Bayou Pierre Alligator Park 380 Old Bayou Pierre Road, Natchitoches, LA 71457, 318-354-7001, The largest alligator park in Louisiana. Cajun countryside park that features hundreds of alligators and hourly feeding shows where visitors can feed them, touch them, hold them, and have their pictures made with them. You will also enjoy world famous Louisiana "joe de vivre" while at this park, as well as authentic Cajun cuisine and Cajun music.  

Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway LA Highway 119 Byway, Natchitoches, LA 71457, South of Natchitoches, Kisatchie National Forest, 318-352-2568, One of the most scenic drives in Louisiana, this 17 mile scenic byway guides you through some of the most beautiful and unique scenery in the Kisatchie National Forest. There are a number of scenic overlooks, primitive and developed campsites, interpretive signs, hiking and horseback riding trails, and picnic sites along the byway. more...

Natchitoches National Fish Hatchery 615 Highway 1 South, Natchitoches, LA 71457, 318-352-5324, Established in 1931, this warm water facility features 16 aquarium tanks filled with native species including catfish, redear sunfish, largemouth bass, and bluegill that are raised for local public waters and farm ponds. A 25 minute video presentation and group tours are available. more... 

Badin-Roque House (circa early 1800's) Highway 484, Natchitoches, LA 71457, Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this historic house is the only surviving example of poteaux-en-terre and bousillage architecture in Louisiana and features a single central chimney and dirt floors. This house is also the only one of five poteaux-en-terre and bousillage homes in the country and offers a first hand glance at Creole frontier life.

Chamard-Dunahoe House (circa 1788) 120 Rue Amulet, Natchitoches, LA 71457, Unique and historic French Colonial home that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has features including hand hewn cyrpess rafters, bousillage walls, and fireplaces on the interior of the rooms rather than on the exterior walls.

Ducournau Square No. 8 Ducournau Square, Natchitoches, LA, The Ducournau Building, in which the Town House is located, stands on a portion of an 1818 land grant made to Joseph Tauzin, who came from France in 1776. Walking through wooden gates and down a carriageway, visitors find themselves in an Old World brick-paved courtyard. Behind dividing iron fencing, is a charming antique and gift shop, originally part of a carriage house.

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (circa 1856) 613 Second Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457, The fifth Catholic church built in Natchitoches, this historic church has features including the original crystal chandeliers from France, original stained glass windows, and the original oil portraits of the Way of the Cross. Across the street is the Rectory that was built in New Orleans in 1885 and the Old Seminary that was built in 1855 to house and educate seminarians. 

Kate Chopin House-Bayou Folk Museum (circa early 1800's) 243 Highway 495, Cloutierville, LA 71452, 318-379-2233, Home of Kate Chopin, the renowned writer of Creole short stories who is best known for her story "The Awakening." This magnificent home, a National Historic Landmark, is filled with period furnishings and displays that depict the history of the Cane River Country. A reconditioned blacksmith shop and doctor's office are also on site. The home is open daily for tours.

Magnolia Cane River Creole National Park, 318-356-5555, The two and one-half story plantation house is one of the largest in the area, with twenty-seven rooms, including a Catholic Chapel in which Mass is still celebrated.

Melrose Plantation 3533 Highway 119, Natchitoches, LA 71457, Located in the Cane River Heritage Area, 318-397-0055, A National Historic Landmark, this plantation consists of three main structures, the circa 1796 Yucca House that was a Colonial residence, the circa 1800 African House that was a slave fort and provision house, and the circa 1833 Big House, an early Louisiana plantation home. Other historic buildings on site include the Weaving House, the Bindery, the Writer's Cabin, Ghana, which is a cabin believed to be as old as the other Colonial buildings; and Clementine's House which is named after Clementine Hunter, one of Louisiana's most famous folk artists and whose works are on display at Melrose.

Metoyer-Brown Town House 366 Jefferson Street, Natchitoches, LA, This house is located on property that was part of a 1723 land grant made to Frenchman, M. Barbier. This grant, which extended from Bayou Amulet to what is now Touline Street, was one of the earliest in Natchitoches.

