Explore Houma, located just an hour southwest of New Orleans, where adventure and culture converge. Take a walk on the wild side while spotting alligators on swamp tours, reeling in redfish on fishing expeditions, and wandering through historic plantations. Situated along Bayou Terrebonne, Houma serves as the perfect base for experiencing the highlights of southern Louisiana. Eager for an unforgettable journey? Head to Houma for rich culture, warm hospitality, and mouthwatering Cajun cuisine.
Cruise through marshes and swamps; see alligators, herons, nutrias, and owls in their natural habitats; and journey into the remote reaches of southern Louisiana’s wetlands.
If you’ve never been on a swamp tour, Louisiana's Bayou Country is the place to do it.
Start with a tour by Annie Miller’s Son’s Swamp and Marsh Tours or A Cajun Man's Swamp Tours and Adventures, led by the son of area legend, Annie Miller and Captain Billy. Meander through swamps and canals, watch the wildlife, and learn about alligator and snake hunting along the way.
Embarking on a swamp tour is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and Houma has some of the best around.
Settled in Louisiana’s Bayou Country, the terre bonne that surrounds Houma is home to more than 400 species of birds and countless other animals. As such, Houma is a great starting point to your next outdoor adventure. From birding and boating to exploring, you’ll find it all here. Spy wood ducks, barred owls, Carolina wrens, and many other birds as you visit the refuges and sanctuaries along the Terrebonne Loop.
For a different kind of experience, head over to Greenwood Gator Farm and Tours, a family-friendly spot where you can see alligators during a live show and even hold a baby gator. Other spots to immerse yourself with the area’s wildlife are the Pointe-Aux-Chenes Wildlife Management Area, comprised of 35,000 acres of wetland and ideal for exploring, or the Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge, only accessible by boat but features excellent viewing of waterfowl, wading birds, and other creatures.
Louisiana has one of the largest fisheries in the United States, and Houma’s near-coastal location makes it the perfect starting point to bagging a few catches of your own.
Take your pick from several charter companies to find the perfect outing.
Custom excursions are on the menu at CoCo Charters, founded by Captain Joshua Ellender and Jock Cenac, they have built a reputation for providing top-notch fishing trips on the beautiful waters of Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico.
If you love art or history, you’ll find plenty to discover in Houma. Soak up all there is to know about Houma’s wetland history at the Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum, where interactive displays and exhibits teach you about the industries, traditions, and stories that make up the unique culture of the area. This family-friendly spot even hosts weekly Cajun music on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Ready to try your luck at Cajun dancing? Take a class at the Terrebonne Folklife Culture Center, which also provides hands-on in Cajun cooking, crafts, and even decoy carving.
One of the most notable art stops in the area is the Chauvin Sculpture Garden + Art Studio, where you can admire more than 100 concrete sculptures.
With their grand architecture and depth of history, each of southern Louisiana’s plantations has its own story to tell. Start at the Southdown Plantation & Terrebonne Museum, a 19th-century manor with restored slave quarters, a worker’s cabin, and a gift shop.
Go on the guided tour to learn what life was like at this former sugar plantation, as well as other facets of Louisiana’s history as told by its many exhibits.
