There's something magical about small towns—the sense of community, the "everyone knows everyone" mentality. It's all very unique. Louisiana has its fair share of small towns and while there are many splendid small towns in our great state, there's one in particular that's worth a day trip.
Welcome to Abita Springs, an enchanting little town in St. Tammany Parish just north of New Orleans.
A small, rural community, Abita Springs is one of those one-traffic-light towns where everyone knows everyone. It’s a strong, friendly community of about 3,000 people.
Before we get into the attractions of this lovely town, let’s get into the history first.
The first Louisiana pioneers settled in Abita Springs in 1820, but it was a Choctaw Village long before that. In 1887, a Covington physician conducted tests on the water in Abita Springs, and concluded that the springs were mineral water with good medicinal qualities. As a result, the Abita Springs grew popular as a resort town and also a town the sick could retreat to so they could benefit from the water, climate, and pure air.
There's a lot to see here in this beautiful town.
The Tammany Trace runs straight through Abita Springs, so you can enjoy a leisurely bike ride or stroll down the paved walkway. Afterwards, be sure to stop in the Abita Springs Trailhead Museum, a neat little art and history museum.
Once you've biked/walked/jogged on the trace, you'll probably be pretty thirsty.
Head over to the Abita Brewery for a tour of the brewery and to quench your thirst with a pint or two!
Every Sunday from 12 - 4 p.m. at the Trailhead Park you can catch the Abita Springs Art and Farmers Market.
Here you’ll find the best fresh and locally grown produce and seafood. It’s also a great place to stock up on local honey, jellies, jams and assorted baked goods.
You can also catch a concert at the Abita Springs Opry.
Held six times a year, the Opry is a series of music concerts, primarily Country, Bluegrass, Zydeco, Cajun and Southern Gospel music. The concert takes places at the Abita Springs Town Hall. Because of the town hall’s wooden floors and cypress walls, it’s got the perfect acoustics for these genres of music.
The Fall 2017 dates are September 16, October 21 and November 18, so be sure to get your tickets in advance.
And a trip to Abita Springs wouldn’t be complete without stopping by the Abita Springs Mystery House.
This quirky museum is filled with animated displays, odd collections, memorabilia, old arcade machines and more. This place is something you just have to see to believe.
Abita Springs is an enchanting little town you're sure to fall in love with.
It's the perfect way to spend your day!
Have you ever been to Abita Springs? What other enchanting small towns would you like to see featured? Let us know in the comments below! We love hearing from y'all.
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