Oakland Plantation (circa 1821) 400 Rapides Drive, Natchitoches, LA 71457, Cane River Creole National Park, 318-356-5555, The most complete Creole plantation in the South, this plantation is situated on the banks of Cane River Lake on 42 beautiful acres. The plantation house was constructed by slaves using bousillage-mud and cured Spanish moss. There are 17 original outbuildings on site as well including an 1800's Overseer's House, two pigeonniers, a massive roofed log corn crib, a carpenter's shop, a carriage house, and a stable that was originally a smokehouse. 

Prudhomme Hughes-Johnson Townhouse (circa 1840) 720 Front Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457, Believed to be the earliest built structure remaining on Front Street, this historic townhouse features lavish ornamental iron lace and Natchitoches' famous "Spiral Staircase" that was cast in Bourdeaux, France, and shipped up the Red River to Grand Encore in 1853. 

St. Augustine Catholic Church (circa 1803) Cane River National Heritage Area, 318-356-5555, Thought to be the first Catholic church in the United States built and supported by people of color, St. Augustine was built with funds provided by Cane River Creole patriarch, Nicolas Augustine Metoyer, and his brother. Metoyer, Carroll Jones, and Clementine Hunter are buried in the cemetery behind the church.

Tauzin Plantation (circa 1830) 1950 Williams Avenue, Natchitoches, LA 71457, Surrounded by 150 year old live oaks, this plantation features a beautiful three story Creole structure that was built with original handmade bricks, as well as hand hewn and pegged cypress timbers. 

Trinity Episcopal Church (circa 1857) 533 Second Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457, The first non-Roman Catholic church in Natchitoches and the third oldest Episcopal church in Louisiana, this historic church has a Gothic-Norman architecture style and has features include hand cut timber flooring, a one-third silver bell that was cast specifically for this church by the Troy Bell Foundry, and silver communion vessels given by the original builder still being used today. Beautiful windows on the north side of the church depict Christ's miracles while the windows on the south side depict the parables. 

Cane River National Heritage Area 1 Rue Beau Port, Natchitoches, LA 71457, 318-356-5555, A largely rural area known for its historic Creole-style plantations and unique blend of cultures that include French, African, American Indian, Spanish, and Creole, this 116,000 acre heritage area includes the Cane River Creole National Historical Park, seven National Historic Landmarks, three State Historic Sites, and many more historic plantations, homes, and churches. Guided tours are offered daily. more...

Fort Jesup State Historic Site 32 Geoghagan Road, Many, LA 71449, Located Just 30 Minutes from Natchitoches, 318-256-4117, After a territorial boundary was finally fixed at the Sabine River by the Florida Purchase Treaty of 1819, the United States built Fort Jesup in 1822. Lieutenant Colonel Zachary Taylor established and commanded the garrison. Taylor's troops managed to establish law and order in the Neutral Ground and Fort Jesup remained an important military post for nearly 25 years. The fort was abandoned in 1846 when it was no longer needed as a border outpost. One kitchen is the only historic structure remaining from the large reservation that once spread across the frontier. In 1961, Fort Jesup was designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site (circa 1732) 130 Moreau Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457, 318-357-3101, 888-677-7853, Located along the banks of the Cane River, this historic site features an exact replica of the French fort and offers numerous outdoor exhibits, demonstrations, living history programs, and special events throughout the year. more... 

Juchereau St. Denis Statue 781 Front Street, Natchitoches, LA, This bronze statue of Natchitoches founder, Chevalier Louis Antoine Juchereau de St.Denis was created by sculptor, Larry Crowder of Fort Worth, Texas. It was sculpted and cast in bronze in Texas. It was erected near the end of the El Camino Real in downtown Natchitoches as "a lasting memorial to the historic bond between Quebec, Louisiana and Texas."

Los Adaes State Historic Site (circa early 1700's) 6354 Highway 485, Robeline, LA 71449, 318-472-9449, "The symbol of New Spain in Louisiana", this 14 acre historic site is located on the El Camino Real and is one of the most intriguing State Historic Sites in Louisiana. This site was also once the capital of Texas and the remains of a Spanish fort built during the period to protect Texas from the French is on site. A historic trail leads to the old mission site and many interpretive programs are available.

