Showing posts with label Louisiana. Show all posts

Sunday, October 2, 2022

1,000+ Year Old Tree in Louisiana?

Did you know that Louisiana is home to the largest bald cypress tree in the United States? Don’t feel bad if your answer was no! Actually, our Frugal Family Travelers were unaware of this as well until a recent trip to St. Francisville, Louisiana.

At 83 ft. tall and 54 ft. in circumference, the bald cypress at Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge is the 6th largest tree in the US. Even more impressive is that the tree is estimated to be between 1,000-1,500 years old. This is pretty impressive considering that the 5 top oldest trees in the United States reside in California!

Piqued your interest yet? We certainly hope so! With that being said, do not be deterred from planning a visit here if you are not a skilled hiker. The trail from the parking area to the tree is short and the terrain quite flat, which makes this a very accessible adventure for the youngest and even most inexperienced hikers.

The record tree and surrounding grove of old growth cypress trees are breathtaking and certainly worthy to add to your outdoor bucket list! Scroll down to view photos, details, directions and also other attractions in the area to make visiting St. Francisville a true get-away.

Admission:

Free

Web-site:

Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge

Click below for Directions:

Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge

Driving Directions to the Headquarters

From U.S. Highway 61 in St. Francisville take Commerce Street into town. The office is located at 5720 Commerce St. It is co-located with the St. Francisville Inn, which is next to the park and across the street from the Ford dealership.

Driving Directions to the Refuge

From U.S. Highway 61 go north of St. Francisville to Highway 66 and turn left (west toward Angola). After 1.5 miles, turn left on Solitude Road. Go about 3.5 miles and turn right at the refuge sign. Go another 1.5 miles to the refuge entrance. Enjoy your visit to Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge!

Note: The refuge is used by hunters. Check the official website for hunting schedules, refuge rules and closures before traveling here. However, don’t be deterred! Plan a visit- it’s a spectacular place to behold!

Follow the links below to discover and create a full weekend (or longer) itinerary of activities in the area!

Mary Ann Brown Nature Preserve

The Myrtles - most haunted historic home!

Clark Creek - waterfalls in Louisiana.

Audubon State Historic Site/old Centenary Collage/Train Museum

Enjoy the pictures from our Frugal Family Adventure:

Look carefully to the right side base of the tree. Our Frugal Family Traveler (pictured in purple) gives you an idea of the scale of the tree!

Disclaimer:

All content provided on Frugal Family Travelers blog is for informational purposes only. The owners of this blog make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. The owners of Frugal Family Travelers blog do not share personal information with third-parties and are not responsible for the republishing of the content found on this blog on other Web sites or media without permission. As with all travel, operating days, times, costs, etc., should be verified prior to departure.

Friday, June 25, 2021

Adventure in Plaquemine Louisiana

There are many reasons local history buffs and visitors from other states will enjoy the city of Plaquemine. Our Frugal Family Travelers certainly did and have been spying this little gem for quite some time in hopes of checking it off the bucket list. The first stop on our journey centered around the Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, the lock represents a time in Louisiana history when steam boats and later the first air boats traveled from the mighty Mississippi River into Bayou Plaquemine to transport goods. The lock was an engineering marvel of its day, due to George Gothais, who in addition to the Lock in Plaquemine, designed the Panama Canal. Despite the rich history of the lock, its doors closed for the last time in 1962, due the ever increasing size of ships traveling through its gate, as well as the need for a larger lock which came to fruition when the one in nearby Port Allen was constructed. Thankfully, the lock still stands today due to the tireless four year battle of Gary J. Hebert in an effort to preserve this site for future generations.

In addition to the lock, your Frugal Family Travelers should consider visiting the Iberville Museum (housed in the courthouse ca. 1848), Saint John Evangelical Catholic Church, as well as the market inside the old Train Depot.

Also, make a note when traveling that this is close to Nottoway plantation as well as the Madonna Chapel, both nearby just off river road. Side Note: Madonna Chapel was touted by Robert Ripley as the smallest chapel in the world.

Directions:

Plaquemine State Historic Site 57730 Main St, Plaquemine, LA 70764

Madonna chapel

Iberville Museum

For those looking to explore more Louisiana history and a place to make a splash with your Frugal Family Travelers, click the links below. Here you will discover other nearby areas to combine with your visit to Plaquemine to create an entire vacation!

Louisiana Rural Life Museum

Liberty Lagoon

Cost: All activities featured in the post are free.

Enjoy the pictures below which outline the places featured in the post!

