island, we toured the Tabasco Pepper Sauce Factory.  We were amazed to learn how many countries around the world have been introduced to this spicy Louisiana flavor. 

Tabasco pepper sauce is bottled and packed at Avery Island for shipment worldwide.

After the factory,  we toured the island's 200-acre Jungle Gardens.  The Gardens were developed by E.A. McIlhenny, son of Tabasco sauce inventor Edmund McIlhenny, and a noted naturalist and explorer.  In the late 19th century, McIlhenny helped save the Snowy Egret from extinction.  Now, some 20,000 Snowy Egrets and other water birds next on the Island each year.

Birds nest on specially-built platforms in a pond nicknamed "Bird City."

A short drive back into New Iberia took us to Shadows on-the-Teche.  Sugarcane planter David Weeks completed this stately home overlooking the Bayou Teche in 1834.  Today, tours provide a vivid picture of plantation life.

The architecture of Bayou on-the-Teche combines Classic Revival and Louisiana Colonial elements.

Saturday morning, we joined Cajun Country Swamp Tours for a two-hour journey through the St. Martin Swamp.  It was an amazing journey through moss covered tree and black water swamp.  We saw dozens of birds, including an upclose look at the next of a red-winged Blackbird.  There were magnificent Herons and Egrets and, of course, alligators of every size.  The 14-passenger, flatbottomed boat was able to squeeze us into tight areas, even inside a duck blind on the lake.  Overall, a wonder experience.

We saw alligators in every size.