May 12, 2011
If you’re anything like me, you need a day to breathe before the work week kicks back in. Get some space with a guided canoe tour through the bayou at Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve. Every Sunday, this National Park offers a free canoe tour. You must call ahead, as spots fill up quickly. So call your friend, significant other, grandpa, or outdoor enthusiast brother and head on down.My boyfriend and I made it to the boat launch in about 20 minutes from Uptown and we were happy to see that it was a small group. We joined six other couples and two guides on a 2 – 3 hour tour through the beautiful and relaxing bayou. These guides really know their stuff and had a great sense of humor all while providing plenty of educational information and history of the area. We saw many small alligators on the banks and in the water, gorgeous vegetation, and nothing but the sounds of nature.
Please take advantage of all the activities that the National Parks offer. One of our guides told us that unless they get a big increase in participation, funds will be cut for programs and we will no longer have the opportunity to see such incredible wildlife up close.
Contact the Barataria visitor center at 504-589-2330 or visit their website for more information: http://www.nps.gov/jela/index.htm