10 Perfect State Parks for Father's Day
Father's Day is coming up, and there is no better way to spend it than by visiting one of Louisiana's many state parks.
Bring the family to engage in outdoor recreation, with activities available such as fishing, boating, hiking, and biking, among many others.
1. Fountainebleau State Park
62883 Hwy. 1089, Mandeville
lastateparks.com/parks-preserves/fontainebleau-state-park
Fountainebleau State Park is a beautifully historic spot for a Father's Day dedicated to hiking, biking, boating, camping, or fishing. Their hiking trail is 4.8 miles, and the park has various campgrounds and lakefront cabins for overnight adventures. The site is open daily, with gates unlocked from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
2. Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge
17160 Chef Menteur Hwy.
fws.gov/refuge/bayou-sauvage-urban
Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge offers various recreation options for dads interested in hunting, birding, fishing, or hiking this Father's Day. More specifically, guests can also indulge in crabbing, paddling, nature photography, self-guided tours, and educational programming. Visitation is available daily only during daylight hours.
3. Bayou Segnette State Park
7777 Westbank Expy., Westwego
lastateparks.com/parks-preserves/bayou-segnette-state-park
Located just 15 minutes away from New Orleans, visitors can access boating, fishing, camping, canoeing, hiking, and picnicking. Saltwater and freshwater fishing is available, with fishers commonly catching bass, catfish, bream, perch, redfish, and trout. Bayou Segnette is also a dog-friendly location, so enjoy outdoor recreation with the whole family at the state park this Father's Day.
4. Grand Isle State Park
Admiral Craik Drive, Grand Isle
lastateparks.com/parks-preserves/grand-isle-state-park
As another entity to the series of Louisiana State Parks, Grand Isle State Park offers similar accommodations such as boating, camping, fishing, and hiking. This park is also uniquely situated among fishing villages and extensive swamps, serving as the only state park on the Gulf of Mexico. Bring your dad to Grand Isle for a distinctive Father's Day recreation experience.
5. St. Bernard State Park
501 St. Bernard Pkwy., Braithwaite
lastateparks.com/parks-preserves/st-bernard-state-park
St. Bernard State Park has an especially relaxing ambience with manmade lagoons situated along the Mississippi River. There are also various accommodations such as picnic tables, barbecue grills, restrooms, a covered pavilion, and a grill. There is also a water playground, perfect for young families celebrating Father's Day.
6. Bouge Chitto State Park
17049 State Park Blvd., Franklinton
lastateparks.com/parks-preserves/bogue-chitto-state-park
Bouge Chitto State Park is an extensive 2,593-acre site that includes streams, cypress-tupelo swamps, a hardwood forest, and upland forests. The diverse terrain makes for scenic and engaging bike and hike tours. Open daily, the gates are unlocked from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., allowing the freedom for a morning, afternoon, and nighttime Father's Day celebration.
7. Cypremort Point State Park
306 Beach Ln., Cypremort Point
lastateparks.com/parks-preserves/cypremort-point-state-park
Cypremort Point State Park offers a waterfront experience with a half-mile long beach. There is space for picnicking and enjoying the water with your family this Father's Day. Try fishing, crabbing, water skiing, windsurfing, and sailing for a water-oriented park visit.
8. Fairview-Riverside State Park
119 Fairview Dr., Madisonville
lastateparks.com/parks-preserves/fairview-riverside-state-park
The Fairview-Riverside State Park is home to an extensive forest of huge oak trees with picnic tables, a pavilion, a playground, and comfort stations along the trails. The park is uniquely situated along the Tchefuncte River, where bass, bluegill, white perch, and bream can be caught near the park area. Channel catfish, speckled trout, and redfish are also accessible where the river meets the lake. Visit Fairview-Riverside for a fishing-oriented Father's Day.
9. Lake Fausse Pointe State Park
5400 Levee Rd., St. Martinville
lastateparks.com/parks-preserves/lake-fausse-pointe-state-park
Home to a 6,000-acre site in the Atchafalaya Basin, Lake Fausse Pointe State Park holds historical and environmental significance. Formerly the home site of the Chitimacha Indians, the area was later dominated by French and Acadian farmers and trappers. Combine recreation with an educational experience for Father's Day by learning the history of Lake Fausse Pointe while fishing and hiking.
10. Palmetto Island State Park
19501 Pleasant Rd., Abbeville
lastateparks.com/parks-preserves/palmetto-island-state-park
Palmetto Island State Park has extensive accommodations for guests with a visitor center complex consisting of a water playground, bathhouse, and a multi-purpose room for meetings, family gatherings, and weddings. The park name also alludes to the ever-present palmetto plants throughout the grounds.
