Natchitoches, LA, Attractions

Lasyone's on Second Street has great Louisiana-style food and soul food. It is famous for its meat pies but serves much more. It has all types of tasty comfort food, such as red beans and rice, country fried steak, and fried catfish. My dinner, which cost about $7.50, came with an entrée, two side vegetables, cornbread, and the salad bar.

It was a lot of great food. Lasyone's is great place to experience Louisiana food, and it has a lot of bang for your buck. If you're looking for real Southern food, then Lasyone's is the place to eat!

When people think of Louisiana, they often think of alligators, and here at the park, you can view them in their natural habitat. If you have kids, then this is the place to come.

Alligators used to be on the endangered species list but have made an incredible comeback over the years. This 5-acre park is open April 15th to August 15th on a daily basis from 10am to 6pm, and the alligator feeding shows start at 11:30am. Here you can see alligators in their natural habitats and even have your picture taken with smaller gators. There is a small gift shop at the park and a counter service eatery serving, of course, fried gator, among other things.

Also on view at the park are a view species of reptiles, turtles, and birds. You can hand-feed goats and pet them as well. Also on view are the cute raccoons and the South American native, the nutria rat. You can learn a lot about alligators and alligator conservation while at the park. For more info, you can visit www.alligatorpark.net or call 318/354-7001

Kate Chopin - Bayou Folk Museum

Hours:
Open 10am-5pm, Monday-Saturday
1pm-5pm Sunday
Closed Christmas Day, New Years Day, Thanksgiving, and Easter
Admission charged

For additional information, write or call Kate Chopin House - Bayou Folk Museum
243 Hwy 495
Cloutierville, Louisiana 71416
Phone: 318-379-2233
Contact: Amanda Chenault

The Kate Chopin Home in Cloutierville was established in 1965 by Mildred McCoy as the Bayou Folk Museum and is now owned by the Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches. The house was built by Alexis Cloutier in early 1800s. It's located on Hwy 1, twenty miles south of Natchitoches, LA.

This is wonderful place to explore, especially if you are interested in life in the Cane River area or in the works of Kate Chopin.

Kate Chopin was a 19th-century writer who was strong-willed and independent, but also a loving mother and wife. Her husband, Oscar, encouraged her uncoventional nature. When his business failed, they moved to the Cane River area. When he died and left Kate with six children under 12, she took over the family farm and store for almost a year before moving back with her family in St. Louis. In 1889, she published her first poem. Her work was later published in Vogue and Harper's Young People. In 1899, she published The Awakening, a very controversial novel about a women's sexuality and desires of self-fulfillment.

The book made such an impact that it was condemned in certain cities, and many friends shunned her. She died in 1904 an almost forgotten writer. Recently, however, people have take more interest in her work, and she is now considered a great American writer.

If you are a fan of literary history, this is a must-see. I absolutely love this place and recommend it to all local history buffs and literary lovers.

Shopping is very nice along Front Street in Natchitoches. Several blocks make up quaint, little boutiques; specialty shops; and antiques stores. While this isn't a big hit for children, it is a family-friendly, clean, and safe environment. Walking along the beautiful Front Street, you can view the "river." Cane River is actually a lake, but was once part of Red River before it changed its course. In spring and summer, the street is done up with beautiful potted plants and flowers in hanging baskets. At Christmastime, you can view all of the gorgeous lights that make Natchitoches so well-known. One interesting feature about Front Street is the street itself; it's paved with bricks. Both the opening and ending scenes of "Steel Magnolias" was filmed here, along with some other shots from the movie. At the current time, below are the types of shops on Front Street. I can't remember all of there names, but I do know some of them.

My personal favorite is the bookshop on Front Street, the Book Merchant. This is a small shop where you can find a good selection of bestsellers and various items, such as journals and postcards. Also, they have a great selection of area-inspired works, such as Cane River cookbooks and Cane Rive Heritage history books. The gentleman who owns this shop is very friendly and has a very good sense of humor. To celebrate the 200-year-anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase, he had a painting of himself and one of his in store cats with Napoleon. Yes, he does have cats, but they are very friendly!

There are several gift boutiques selling moderate to rather expensive gifts of the area, such as prints of the artist Clementine Hunter, who was an area native.

There is a very cute store on Front Street where they sell hip and cute monogrammed bags and purses. Also, there is an antique hardware store selling hardware and a selection of gifts and toys.

Another favorite of mine is the toy shop. Most toy shops today are more like Toys R Us and feature top-of-the-line technological toys and games, but this little shop sells more traditional stuff, such as puppets and wooden toys. It's very cute and worth a peek.

On Front Street are two restaurants, and it is just a block away from Lasyone's Restaurant. But you are just a few minutes (depending on traffic) from Burger King, Pizza Hut, and the like.

I will try to update this entry soon with the correct names of the stores and addresses if I can find them. Thanks for being patient.