Bayou Sauvage Ridge Trail & Boardwalk, New OrleansMost people visit New Orleans for the food and music, which is completely understandable. Palmetto Island State Park, AbbevillePalmetto Island State Park near Abbeville is one of those places that surprises you with how much it packs into a single visit. Lake Fausse Pointe State Park, Saint MartinvilleLake Fausse Pointe feels like the Louisiana that shows up in paintings. Chicot State Park, Ville PlatteChicot State Park surrounds a 6,400-acre lake that is so beautiful it almost feels unfair to the rest of Louisiana. The contrast between wild swamp morning and a bold Cajun lunch is exactly the kind of day Louisiana was built for.