Touring Terrebonne can be a cultural experience

Looking for some family fun this summer? Well, you don’t have to travel far to experience one of the most fascinating cultures in the world. Homegrown tourists are discovering a world of adventure in their own back yards.

If you have never been a local tourist, now may be the time and the Houma Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (HACVB) has many suggestions for things to do in and around the Houma area.

One suggestion is an afternoon of wandering among the angels in the area’s only folk art sculpture garden.

Along the banks of Bayou Petit Caillou in Terrebonne Parish, a 45-foot lighthouse peeks out amongst houses and oak trees guiding the way to a treasure of modern American folk art – The Chauvin Sculpture Garden. The lighthouse, made of 7,000 bricks and decorated with sculptures, is only the beginning of a journey through the life, faith and world of Kenny Hill, a bricklayer who left behind more than 100 concrete sculptures on his bayou-side property in Chauvin.

Ranging in subject from angels, cowboys, God, soldiers, children, and Hill himself, the sculptures depict the artist’s spirituality and his struggle with growing personal pain. Visitors enter the garden by way of a wooden bridge with concrete planks where they are awaited by angels inviting, and sometimes blocking, their passage.

Southdown Plantation House and Terrebonne Museum is another Houma area attraction. Southdown is home to a Mardi Gras exhibit, Native American exhibit and other displays depicting the local culture.

In downtown Houma, a walking tour can reveal never-before recognized historic homes and buildings, and the recently completed bayou walk allows for a quaint stroll along Bayou Terrebonnne.

Armed with a walking tour guide, available at the tourist information center, it can make for a nice day of discovery.

The Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum and Terrebonne Folklife Culture Center are just two of the many unique sites also available in downtown Houma.

Other day-long adventures include a fishing trip on the bountiful waters of Terrebonne Parish.

And, there is no need to worry if you don’t have a boat or a fishing pole. The HACVB offers a complete list of experienced charter fishing services ready for hire who can outfit guests with everything needed to fish like a pro.

The summer calendar is full of fishing rodeos for those seeking a little competition!

Another local site to be seen is the Regional Military Museum on Barrow Street, which highlights World War II from a local perspective.

For those who haven’t been Cajun dancing in a while, there are several choices in or near Houma.

Being a homegrown tourist can be a getaway. HACVB officials point to the many overnight options in the area.

Houma residents can enjoy the serenity of a bayou bed and breakfast, while residents living outside the city can stay at one of Houma’s many hotels and experience the convenience of local shopping and being close to city attractions.

For more information on homegrown getaways, visit the Visitors Center on the Hwy 90 Frontage Road in Gray across the bayou from Troop C, call 985-868-2732 or log onto www.houmatravel.com.