First off, Bayou Gauche is a tiny little swamp community 20 min south of downtown New Orleans. Driving there was like watching Forrest Gump visiting a Bayou Labatre in the movie (which is another place I visited on this same trip). On one side you have very small run down homes, on the other, house boats. If you are not careful you will drive right passed the moblie home housing the airboat tour. It's only identifying point is a small sign reading airboat tours nailed to a tree out front.

They offer two tours, one on a larger 40-person boat and the other in a six-person airboat. I highly recommend paying the extra money for the smaller boat. We actually paid for the large boat, but since it was the middle of February and we were the only customers, we got to ride the small boat.

On the way out to the boat dock we passed a small pond surrounded by three feet of chicken wire and a couple of pieces of metal siding that made a barrier that wouldn't hold a three-year-old child. When we inquired with our very Cajun tour guide what was in the pond, he said, "Eight-foot aligator." Not the most comfoting thought as we were standing less than a foot away. We all began to back up and our tour guide added, "Oh, don't worry, he don't want to get out, we feed him every day!" Just get me to the boats!

Being that this was February and it was very cold outside, we did not see a lot of gators, but there were enough to keep us from wanting to get out of the boat. If wildlife is your thing you would be better served by visiting in the summer time. The tour lasts about 45 minutes with a brief stopover at a "hunting cabin" deep in the swamp where our guide informed us that Mariah Carey had filmed a music video. All in all, the trip was well worth the money, the tour gude was very nice, knowledgeable, and truly authentic Cajun. This is a must visit for anyone visiting New Orleans.