Happy New Year! Whether you made resolutions or not, it is always great to start planning some fun adventures for the upcoming year. And if you live in the Sportsman's Paradise, like we do, then it's not hard to find something unique and adventurous to look forward to.

National Geographic has some wonderful ideas to kick off 2017 with some outdoor fun here in Louisiana

  • Paddling and Kayaking - more than 15% of our state is covered in water, which makes it perfect to explore marshes, swamps, bayous, and rivers
  • Golfing - The Audubon Golf Trail has 16 beautiful trails across the state
  • Hiking - including spectacular trails in Bogue Chitto State Park, Jean Lafitte National Park, and Fontainbleu State Park
  • Beaches - one of Louisiana's best kept secrets. Not only are we on the Gulf of Mexico, but we have beautiful beaches inland, like in Lake Charles
  • The Salt Domes - lush Avery Island not only holds the world famous Tabasco plant, but 170 acres of Jungle Gardens. We also have Rip Van Winkle Gardens on Jefferson Island to explore
  • Freshwater Fishing - Toledo Bend has twice been honored by Bassmasters Magazine as the best bass fishing lake in the USA
  • Saltwater Fishing - the plethora of guided fishing expeditions along the Gulf Coast is a testament to how popular this sport is here in the Bayou State
  • Festivals - we celebrate everything from crawfish to okra to creole tomatoes here. If you can think of it, we'll hold a festival for it
  • Sailing - Lake Ponchartrain is famous for holding racing competitions from March through November each year
  • Swamp Tours - the Atchafalaya Basin is the largest river swamp in America, and guided tours are a must to see the beauty of south Louisiana's waterways

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