Thursday, March 25, 2010

Houseboats For Rent

I had friends driving in from Colorado to do a swamp tour with me and spend the night on a houseboat in the swamp.






The view of Mc Gee's Landing and Henderson Lake in the Atchafalaya Basin.

As soon as I crossed the levee, I could see the houseboat my friends rented at Mc Gee's.


They are a band called Motorhome from Colorado,

coming to play at Somewhere Else's

and the Blue Moon Saloon in Lafayette

Nice Houseboat!

Houseboats For Rent on Henderson Lake at Mc Gee's Landing located on Hwy 352 in Henderson, La.

Monday, March 22, 2010

The Best Bed and Breakfast in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana


I regularly visit Rocky and Lisa Sonnier, to indulge in the world famous boudin they serve in the dining area of the Bayou Boudin and Cracklin Company, which is the parent company of the Bayou Cabins Bed And Breakfast in Breaux Brigde, Louisiana.

If you planning to visit Cajun Country for a swamp tour, and are researching your accomadation options near by,
you need to check out the Bayou Cabins,
because it is only about a 10-15 minute drive
to the landing where I launch my tour.Nice, clean, well appointed cabins on the bayou

Not only is Rocky, the Boudin King, he established the first bed and breakfast in Breaux Bridge over 20 years ago. Rocky and his wife, Lisa are personal friends of mine and I highly recommend you visit them and sample the food even if you can't spend the night.

If you have been looking for a Cajun accent or someone who speaks French, they can satisfy you either way. Cajun hospitality can be a notch or two above southern hospitality, and Rocky and Lisa will make you feel like you are family, if you allow them to host you over night.

Also the friendliest Bed And Breakfast in Breaux Bridge

The reception area, cafe, dining rooms, kitchen, and gift shop of this unique vacation get-away, is centered in an original 1869 Cajun styled house which has been authentically restored to museum quality and is recognized by the Historical Society of Breaux Bridge as seen below.

Located on the historic Bayou Teche, is a complex consisting of thirteen Bayou Cabins which were all restored with original doors, windows and floors when possible and remodeled with new modern, plumbing, wiring, insulation, and are immaculately maintained by a full-time staff.

Prices for the cabins range from $60-$135 per night and feature decorations and furnishings of local collectibles of the Cajun and Creole cultures.

All are climate controlled with air conditioners, heaters, and ultra clean bathrooms. Some are on the banks of the Bayou Teche, with a back deck over the water, and most have a screened-in porch, so you can enjoy the fragrant night air of south Louisiana, without getting attacked by mosquitos!If you didn't get a cabin on the water, you can still enjoy the view of Bayou Teche when you borrow the house canoes and tour the bayou with your family.
Because Breaux Bridge is the Crawfish Capitol of the world and celebrates the Crawfish Festival in the first weekend of May, you may not be able to get a reservation this late in the game for that weekend, but they will put you on the waiting list anytime you have a special date and work with as best they can.

They do welcome walk-ins, but are not there is no one to check you in on Mondays and Tuesdays without a reservation.

And because you get a welcome platter of food and breakfast in the morning, best to make a reservation if possible. you don't want to miss the home cooked food!

Located @ 100 Mills Ave/Hwy. 94 in Breaux Bridge,
you can get there by exiting Interstate 10 at exit 109,
and call 337 332 6158 to make a reservation.
Here is the sign to look for on Mills Ave.
The Bayou Cabins in Breaux Bridge is lacated about 15 minutes from Lake Martin where I do my Louisiana swamp tours as seen below
and less than a block away from the Fruit Stand which serves boiled crawfish 7 days a week in the cafe and has fresh fruit and veggies, along with an amazing variety of exotic fresh and frozen seafood too.

Hwy 94, A.K.A. the Lafayette/Breaux Bridge highway will lead you straight from The Bayou Cabins and into Lafayette about 5 miles away,
meaning you are only about 10 minutes from downtown Lafayette,
and the Blue Moon Saloon

Recently, I went there expecting to enjoy the Lost Bayou Ramblers...

From the moment I walked in, I knew the Moon was lit up and was going to be wild, there were ladies twirling flaming batons in front,

The best part was on stage, and these were truly wild boys performing in a band called the Tornado Riders

Just like a Louisiana swamp tour,
you never know what is lurking around the next bend!


See you at the lake,



Marcus de la Houssaye
Chief Guide, and host of "My Wild Louisiana"

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

The Downtown Lafayette Art Walk

Lafayette, is known for it's eclectic lifestyle and was recently honored when Louisiana was chosen as our nations happiest state in an extensive survey.

I must confess, I could not live in Louisiana without Lafayette's art, theater, dance, music, and food.


While doing the art walk in downtown Lafayette this past Saturday, I first stopped into Gallery 529, but did not get permision to take photos,

so... I moved on to Galerie Eclaireuse

There I found an exhibit by Melissa Bonin

the most haunting images of the bayou I have ever seen in art
Wow!

So I had to find the artist

And her inro to this work


Then I moved down the street...

To an exhibit by Hannah Lane at my favorite restaurant,



In Lafayette, my favorite restaurant is without a doubt, Tsunami.



Tsunami is a class act and you know it from the moment you walk in,

I know you would think my favorite should be a Cajun restaurant, but this Japanese sushi bar is it for me, because it is Cajun style!


Not only is it food as art,

it is the freshest seafood in town,


and the freshest smiles too!


Then when I walked out,
I could not believe my eyes.


My first take was; did I drink too much hot saki?
...And someone called a tipsy taxi for me?

No, purely coincidental,
I had stumbled upon the Camo Limo!
My first thought was picking up out of state hunters and fisherman at the airport, on their way to the camp in Venice....and what about de la Houssaye's Swamp tours!

Not to mention, My Wild Louisiana!

I couldn't resist getting Clifford,the chauffeur

to take my photo next to the coolest luxury ride I have ever seen.
So....

If you need a limousine in south Louisiana, I highly recommend my latest discovery while visiting downtown Lafayette this past weekend.

You can call me at 337 298 2630 to book swamp tours,
or custom bird-watching/photo safaris,

when in season, bird and big game hunting,

marshland and bluewater fishing trips,

all with or without transportation and accomodations.


The Camo Limo!