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Nature|Wildlife & Farms

Awaken Your Inner Explorer At The Red River National Wildlife Refuge In Louisiana

Red River National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana offers picturesque landscapes, diverse wildlife, and family-friendly activities.

Published Nov 6, 2020

Written by 

Jackie Sutherlin

There's a lot to love about Louisiana, and our beautiful natural surroundings are just the start. From the swampy marshes in the south to the rolling hills in the north, Louisiana has some of the most picturesque landscapes in the country, and we are blessed that we have these incredible views right in our back yard. One of the most beautiful hidden gems in this department is the Red River National Wildlife Refuge, and you'll love spending the day at this natural oasis. Let's check it out.

Located in Bossier City, the Red River National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most idyllic locations for nature lovers.

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P Ryan/Google

The Refuge is composed of four units in the Red River Valley of Northwestern Louisiana and will eventually consist of 50,000 acres of protected areas to help conservation efforts.

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There’s plenty of activities to keep you busy for the afternoon, including the Discovery Play Area which includes a faux fishing boat and a treehouse that the little ones will love.

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The visitor’s center is a great place to start. Here, you’ll discover more about the refuge and learn about wildlife in the area. It’s a great educational opportunity for the whole family.

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Of course, there's plenty of trails that are perfect for the outdoor explorer.

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There are over five miles of trails at the refuge, and all of them offer something unique.

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As you meander through the trails, keep an eye out for all of the different wildlife that call the area home.

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On the Wildlife Challenge Trail, you’ll encounter interpretive signs that will tell you all about the animals in the area.

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One of the biggest attractions to the refuge is Lake Caroline.

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Ramiro Benavidez/Google

There are plenty of spots to sit for a spell and admire the view of this beautiful waterway.

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Because the lake is a major migratory stop for many species of birds, the lake is closed to fishing and boating from November 1 - January 31.

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However, the views from the water’s edge are simply stunning.

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The Red River National Wildlife Refuge is open daily from sunrise to sunset.

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Get outside and awaken your inner explorer!

To learn more about the refuge, head over to its website and be sure to give them a follow on Facebook so you can stay up to date on the latest events going on at the refuge.

Have you ever visited the Red River National Wildlife Refuge? Let us know in the comments below!

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Experiences|Activities

The Audubon Center in Louisiana Where You’ll See More Than 20 Penguins in a Single Afternoon

Published Sep 29, 2024

Written by 

Jackie Sutherlin
A group of children in yellow shirts explore an underwater tunnel, observing fish and coral through a glass dome.
Louisiana Travel/Flickr

The Audubon Nature Institute is a fan favorite for locals and tourists alike. From sloths to scorpions and everything in between, Audubon is one of the top-ranked zoos in the country for a reason. 

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For aquatic enthusiasts, the Audubon Center in Louisiana offers a special treat where you can have an animal encounter with penguins! If your social media feed is anything like mine, you’ve likely seen that jumbo King penguin, Pesto, that was recently born at the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium in Australia. I can’t get enough of this absolute unit of a bird, and since I can’t hop a flight to Australia, I’ve found the next best thing—a penguin party at the Audubon Aquarium. 

Let’s learn a little about the African Penguin and what the animal encounter experience is like:

Two penguins stand on a rock amidst splashing waves, surrounded by a vibrant ocean backdrop.
Betty’s Bay, South Africa -African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), also known as the jackass penguin and black-footed penguin at Stony Point penguin colony.

There are 18 species of penguins in the world. Most of them prefer a snowy climate surrounded by glaciers and icebergs, but not the African Penguin. This fella is a unique species of penguin that has acclimated to warmer climates. 

Fun fact: all penguins are naturally found in the southern hemisphere. There are no penguins living naturally in the northern hemisphere. 

Two close-up penguins with distinctive black and white markings, set against a blue sky with soft clouds.
A pair of African penguins on Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town. | Location: Near Simon’s Town, South Africa.

African Penguins live in colonies on the coast of Southern Africa. They have distinctive pink patches above their eyes, but another signature calling card for these flightless birds is the sound they make. African Penguins tend to make a noise that sounds like a donkey, which is how they earned their nickname, the jackass penguin.

The Audubon Aquarium hosts a penguin party every week where visitors can get up close and personal with these endangered beauties. These animal encounters are kept to small numbers both for the safety of the animals and guests, so I’d recommend buying your tickets a few weeks in advance.

A penguin swimming underwater, with bubbles and sunlight filtering through the water's surface.
Penguin swimming in water with bubbles. African penguin. Spheniscus demersus. Cape penguin or South African penguin. Copy space.

