Trail Blog

July 12, 2011

Friday: Vermilion Parish

Three-day weekend along our Seafood Sensation Trail

Work up an appetite: Start your trip in Vermilion Parish, known as the “most Cajun place on Earth” (www.mostcajun.com). Abbeville is the parish seat, and its downtown is a great place to stretch your legs once you arrive in town. Shop the local boutiques and stop by The Depot at Magdalen Place, home to a railroad museum and gift shop. For the perfect Vermilion Parish souvenir, pick up a can of locally made Steen’s Pure Cane Syrup (www.steensyrup.com).

Lunch: Make the short drive to Kaplan to Suire’s Grocery and Restaurant (http://suires.yolasite.com). This country spot is a favorite of sportsmen for its hearty breakfasts and plate lunches. They’re especially known for their turtle sauce picante, a Cajun specialty.

Work up an appetite: It’s now time to experience the natural beauty of Vermilion Parish, and there are plenty of opportunities. Birdwatchers will enjoy touring the Vermilion Loop of the America’s Wetland Birding Trail, where you can spy herons, egrets and ibises year-round (http://mostcajun.com/ecotourism/). Or head to Palmetto Island State Park, located on the Vermilion River (www.crt.state.la.us/parks/ipalmetto.ASPX). Enjoy a canoe or kayak trip, or simply let the kids splash around in the water playground.  

Dinner: You can’t leave Vermilion Parish without enjoying their seafood specialty: oysters! Try the oysters on the half-shell at Dupuy’s Oyster Shop, an Abbeville mainstay for 130 years (http://dupuysoystershop.com/)! Or dine at Shucks! and order the charbroiled oyster sampler, which features their traditional oysters, oysters Rockefeller, oysters Shuck-a-fella and candied oysters (www.shucksrestaurant.com).