Cajun Encounters Swamp Tour

What a fun weekend! We had a genealogy group visiting New Orleans, and they stayed very busy! The Astor Crowne Plaza (on the corner of Bourbon and Canal Streets) served as host hotel while the group participated in a private city tour, explored the World War II Museum, visited Oak Alley Plantation, walked the Ghosts and Spirits Tour in the French Quarter, wandered through the working warehouse of Mardi Gras World, had brunch on board the Steamboat Natchez Riverboat cruise, and got up close and personal with the gators at Honey Island Swamp!

New Orleans has so many wonderful activities and excursions, but I realized I hadn't yet gone on Cajun Encounters' Swamp Tour. On Saturday, my husband and I were picked up right on time at the Hampton Inn on St. Charles Avenue (not far from home) by one of their 25-passenger shuttle buses. It was a comfortable, air-conditioned ride downtown to meet up with the bigger, 33-passenger bus that would take us the 45 minute ride through the city, across Lake Ponchartrain, past Slidell -- to the Honey Island Swamp. The driver announced informative anecdotes along the way to keep us entertained and aware of our surroundings.

Upon arrival, we checked in and were escorted to our flat-bottom boat by Captain Anthony. Anthony's thick Cajun accent lent a special authenticity to our experience. We heard stories of the wetlands and saw an abundance of wildlife including alligators, blue herons, turtles, and wild pigs. We learned about the cypress trees, Tupelo honey, and the way of life on these slow-moving waters. The boat could easily navigate fast or slow, through wider canals, and smaller waterways -- allowing us to get up close and personal with the creatures of the bayou.

Just before our tour, I learned that one of my clients had lost a priceless item in a coin purse on the bus. After a phone call and some digging around, the staff were able to locate the item; and they happily delivered it to the host hotel. The quality of the experience from the booking process to the swamp tour to the follow up service -- I could not be more impressed with the team and operation of Cajun Encounters. Thank you!