When you leave the skyline of New Orleans behind, taking the Gretna-Jackson Avenue Ferry over the Mississippi River south into Jefferson Parish, be prepared for an adventure you will remember for years to come. From the bayous to the swamps and marshes, right to the Gulf of Mexico, time slows and this travel destination takes you to a place that will stay in your dreams until you return...

In Westwego begin your adventure in Bayou Segnette State Park's comfortable cabins--your deck is perched over the bayou. The only sounds you can hear are fish jumping in the water, and the calls of wild birds. If you're looking for a unqiue experience don't miss Louisiana's largest wave pool in the park. But expect to find it full of other fun-lovers!

You may find, like me, that the bayou has the ability to transport you to another place and time. Board the Cajun Critters Swamp Tour boat, feel the breeze touch your face, and gaze into the murky depths of the bayou. You may see a whole school of tiny fish pass right beneath your gaze, or you may see something much larger and more dangerous..

The alligator is one of the main creatures you will expect to see on a swamp tour. Unchanged for nearly 2 million years, this once-endangered creature is now thriving in its natural wild environment due to the work of the programs for alligator restoration and development.

In Jefferson Parish the main waterways are full of boats -- many of them working boats, like these shrimp boats. Fishing is, of course, one of the key industries of the area, with life on the water a way of life as well as a livelihood. Enviromental challenges make it difficult to sustain this lifestyle with more and more of Louisiana land being lost to the bayous themselves. Locals like Denny Higgins, who owns Higgins Seafood in Lafitte, say, "As long as this land is here, we'll be here."

Captain Cyrus, of Lil Cajun Swamp Tours, offers visitors the opportunity to really experience part of the Cajun lifestyle by providing rides on his shrimp boat, as well as swamp boats. An expert on the water, Captain Cyrus deftly runs the cables and drops his nets into the water, while still managing to keep the boat on course. Meanwhile tour participants are treated to a fresh cooked shrimp lunch. The one thing I can attest to is that the activity is neverending on a fishing boat...

Grand Isle is a home away from home -- a world that lives on island time, where problems are pushed into the background and the really important things in life take over. From a tour with the Coast Guard, to walking along the beach in the water of the Gulf of Mexico, your visit is sure to be packed with 'grand' experiences! As Mr. Bobby says, "We have four seasons in Grand Isle, tuna season, shrimpin' season, speckled trout season, and red fish season."

When your destination is one in Jefferson Parish, there are always lots of ways to arrive! Our seaplane landed here at the docks of Victoria Inn and Gardens, near the town of Jean Lafitte, where we were met by a Cajun band, providing dance music for a wedding party. What a greeting!

Let David Burke provide you with a wonderful sunset sail from Moonlight Marine, for a sight of the bayou you won't forget. Sky and water blend into a multi-shaded world of blue, broken only by the green rim of trees encircling the horizon. Moonlight Marine also offers a training/rental program so you can learn how to sail yourself and take a cruise on your own. The wonderful thing about sailing local bayous is that if you fall out of the boat, adults just have to stand up to keep from drowning.

From sunrise over the Gulf of Mexico in Grand Isle, to sunset over a Jefferson Parish Bayou, your day is one to treasure...