Avery Island and Jungle Gardens
Students who have always wanted to try hot sauce ice cream can fulfill their dreams with a tour of Avery Island, home of Tabasco. The self-guided tour traces the history of Louisiana’s favorite spicy condiment and allows visitors to view the modern brewing and bottling processes.
After touring the factory and historic plant, there is also the opportunity to explore Avery Island itself. Jungle Gardens is home to a multitude of wildlife that is indigenous to this unusual salt dome within the swamps. The three-mile nature trail is open to vehicles and pedestrians. Points of interest along the way include alligator and turtle ponds; a Buddha statue believed to be more than 900 years old; and Bird City, a protected colony of an estimated 100,000 snowy egrets.
The factory tour lasts approximately one hour, with an additional 90 minutes suggested to tour the gardens.
Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours
Marrero
Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours offers students the opportunity to see true bayou wildlife in its natural habitat.
“We are in the middle of a National Park with no hunting allowed, so the wildlife is untouched,” said Lindsey Manthey, director of travel sales. This calming environment is home to a variety of flora and fauna, including the famous wetland cypress trees and, of course, alligators.
Trips are recommended any time of year: Summer’s humidity attracts the larger gators and birds such as the heron and egret; winter’s milder temperatures are perfect for viewing deer, otters and migratory birds.
The tours are all led by guides born and raised in the bayou. Each boat can hold up to 60 people, and with six boats in all, groups of up to 360 people can be accommodated. Tours last approximately an hour and a half, and boats have a restroom and a snack bar.
Global Wildlife Center
Folsom
On a sprawling 900-acre site, the Global Wildlife Center is the largest of its kind in the United States — a natural environment where more than 4,000 exotic and endangered animals can roam free. Giraffes, zebras, kangaroos, camels and many other species all live here, and daily tours provide an opportunity to meet the animals, feed them and pet them.
“The one-on-one hands-on interactions with the animals are what make a visit so awesome,” said the center’s Brittany Ricks. She added that tours are also very educational, with the tour guides providing tips so that children of all ages can learn how they can help protect the environment.
The center has several lesson plans for teachers and welcomes groups of all ages. School groups must have at least 15 participants, but each wagon can hold from 120 to 160 people, so larger groups can be accommodated. Reservations are required and should be made at least one month in advance.