Groups of eight will be led to the encounter area where the experience will last about 45 minutes. Visitors will need closed-toe shoes to participate, so plan accordingly! 

The majority of an African Penguin’s diet consists of sardines, shellfish, and anchovies. If you have shellfish allergies, this may not be the animal encounter for you. 

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The Audubon Aquarium hosts penguin parties every Friday and Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. Participants are asked to arrive at the Information Booth at least 15 minutes beforehand. 

This is an awesome experience for families, as long as everyone is six years old or older. How often do you get the opportunity to pet a penguin?!

If you've ever been to one of the Audubon Aquarium's penguin parties, let us know! If you love this, then you absolutely need to check out Barn Hill Animal Preserve. They have even more animal encounters, including sloths and otters! It's about a two-hour drive from New Orleans, but I promise you it's worth a road trip.

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Nature|Wildlife & Farms

Here Are The 4 Absolute Best Pumpkin Patches In Louisiana To Enjoy In 2024

Discover the best pumpkin patches in Louisiana, each offering unique activities and photo opportunities for the fall season.

Updated Aug 6, 2024

Written by 

Jackie Sutherlin

It might not feel like it, but fall in Louisiana is on its way to us. This is my favorite time of the year, and I couldn’t be more excited to share some of the best pumpkin patches in Louisiana with y’all. Even though we still may be experiencing some summer temperatures, these pumpkin patches will soon start opening their gates and letting you come through with your crew to pick up some pumpkins to decorate for the season. I know there are dozens and dozens of pumpkin patches around the state, but these pumpkin patches in Louisiana go the extra mile with endless activities and photo opportunities to enjoy.

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1. Mrs. Heather’s Pumpkin Patch

Two children walk among a field of pumpkins on a sunny day, with families enjoying the pumpkin patch in the background.
Travis Griggs/Google Reviews

Mrs. Heather’s is one of the best pumpkin patches near New Orleans, and it’s worth a road trip. The pumpkin patch is open from September 25 - November 8, 2024, and you’ll want to plan to spend the entire afternoon here. Mrs. Heather’s Pumpkin Patch offers a lengthy list of activities for the family to enjoy, including face painting, a corn maze, a hay maze, seesaws, a jumping pillow, and so much more. Special cartoon characters often make an appearance, so be sure to follow Mrs. Heather’s Pumpkin Patch on Facebook so you never miss out on any announcements.

2. Curry Farms

A large inflatable pumpkin character sits on hay bales surrounded by pumpkins and flowers at Curry Farms.
Curry Farms/Facebook

This pumpkin patch near Monroe is perfect for a fall afternoon. The pumpkin patch opens on September 28 and runs until November 3, 2024, and admission is $15 per person. Curry Farms boasts nearly 20 activities to enjoy including a tractor tire carousel, sluice mining, a corn maze, hay rides, and so much more. After the season is over Curry Farms transforms into a Christmas tree farm, so you can come back after pumpkin season and snag your perfect tree!

3. DixieMaze Farms

A vibrant sunset over a lush field, with silhouettes of trees and people in the distance among green foliage.
Samantha McGhee/Google Reviews

One of the best pumpkin patches near Shreveport, you’ll find yourself visiting DixieMaze Farms a lot this season. Opening September 28, 2024, Dixie Maze Farms will have a wide range of pumpkins to choose from, as well as all your favorite farm activities. The corn maze at DixieMaze Farms is one of the best in Louisiana, and every year it’s something different. The entire Fall Fest at DixieMaze Farms is memorable. They host movie nights on the weekends, and closer to Halloween the corn maze gets a haunted upgrade on select nights.

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4. Poche’s Patch & Maze

A woman in a hat sits on hay next to pumpkins and a vintage truck, surrounded by decorative pillows and straw hats.
Daniel Veloza/Google Reviews

Folks living in Cajun Country will have a blast picking the perfect pumpkin at Poche’s Patch & Maze. As one of the best pumpkin patches near Lafayette, the whole family will love an autumn day spent here. The pumpkin patch opens at the end of September, and runs until Halloween. They haven't announced a specific opening date for 2024 yet, but it's coming! Poche’s has awesome events planned for each weekend, so be sure to check the schedule beforehand!

Did your favorite Louisiana pumpkin patch make the list? Let us know in the comments below! Of course, fall is so much more than just pumpkins. Check out our guide to fall in Louisiana where we highlight some of our favorite hiking trails, festivals, and upcoming events.

After you've plucked the perfect pumpkin and decorated your house, you may be inspired to do a little leaf-peeping! Here's everything you need to know about when the leaves will change in Louisiana.

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