Historic Lock

Dr’s Office by Lock

Courthouse Museum

Antique Market at the Historic Depot

World’s Smallest Chapel

Catholic Church across from Lock

Disclaimer:

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Road Trip to Poverty Point

Poverty Point has been on the bucket list for my Frugal Family Travelers for some time now. However, life with teens and preteens can be quite chaotic so finding the time for excursions is a little more challenging these day. With that being said, it is ALWAYS worth the effort when we do plan a weekend getaway or a day trip, as it satisfies the desire for wanderlust and provides the whole family with a much needed respite from an active life.

For those who may not know, Poverty Point is a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site located in Pioneer, Louisiana. The 402 acre property, which operates as the Poverty Point State Historic Site, contains earthworks built by indigenous people between 1700 and 1100 BC. Here visitors can enjoy hiking a trail, which outlines all of the various mounds and structures once present, or discover the history, through prearranged tours by a site ranger. For those with limited mobility, access to the larger mound can be accessed by car. Our Frugal Family Travelers particularly enjoyed viewing artifacts at the museum which had been excavated from the site. However, the biggest adventure by far was the hike to the top of the largest mound! The view was breathtaking and awe inspiring while thinking about the monumental task it was for the indeginuous people to build such a structure during that time period.

For all of the reasons stated above and may more, your Frugal Family Travelers should plan a trip here. Not only will you learn a great deal about the past, but you will leave with a renewed spirit having spent time out in nature.

Directions:

6859 Hwy. 577 Pioneer, LA 71266

(To learn more about UNESCO and the selection process for inclusion visit Click HERE. It’s a great organization that is responsible for elevating knowledge of endangered sites and what they do to preserve them for future.

Saturday, December 30, 2017

Hidden Gem on the Northshore

If your Frugal Family Travelers enjoy hiking, then you may want to consider stretching your legs on the Boy Scout Trail at Big Branch Marsh in Lacombe, LA, where picturesque views abound in this diverse setting!

The trailhead begins at a gravel parking area with a map and information to guide hikers. Grab a map or take a picture of it with your phone and begin a unique journey on the raised boardwalk which traverses over the marshy terrain. Look for the signs, which are strategically placed along the trail, to discover facts about the landscape and wildlife to be found. The boardwalk will end at a gravel road! Here the journey can continue by taking a right turn. This trail will eventually take you to a raise platform where views of the wetlands can be seen which extend all the way to the lake. On a clear day you will see the city of New Orleans in the distance!

Don’t forget: Pack plenty of water! Pack bug spray, especially during the summer months.

Cost: Free

Note: The trail is not a loop and is approximate 3.5 miles to and from the raised viewing platform mentioned above.

Directions: Click for Google Map

Disclaimer:

View FrugalFamilyTraveler's photos on Trover

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

The Presbytère in NOLA

Recently, Frugal Family Travelers took a trip to New Orleans. Our main purpose for visiting the city was to hear a concert at the St. Louis Cathedral. The cathedral alone is a great reason to visit the city, especially for those who have never gazed upon the beautiful spires that tower over the landscape of the French Quarter. However, our inner desire to explore and discover a new Frugal Family adventure led us to the Presbytère. Adjacent to the cathedral, the Presbytère is part of the Louisiana State Museum which also runs the 1850 House, Cabildo and other historic sites, some of which we have explored and shared on our blog. The Presbytère is home to two exhibits depicting two very different aspects of Louisiana history and culture. On the bottom floor visitors are immersed in the story of hurricane Katrina. This exhibit was especially engaging for our children who have heard all of the stories about Katrina from family and friends over the years but were too young to remember it. With news footage and interactive exhibits, the children were able to see exactly what the City of New Orleans and surrounding parishes endured during those trying times. It also does a good job of showcasing the pride and resilience of the people who stayed and who are continuing their efforts to rebuild the city. We brought our children, ages 11, 9 and 7 and found the exhibit to be very realistic without being too frightening for them.

On a lighter note, the second floor of the museum immerses visitors in the carnival traditions. From floats, costumes, historic throws, jewelry and artifacts, one can get lost in the evolution of Mardi Gras as we know it today.

Our Frugal Family Travelers certainly enjoyed their visit!

Cost:
Adults - $6; Students, senior citizens, active military - $5

Tips:

Follow the links below to discover other places nearby. Combine one of the following with your trip to the Presbytère for a full day of adventure! Consider having some beignets at Cafe du Monde which is in walking distance of the Presbytère or relax in the nearby Latrobe Park (see pictures below).

1850 House
Travel Itineraries by State: See New Orleans Options

Directions: