12 Best Things To Do In Houma, Louisiana

1. Jim Bowie Park

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

For peaceful moments under the shades of large oak trees, visit Jim Bowie Park. These oak trees are said to be planted by the families of the fallen heroes during WWI. Today, these trees stand as historic and symbolic living pieces in the park. There are picnic tables and gazebos on the well-maintained lawn for family leisure and relaxation.

Adding to the park’s serenity is the little bayou where guests are usually seen fishing. A bridge arches above this body of water and provides good opportunities for a photo session.

Jim Bowie Park

Address: Houma, LA 70360

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 5am - 9pm; Sun: 5am - 7pm (closed on Thu & Fri)

2. Spigots Brew Pub

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Looking for a great place to grab a beer at Houma? Head over to Spigots Brew Pub, a full-service restaurant with an on-site brewery. This pub has home-brewed in-house beers crafted to fit the scrutinizing tastes of beer enthusiasts. It offers other house blend cocktails and bottomless mimosas. Spigots Brew Pub also serves a sizeable deal of food on the menu that features house specials to make the choice easy but classics like fried chicken and waffles, eggs Benedict with crab cake, and shrimp and grits remain one of the favorites here.

The helpful staff and good pricing of the pub, not to mention the warm and enjoyable atmosphere that radiates in its space the moment it opens, are often commended.

Spigots Brew Pub

Address: 622 Barrow St #4608, Houma, LA 70360

Website: Spigots Brew Pub

Opening hours: Mon: 11am - 9pm; Tue - Sat: 11am - 10pm, Sun: 10am - 2pm

3. Downtown Marina

The Downtown Marina is situated at the intersection of the Bayou Terrebonne and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The area attracts visitors and locals alike, with its authentic Acadian charm, amazing food, and diverse wildlife. There is plenty of accommodation in the area, for those looking to spend a bit more time on the water, so don’t fret if you don’t get to see all of the marina in one day.

Downtown Marina

Address: Bayou Terrebonne and Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, 8828 Park Avenue

Website: Downtown Marina

4. Southdown Plantation & Museum

The Southdown Plantation & Museum is a 19th-century manor house, built in 1859. This Houma attraction has admirable Victorian-style architectural features and an equally admirable role in history. In the 1920s, the owners of the house helped save the Louisiana sugar industry by growing a new disease-resistant breed of sugarcane. Visitors can find significant historical artifacts within the main house, and if you’re lucky, witness a beautiful wedding on the Southdown Plantation.

Southdown Plantation & Museum

Address: 1208 Museum Drive, Houma, LA 70360

Website: Southdown Plantation & Museum

5. Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum

The Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum works to promote Houma’s (and the surrounding areas’) vibrant and historic connection to seafood, water transportation, and water based hunting. While working as a preservation mechanism, it is also a science museum. The museum features a variety of exhibits, serves as a reception hall for all kinds of celebrations, and has a wonderful view from the back porch, overlooking the bayou.

Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum

Address: 7910 W Park Ave, Houma, LA 70364

Website: Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum

6. Swamp Tours

If you’re ready for some adventure and are excited by a journey into the unknown, then be sure to take a swamp tour. Swamp tours bring you into the mysterious Louisiana swamps and surround you with vivid wildlife, hidden creatures, and even the occasional alligator. If this sounds like it’s up your alley, then check out some of the tours that bring you into the swamp.

Cajun Man's Swamp Tours and Adventures

Address: 251 Marina Drive, Gibson, LA 70356

Website: Cajun Man’s Swamp Tours and Adventures

Annie Miller's Son's Marsh and Swamp Tours

Address: 3718 Southdown Mandalay Road, Houma, LA 70360

Website: Annie Miller’s Son’s Marsh and Swamp Tours

7. Geo Tour

Think scavenger hunts are just for kids? Well, you thought wrong, because with Houma Geo Tours you can experience the Cajun culture of Houma while looking for hidden caches (over fifty geocache locations exist in the Houma area). You just need to download the app to your smartphone and follow along. If you visit enough historical sites and collect enough cache’s, you’ll be rewarded with a special prize! Happy scavenger hunting!

Geo Tours

Website: Geo Tours

8. Cajun Meat Market

The Cajun Meat Market is a specialty meat market where you can find unique, Cajun delicacies, like turduckens, boudin, hog head cheese, and stuffed quail. The market boosts Houma’s tourism and has everything to satiate your growling stomach or a whole wedding party’s growling stomachs - whatever you’re looking for they’re bound to have, and all with a Cajun twist.

Cajun Meat Market

Address: 216 Mystic Blvd., Houma, Louisiana

Facebook: Cajun Meat Market

9. Regional Military Museum

You can find the Regional Military Museum in downtown Houma, where you can explore the plentiful memorabilia they feature, including uniforms, jeeps, rifles, helmets, and more. If you’re interested, you can even schedule a ride on a Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP), a boat modeled after the Higgin’s Boat - the boat used in the Normandy Landings on D-Day, during World War II.

Regional Military Museum

Address: 1154 Barrow St. Houma, LA 70360

Website: Regional Military Museum

10. The Jolly Inn

The Jolly Inn is a cafe, lounge, and dance hall, all rolled into one. It’s the perfect place to spend the evening, as you can grab a bite to eat, enjoy live music in the lounge (or while you eat), and if you’re feeling up to it, get on the dance floor and dance all night long (or at least until they close at 11 PM).

The Jolly Inn

Address: 1507 Barrow St. Houma, LA 70360

Website: The Jolly Inn

11. Wildlife Gardens

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

The Wildlife Gardens are truly a garden of wildlife in the many places in Houma. During your tour (either self-guided or with a guide) you’ll have the chance to see the exotic local plants and animals, roaming free, all around you. You can even stop by the alligator farm to see some live gators in action.

The Wildlife Gardens also have an on-site bed and breakfast if you’re looking for private accommodation during your time in Houma. But you better book fast, as there are only four cabins available.

Wildlife Gardens

Address: 5306 North Bayou Black Drive, Gibson, LA 70356

Website: Wildlife Garden

12. Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge

Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge is one of the eight wildlife refuges in Southeast Louisiana. These refuges aim to create a national network for water and land conservation, to preserve habitats across the US. At the refuge, visitors might be able to see several endangered and threatened species, such as the American alligator (de-listed in 1987, but still kept in the refuge) and the bald eagle. Other species of wildlife are also present, like raptors, wading birds, and waterfowl. It’s a great place to see animals in their natural habitat and also learn about the importance of conservation efforts.

Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge

Address: 3599 Bayou Black Drive, Houma, LA 70360

Website: Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge

Houma is wonderful, n'est-ce pas?

There are few cities in the US that can rival the authentic experiences, cultural immersion, and entertainment in Houma. So you better start exploring because it’s your turn to figure out what gives Houma its “ je ne sais quoi”. Bon Voyage!