Rebel State Historic Site 1260 Highway 1221, Marthaville, LA 71450, Located 25 Miles West of Natchitoches, 318-472-6255, The focal point of this historic site is the gravesite of the Unknown Confederate Soldier that was tended by local residents for almost one hundred years and gained official designation in 1962. This park is also the home of the Louisiana Country Music Museum that honors Louisiana musicians and music and contains displays that celebrate traditional folk tunes to contemporary country, as well as displays of musical instruments, manuscripts, and other memorabilia. An amphitheater, outdoor exhibits, picnic areas, and a playground are also part of this historic site. 

Cammie Henry Archives & Library Watson Library, Northwestern State University, 318-357-6361, Houses the Melrose Collection, historic facts, maps and memorabilia from early Natchitoches and from the private collections of Miss Cammie, patron of the arts, mistress of Melrose Plantation and host to dozens of writers such as William Faulkner, John Steinbeck, Lyle Saxon and Roark Bradford.

Bishop Martin Museum (circa 1850's) 145 Church Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457, 318-352-3422, Located next to the church rectory, this museum is the repository of religious relics from both the Spanish and French Catholics dating to the late 1700's. By reservation only. 

Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame & Museum Prather Coliseum, Northwestern State University, 318-357-6467, Display of portraits and memorabilia of Louisiana's most accomplished athletes. The Hall of Fame has been located in Natchitoches since 1972.

Natchitoches Heritage Art Gallery 584 Front Street, Suite 102, Natchitoches, LA 71457, 318-352-1626, Local artists work and promote art within this historic community. All types of medium are represented in the gallery from painting to pottery, sculpture and jewelry. Art displayed include local landscapes and historically important homes and buildings in the area. Open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and special holiday hours. They offer a year around programs of workshops and demonstrations along with several juried art exhibits.  more... 

Old Courthouse Museum (circa 1896) 600 Second Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457, Located in the Historic District, 318-357-2270, An excellent example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, this historic and imposing building has many unique features including heavily arched doors and window openings and a large distinctive tower. A variety of changing exhibits are displayed at this museum that showcases aspects of Louisiana's culture and history. 

Williamson Museum Keyser Hall, Northwestern State University, 318-357-4364, Dedicated to the preservation of cultures - concentrates on Louisiana Indians and on the archeology of post European cultures in the state. The museum holds over half a million artifacts and is an official repository for state and federal archeological collections.

Kisatchie Hills Wilderness 106 Old Highway 6 West, Natchitoches, LA 71457, 318-352-2568, This 8,700-acre wilderness area is home to the alligator and the long legged birds plus features some of the most unique topography in Louisiana including unusually steep and rugged terrain, sandstone mesas and bluffs, distinct forest ecosystems, and outcroppings with several distinct forest types. 

Briarwood, Caroline Dormon Nature Preserve 216 Caroline Dormon Road, Natchitoches, LA 71070, 19 Miles North of Campti in Natchitoches Parish, 318-576-3379, Open for guided tours every weekend in March, April, May, August and November. Caroline Dormon was the first woman employed in forestry in the United States. Almost single-handedly she worked with Louisiana and U.S. Forest Service to establish Kisatchie National Forest. At Briarwood Caroline collected and replanted her favorite native plants. Conservationists and horticulturists from all over the world travel to Briarwood-to walk down forest trails, to savor the beauty of the Louisiana iris bog, to admire the reflection pool and to enjoy the most complete botanical and wildlife sanctuary in Louisiana.  

Buzzin' with Betty Tours 401 St. Maurice Lane, Natchitoches, LA 71457, 318-352-3774, This Louisiana Certified Travel Professional Offers tours of Historic Natchitoches Parish with step-on guides, a variety of itineraries, and tour packages available.  

Cane River Boat Tours Downtown Riverbank, 318-458-4680, Take a guided tour of the Cane River Lake and Red River on a houseboat. They also offer dinner cruises, private parties and fishing trips.

Historic District Tours 100 Rue Beauport, Natchitoches, LA 71458, Downtown Riverbank, 318-356-8687, "Serving Natchitoches since the turn of the century", this company offers 45 minute daily guided tours of the beautiful, original French Colony in Louisiana where you will learn the history and folklore of nearly 300 years.

Southern Carriage Tours Along the Bricks of Front Street, 318-663-9534, A historic tour by horse-drawn carriage. Ride along and learn the history of Natchitoches. See old homes that have stood for over a century, and sites where the famous movie Steel Magnolias was filmed.