The Atchafalaya in Lafayette
In Los Angeles, if someone said “Atchafalaya,” that person might well receive a gesundheit as as response; however, if that person were in Lafayette, Louisiana, everyone would know the subject under discussion is one of the largest river swamps in America. The Atchafalaya Experience is a tour of this wilderness area, conducted by a father and son team, Coerte Voorhies, Jr. (the father) and Kim Voorhies (the son); the former is a semi-retired consulting geologist, with a thorough knowledge of the area’s history and and culture, while the latter is retired military, who has been accompanying his father into the swamps and marshes of Louisiana for years. Their expeditions have been on numerous cable and foreign television stations, such as BBC, Discovery Chanel, French TV1, A&E Channel, France, Polish, Italian, and Australian TV. They go out into the swamps twice a day, every day of the week, as long as the weather allows it. You’ll need to make a reservation, though, to arrange for the time.
On these trips, visitors can see up to 38 bird species, as well as a number of beaver, nutria, mink, deer, otters, and squirrels. If the season is right for it, you’ll see alligators, too. In addition to nature watching, the Atchafalaya Experience may also include sport and commercial fishing. People who have been on the tour praise Kim Voohries for his knowledge and passion for what he does, saying that it’s clear that he really knows the area and truly loves it. The tour is especially praised by people who have been on other swamp tours, saying that this tour is among the best they’ve been on.
After spending a day in the Atchafalaya, it’ll be nice to get back to the hotels Lafayette provides for its visitors and relax, before heading out for a Cajun meal or a night at the Lafayette Theater.