bayou country camping/houseboats

[electric_lady]

Hi all. I am looking for any information I can get about camping or houseboats in the Breaux Bridge/Lafayette area, or anywhere around there. I have found some info. online, but I always like to check with the threadheads first because y'all have so much great experience. I'm coming down with some friends for 1st weekend, and we'd like to do something a little exotic and outdoorsy on our way from NOLA to Austin. Any recommendations would be appreciated! Thanks!!!!

[stlbarb]

way back in 1991, we came into fest early because we wanted to see more of LA than NEw Orleans. we made a 3 day circle by rental car, New Iberia, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, and arrived back in NOLA.
I really enjoyed New Iberia. w spent 2 days/1 night there. we went to one of the gardens that included a boat trip on Lake Peigneur and a house tour - I believe this was the one that belonged to the actor that played rip van winkle. a lot of things have changed in 16 years including the names of places. but seems there is still lots to do.
http://www.nola.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/living-0/1110697532309720.xml
we had a wonderful dinner in a restaurant in an old house. we also toured Trappey's pepper canning right in New Iberia. they have since been bought by Tabasco which has tours on Avery Island i believe, so not sure if they are even operating Trappey's separately still. (Trappey's is a food brand. they produce pepers, hot sauce, canned beans, etc).
ther were swamp tours available, but instead we just found this little place on the side of the road that was a kind of outdoor Acadian museum. we walked through and it showed you alot about life in the swamp. pretty cool.
Lafayette was fine but more of a city/town. same with Baton Rouge, but the Capitol was cool.
afterward we wished we had spent more time in New Iberia.

[electric_lady]

thanks barb! i will definitely look into New Iberia.