Things To Do in New Iberia
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New Iberia Attractions
"Alligator" Annie Miller has gone to the Big Swamp in the sky (and we miss her), but her son is continuing her legacy with Annie Miller's Son's Swamp and Marsh Tours (tel. 800/341-5441 or 985/868-4758; www.annie-miller.com). Come here (year-round, with evening tours that they swear aren't troubled by bugs in the summer) for a close-up look at the bayou and its wildlife. In a comfortable boat, you'll visit a rookery of nesting egrets and herons and can say hello to the gators who come when they are called ("Bah-bee! Tone-y! Ti-gar!") by the friendly operators of the very personal and delightful cruises. Tours cost $15 for adults, $10 for children 12 and under. Be sure to call for current schedules, to find out which location (there are several) is nearest you, and to make reservations.
Note: This is also worth the drive from New Orleans. Take U.S. 90 west through Houma (about 57 miles), exit right at the tourist office on St. Charles Street, turn left at the stoplight onto Southdown/Mandalay Road, and proceed to Miller's Landing on Big Bayou Black.
- Park/Garden
Jungle Gardens
Across the street from the Tabasco factory (but not affiliated with it), these gardens cover more than 200 acres with something in bloom November through June. On a self-guided driving or walking tour, you'll see a 1,000-year-old Buddha in the Chinese Garden, sunken gardens, a bird… - Park/Garden
Rip Van Winkle Gardens
On the shores of Lake Peigneur, this is a place of huge oak trees, 350 years old or more, draped with Spanish moss. Originally known as Jefferson Island, it isn't a proper island, but a piece of land held up higher than its surroundings. Actor Joseph Jefferson, who gained national… - Historic Site
Shadows-on-the-Teche Plantation
This beautifully preserved 1834 Greek Revival home was only owned by one family (who had a nearby sugar plantation). Eighty-five percent of the contents are original to the house, and its history is well documented, which is unusual for plantation and old-home tours around here. The… - Tour
Tabasco Sauce Factory
Avery Island, south of New Iberia, sits atop a gigantic salt dome and the oldest salt-rock mine in the Western Hemisphere. However, it's not salt but pepper -- fiery-hot peppers that grow especially well here -- that's brought Avery Island its greatest fame. Tabasco brand pepper…
