Three Days of Learning & Adventure in Louisiana’s River Parishes

DAY 1: St. Charles Parish: Catfish Capital of the Universe

MORNING

8:00 AM: Begin the field trip with breakfast at Coffee & Local Café & Bakery before preparing for the day’s excursion.

10:30 AM: Head to Destrehan Plantation and explore more than 200 years of Louisiana history, including the people, cultures and events that helped shape the region.

AFTERNOON

1:00 PM: Enjoy a casual lunch at Crawfish & Chill Restaurant and listen to the story behind St. Charles Parish’s “Catfish Capital of the Universe” designation.

3:30 PM: Stop by Sneaux House Snowballs for a tasty, chilled treat before continuing to exciting activities.

4:00 PM: Hop aboard Ragin Cajun Airboat Tours and venture into the Louisiana swamps and waterways. Students will discover and learn about diverse wetland ecosystems, native plants and wildlife, and why they matter to the region.

EVENING

6:30 PM: Visit the St. Charles Parish Library Planetarium for an out-of-this-world astronomy lesson in an immersive environment. Groups can discover faraway stars, planets, solar systems, constellations and other celestial phenomena.

7:45 PM: End the first day with dinner at the Seafood Pot Restaurant, offering a variety of seafood dishes and po’boys in a casual setting.

DAY 2: St. John the Baptist Parish: Andouille Capital of the World

MORNING

7:30 AM: Start the day with breakfast at The Donut Hole, a local favorite offering a selection of breakfast items and fresh donuts.

9:00 AM: Embark on an immersive adventure at the Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station to explore Louisiana’s wetlands. Field trips for grades 5-12 give students opportunities to explore aquatic sciences and environmental history through hands-on lessons.

AFTERNOON

1:00 PM: Enjoy lunch at Frenier Landing Restaurant and Oyster Bar and take in the scenic views of Lake Pontchartrain while learning about St. John the Baptist Parish’s designation as the “Andouille Capital of the World.”

4:00 PM: Next, choose between two exciting ways to experience the region’s natural beauty. Groups can soar above the cypress swamp at Zip NOLA or explore the vast wetlands by boat with Cajun Pride Swamp Tours. Both offer a full afternoon of immersive adventures that let educators connect classroom lessons with firsthand experiences.

EVENING

6:30 PM: End the second day with dinner at Pier 51 Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar for regional favorites in a casual setting.

DAY 3: St. James Parish: Perique Capital of the World

MORNING

8:00 AM: Begin the morning with a light breakfast at PJ’s Coffee in Lutcher to prepare for a final day of learning and exploration.

10:00 AM: Head to St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church and explore the roles that faith, community and architecture played in St. James Parish’s history.

AFTERNOON

12:00 PM: Tour Oak Alley Plantation, where students can examine history through architecture, agriculture and the stories of those who lived and worked on the property.

1:00 PM: Enjoy lunch in a relaxing atmosphere at Oak Alley Plantation Restaurant before continuing to the next destination.

3:00 PM: Discover Louisiana’s Creole heritage with a visit to Laura Plantation. Here, students can learn about generations of Creole families, both free and enslaved, through stories that help bring the region’s complex history to life.

EVENING

5:30 PM: End the field trip on a flavorful note at Spuddy’s Cajun Cooking Experience. Students can roll up their sleeves for a hands-on cooking demonstration while discovering the culinary traditions that have shaped St. James Parish. Along the way, they’ll also learn about another distinctive part of the parish’s heritage—rare Perique tobacco—and why St. James Parish is known as the Perique Tobacco Capital of the World.

Depart for home.

Contact Louisiana River Parishes