The vacay way – Five daytrips for Red Stickers

Vacations aren’t just for fun; they’re important for health and critical to happiness, too, research shows. Travel can create family memories, relieve stress and provide the necessary mental resilience to plow through another year of work, school and all the various things that life throws our way. But if your budget is tight or your time is limited, a simple daytrip might be the perfect option for a little R&R. Here are five great destinations within driving distance of the Capital City.

Abita Springs
A drive to Abita is a beautiful thing. Your first stop must be the Abita Mystery House—also called the UCM Museum—which is most likely the strangest museum/tourist attraction in south Louisiana. Compiled from more than 50,000 found and upcycled items, the Mystery House—fondly referred to as the state’s most eccentric museum—delights and amuses visitors for only $3. As the museum’s website encourages, “Bring a sense of humor and an open mind.”

Once you’ve shaken off the bizarrely fascinating images, it’s time for another type of tour, and maybe even a drink. Head over to the Abita Brewery to see how some of Louisiana’s most iconic brews, like Purple Haze and Strawberry Harvest, are made. You’ll start off (and end up) in the Tasting Room, where tours meet on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 2 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the hour. Your tour includes samples of nearly every Abita-brewed beer, as well as thorough explanations of the brewery’s operations.

Once all that sampling has stirred up an appetite, your next stop should be the Abita Brew Pub, which served as the original Abita Brewery until 1994. Visitors swear that everything on the menu is delicious, and you can enjoy beautiful vistas of the St. Tammany Trace path—and all the hikers and cyclists puffing away—while you enjoy your meal. The outdoor seating is best, but the interior dining space still offers very nice views of the surrounding landscape. ucmmuseum.com, abita.com, abitabrewpub.com

Arnaudville
To truly shake off the daily grind, head to Arnaudville: one town spread across two parishes.

Visit the Nu Nu Arts & Collective, an artistic partnership that sprang up after Hurricane Katrina to harness the creative energy in Arnaudville and its surrounding areas. Making use of the area’s immense language and cultural strengths, this collective offers something for everyone nearly every day of the week: art, sewing, dance and music classes, art exhibitions and potluck French immersion events.

Once you’ve dabbled in a newfound hobby or taken in some Cajun music, drive down to the Little Big Cup, which, despite its name, is more than just a coffee shop. This establishment’s weekday buffet is legendary in the area, and the breakfast menu is outstanding. If the weather is good, try to grab a seat on the patio by the river and take in the tranquility. The indoor decor is very attractive and welcoming as well.

When your appetite has been satiated, head to the Bayou Teche Brewery to sample some of the South’s finest microbrews. These beers were developed specifically to complement Cajun and Creole culture and food. Tours and tastings are available TuesdaysFridays, 4-6 p.m., and Saturdays, noon4 p.m. Don’t leave without sampling their A-31 Bire Ple, a Louisiana pale ale crafted to accompany just about every type of food found in south Louisiana. nunucollective.org, littlebigcup.com, bayoutechebrewing.com

Lafayette
An hour can make a world of difference. Head to Lafayette for an adventure that’s totally Louisiana, yet completely exotic in its own way. The Parc Sans Souci downtown is a perfect for a quick, post-drive splash in the fountains—or, if you’re not quite ready to get wet, stroll around the greenery for a peek at everyday life in the gateway to Cajun Country.

Visit the Acadiana Center for the Arts for rotating live performances by singer-songwriters, jazz musicians and many more, or simply drop in and browse the center’s galleries, which are free and open to the public.

Stop by the Lafayette Science Museum, including its engaging space travel exhibition and a virtual aquarium that will leave you alternately giddy and breathless.

Save time to step outside your Louisiana roots and savor the Spanish way of life with a meal at Pamplona Tapas. Start with tapas—the croquettes and patatas bravas are a must—but don’t stop there. Get adventurous. Move on to the main course and order paella or a roast suckling pig (call ahead to ensure availability). Pair with some cava—Spanish champagne—or a good Albarino, and you’ll feel like you’ve flown across the Atlantic instead of simply rolling down I-10. downtownlafayette.org, acadianacenterforthearts.org, lafayettesciencemuseum.org, pamplonatapas.com

Mandeville Lakefront
Start off in the great outdoors by breaking a sweat along Tammany Trace, Louisiana’s first and only rail-to-trail development created from the Illinois Central Railroad corridor, running for 31 miles from Slidell to Covington. Take a walk and enjoy the magnolias, or up the ante and rent bicycles from Bayou Adventure and make short work of this scenic trail.

After burning plenty of calories, head to The Lakehouse, which overlooks the picturesque Lake Pontchartrain. You’ll definitely feel like you’ve taken a real vacation after spoiling yourself with such a decadent meal. The Soft-Shell Crab Pontchartrain is a long-time favorite with visitors. If you or your children are craving comfort food, though, try McClain’s Pizzeria on the lakefront. Owned by Vampire Diaries star and Louisiana native Ian Somerhalder, this joint offers delicious pies with all the trimmings. Just don’t forget to dip your crust—or your entire slice—in the sweet honey provided.

Now that your stomach is pampered, it’s time for a drink. Settle in for a brew at The Barley Oak. You can drink your way around the world at this Northshore gem, preferably while seated on the balcony overlooking Lake Pontchartrain. Based on the German beer garden concept, the Barley Oak is a local favorite that also attracts its fair share of out-of-towners. Much like Baton Rouge’s traditional favorite, the Chimes, the Barley Oak offers patrons the opportunity to sample hundreds of beers from nearly as many countries. If the beer whips your appetite back into a frenzy, international cheese boards and sausage platters, salads and burgers are available, too. bayouadventure.com, lakehousecuisine.com, mcclainspizzeria.com, thebarleyoak.com

Plaquemine, White Castle & Donaldsonville
Drive down Highway 1 for a trip into another time. Make your first stop the Bayou Plaquemine waterfront park. With fishing piers and viewing terraces overlooking the waterway, it’s a great way to shake off that big-city feeling and immerse yourself in the beauty of this serene area. The park also has a walkway connecting it to the Plaquemine Locks. From 1909 to 1961, this system was one of the most widely used points of access from the Mississippi River to Louisiana’s interior waterways. After 52 years of non-stop service, the locks were closed and sealed, and they now serve as a museum and historic monument. Take in the view of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Plaquemine’s “Cathedral on the Bayou,” located right across the street.

Once you’ve had your fill of the great outdoors, continue on Highway 1 to White Castle for a tour of Nottoway, Louisiana’s largest remaining antebellum mansion. Guided tours are available for $20, daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. With 64 rooms, three stories and expansive, beautifully manicured grounds, Nottoway provides a well-preserved window into our not-so-distant past.

After all this history, stop by the Grapevine Cafe and Gallery—reservations highly recommended—for some of the best cuisine in the area, accompanied by artwork from local artists and live music. The building, constructed in the 1920s, has been thoroughly restored, featuring unique Art Deco brickwork upstairs and original mosaic floors downstairs. It has an interesting claim to fame, too, as Al Capone is rumored to have frequented the establishment during Prohibition. nottoway.com, grapevinecafeandgallery.com