Terrebonne Parish: Marshlands, Museums and Cajun Culture

Terrebonne Parish combines marshlands with museums, local art and Cajun culture. This gives you different options when planning your trip: nature observation and outdoor activities, exhibitions and history, or classes and regional cuisine. Each attraction and offering has its own focus.

Marshlands, Birdwatching and Outdoor Activities

The Pointe-aux-Chenes Wildlife Management Area consists mostly of marshland crisscrossed by ponds, bayous and canals. The W. J. Defelice Marine Center offers self-guided tours, aquariums and educational exhibits about Louisiana’s marine environment. An observation tower offers views across the marshland, while a boardwalk by a pond provides a place for birdwatching. Nature observation and learning about the marine environment are thus distinct aspects of a visit.

Guided excursions from the W. J. Defelice Marine Center to nearby salt marshes, bays or island areas can be arranged for public groups of more than ten people. Those who want to focus on birdwatching can also visit the Louisiana Coastal Birding Trail, which runs through Terrebonne Parish and connects with the Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge and the Pointe-aux-Chenes Wildlife Management Area. The Southdown Trail System is open to hikers and cyclists.

History, Art and Local Traditions

Southdown Plantation & Museum preserves and shares the history of the plantation, as well as the culture and arts of Terrebonne Parish. This includes exhibitions, educational programs and special events. The classes at the Terrebonne Folklife Culture Center offer a hands-on way to explore local traditions, with Cajun dancing, cooking, crafts and duck decoy carving on the program. Individuals and groups are welcome; be sure to confirm the dates in advance.

The Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum celebrates the industries and traditions that shape the region’s Bayou culture. The museum houses the Bayouside Gallery, a space for changing art exhibitions. The Chauvin Sculpture Garden on Bayou Petit Caillou offers a different artistic perspective: the garden is an art environment created by outsider artist Kenny Hill. The Regional Military Museum is dedicated to honoring local heroes who have served throughout American history. Together, these places cover a range of themes—from regional culture and art to remembrance of military service.

Cajun Cuisine and Distilling Traditions

The Terrebonne Parish section of the Wetlands Cultural Byway includes Houma Historic Downtown and the Bayou Boardwalk, with local museums, shops, restaurants and Cajun cuisine. This part of the byway therefore brings together a range of cultural and culinary interests. Bayou Terrebonne Distillers traces its family distilling tradition on the banks of Bayou Terrebonne back to the Prohibition era. Offerings include a tour, cocktails and a tasting of small-batch spirits. As tour arrangements may change, it is advisable to confirm them before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Houma, Gray, Franklin, Iberia Parish, Ascension Parish, Lincoln, West Baton Rouge Parish, St. Martin Parish.

For the main travel overview: Louisiana.