Louisiana's famed gumbo is a spicy blend and the Bayou Teche section of the Atchafalaya Heritage Area is the geographical equivalent. Just an hour or so from urban new Orleans, this is a world apart. Here there is an intangible difference in the air, for this is the heart of Acadian Louisiana. Buildings here reflect strong Spanish and French influences, cypress and live oak canopies add to the romance and mystery in the air.

Drive the meandering scenic byways along the bayous, spend time in the excellent National Park Service visitor centers in Lafayette and Eunice and stroll around the region's towns. Walk into just about any crossroads cafe and you'll find boudin, etoufee and gumbo - no two recipes the same. And beyond nature abounds. Set aside time for the unique Atchafalaya swamp, where guided tours routinely encounter alligators, wild boar, roseate spoonbills and a host of other birds.