Nearly 200 migratory bird species that pass through the area, from snow geese to roseate spoonbills As you drive across the coastal prairies and freshwater marshes, keep your binoculars close to catch a glimpse of some of the nearly 200 migratory bird species that pass through the area, from snow geese to roseate spoonbills. Positioned under two major flyways, this 9,000-acre expanse is a birder’s paradise. Alligators are a common sight on the five wildlife refuges linked by the trailīIRD-WATCH | Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Learn the best places to spot alligators, how to identify the calls of birds, and more intel on the five wildlife refuges linked by the trail. The jumping-off point for the 180-mile Creole Nature Trail All-American Road, the center will immerse you in the culture and wildlife of Southwest Louisiana through interactive exhibits. GET BRIEFED | Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point Just outside the city, you’ll find plenty of outdoor adventure in Louisiana’s Outback, a thinly populated landscape of marshes and prairies where alligators outnumber people and birds flock by the millions. If you’re looking to celebrate, the “festival capital of Louisiana” has you covered, hosting more than 75 such events each year. You’ll see it in the city’s diverse architectural styles and range of culinary offerings, from Cajun boudin and pistolettes to spicy crawfish and Gulf shrimp. Lake Charles, the largest city in Southwest Louisiana, reflects the wide variety of cultures that make up this region claimed by both Louisiana and Spanish Texas in the early 19th century.

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