Top 15 Attractions and Activities in New Iberia, Louisiana

The Queen City of the Teche was established by the Spanish in 1779. New Iberia was subsequently populated by Acadians who migrated from Nova Scotia after their expulsion by British forces.

Cajun culture thrives in New Iberia, reflected in its rich seafood-oriented cuisine and traditions such as Mardi Gras.

The city boasts an award-winning downtown, featuring landmarks familiar to readers of James Lee Burke’s Dave Robicheaux novels.

The low-lying terrain surrounding the region comprises bayous, swamps, and marshes, interspersed with salt domes, which are substantial deposits of rock salt forming islands.

Visitors can explore two notable islands at the historic home of the TABASCO hot sauce brand and the residence of the 19th-century actor Joseph Jefferson.

1. TABASCO Experience

Elevating from the bayous southwest of New Iberia is Avery Island, a salt dome spanning 2,200 acres and measuring 2.5 miles at its widest point.

This site is the birthplace of Tabasco sauce, which was developed in the late 1860s by Edmund McIlhenny (1815-1890) after cultivating his first commercial pepper crop in its distinctive soil.

Although pepper cultivation now occurs internationally, Avery Island remains the headquarters of the TABASCO brand, and guests are welcome to participate in a factory tour to delve into the production process from seed to sauce.

A restaurant on-site serves Cajun specialties alongside a store offering various TABASCO products, including unique items like TABASCO ice cream.

2. Jungle Gardens

A visit to the TABASCO factory includes access to this picturesque botanical and bird sanctuary, developed by the founder’s son, Edward Avery McIlhenny (1872-1949) and opened to the public in 1935.

Jungle Gardens feature a splendid array of native and exotic flora, including Japanese camellias, azaleas, wisteria, hydrangeas, papyrus sedges, Louisiana irises, and palms, in addition to one of the oldest timber bamboo groves in the nation.

McIlhenny also initiated Bird City, a sanctuary for snowy egrets established in the 1890s, to safeguard this species from plume hunters. Bird City has transformed into a vast rookery, housing approximately 100,000 nesting birds during the summer months.

3. Downtown New Iberia

With numerous buildings adorned with plaques, Downtown Iberia comprises two districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Tax incentives and sustained preservation efforts have fostered a captivating downtown, rich in history yet vibrant with life.

Behind the historic facades from the 1870s to the mid-20th century lies a flurry of dining establishments offering both Cajun and international cuisine, alongside locally-owned shops selling antiques, flowers, handmade gifts, and specialty food items.

Exploring Downtown New Iberia is a delightful adventure, as the city offers a downloadable self-guided walking tour with 20 stops, all conveniently located within a few blocks.

For a relaxing break, visitors can unwind at Bouligny Plaza, a venue for annual events, or stroll across to New Iberia City Park.

4. Shadows-on-the-Teche

An intriguing historical site, Shadows-on-the-Teche is a former sugarcane plantation featuring a Greek Revival house that backs onto Bayou Teche in the heart of downtown.

Dating back to 1834, it was founded by affluent sugar planter David Weeks (1786-1834) and has remained within the same family for four generations.

During your visit, you will gain insight into the lives of the Weeks family through personal artifacts such as furniture, decorative arts, portraits, and correspondence.

Significant attention is dedicated to the lives of the enslaved individuals who resided and worked on the estate, providing context to its grandeur.

Since 1958, Shadows-on-the-Teche has been managed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, featuring lush grounds shaded by moss-covered live oaks and adorned with box hedges, aspidistra walks, azaleas, camellias, and bamboo.

5. Cuisine

If you seek authentic Cajun and Creole flavors, New Iberia is the destination for you. A diverse selection of beloved local eateries features menus filled with specialties such as gumbos, bisques, écatouffée, and stuffed po-boys.

Being in proximity to the Gulf of Mexico ensures that ultra-fresh seafood is integral to the local diet, including crawfish (when in season), shrimp, crabs, and oysters.

Notable local venues include Bon Creole Seafood (1409 E St Peter St), Victor’s Cafeteria (109 W Main St), Cafe Jefferson (5505 Rip Van Winkle Rd), and R & M’s Boiling Point (6308 U.S. 90, West).

Furthermore, culinary exploration abounds in the region, with the Teche Area Farmers’ Market held downtown on Saturdays and Tuesdays, and Delcambre, nearby, hosting a shrimp festival each August.

6. Rip Van Winkle Gardens at Jefferson Island

In 1870, the celebrated stage actor Joseph Jefferson (1829-1905) commissioned a magnificent Late Victorian residence on what was then Orange Island, another salt dome located a few miles west of New Iberia.

Jefferson was renowned for his portrayal of Rip Van Winkle on stage, and this splendid estate, surrounded by 20 acres of semi-tropical gardens and a rookery, served as his hunting lodge and art studio.

Visitors can partake in a guided tour of the house, which is preserved to reflect the post-Civil War era and includes several of Jefferson’s artworks.

The property hosts an acclaimed restaurant, Cafe Jefferson, and provides accommodation options in the Cook’s Cottage or Servant’s Quarters.

To the west lies the 1,125-acre Lake Peigneur, celebrated for its scenic beauty. This lake’s structure was dramatically altered by a mishap in 1980 when oil drilling caused a salt mine to flood, resulting in the deepest lake in the state, reaching 200 feet.

7. Bayou Teche Museum

The 125-mile waterway flowing through New Iberia has significant cultural importance, and a remarkable museum situated downtown provides insight into the industry, customs, cuisine, art, and lore that have developed along the banks of Bayou Teche.

The interactive Bayou Teche Museum opened its doors downtown, adjacent to the Sliman Theatre, in 2010.

Exhibits explore the waterway’s multifaceted history, including its connection to the Civil War, Tabasco, sugar production, education, 18th-century Spanish heritage, local political history, author James Lee Burke, Mardi Gras traditions, salt mining, and much more.

8. New Iberia City Park

Across the Bayou Teche from the historic downtown is a park that would be a valued addition to any city. New Iberia City Park is notable for its beauty, featuring a multitude of tall, mature trees that provide delightful shade in the summer months.

The park includes workout equipment along its pathways, as well as a boat launch along Bayou Teche. Devil’s Pond, known for attracting ducks and geese, is slightly set back from the bayou.

A wealth of amenities is available within City Park, including a fantastic playground, a splash pad, an outdoor pool, a meditation garden, a dog park, seven tennis courts, two softball fields, a senior citizens center, and a recreation center.

9. Lake Fausse Pointe State Park

The Atchafalaya Basin, the largest wetland and swamp in the United States, is located to the east of New Iberia.

One of the most accessible locations to experience this unique ecosystem is Lake Fausse Pointe State Park, a short drive from the city, bounded by the natural levee of Bayou Teche.

Encompassing 6,000 acres of the basin, the park is one of the rare spots where visitors can walk directly through wetlands.

This exploration can be done via three walking trails, ranging from 0.75 to 3.3 miles, which include sections of boardwalk to traverse the aquatic environment and observe 1,000-year-old bald cypress trees as well as the diverse wildlife inhabiting the wetlands.

Numerous primitive campsites are accessible along hiking trails or by canoeing through a network of waterways. The park’s visitor center offers canoe and kayak rentals.

10. Cypremort Point State Park

For another excursion, consider a 30-minute drive south to Vermilion Bay, which is among the few coastal locations near the Gulf of Mexico accessible by road.

Cypremort Point State Park encompasses 185 acres of coastal land, featuring a half-mile man-made beach backed by expansive coastal marsh.

This area is ideal for picnics, beachcombing, swimming, relaxing on the sand, and fishing in saltwater.

The consistent breezes and gentle waves also make Cypremort Point State Park a popular spot for sailing and windsurfing.

Inland, the marshlands teem with a variety of bird species, in addition to alligators, nutria, deer, foxes, black bears, and opossums, offering excellent opportunities for nature observation.

11. Conrad Rice Mill

Using a turn-of-the-century belt system, the oldest independently owned rice mill in America that is still operational is located in New Iberia.

The Conrad Rice Mill was established in 1912, and two of the buildings on this site are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Visitors interested in the rice processing can enjoy a brief yet informative tour, which includes a 20-minute film detailing the area’s history and its Acadian culture.

The mill’s store sells KONRIKO brand products (from Conrad Rice Company) alongside various local food items and artisanal crafts.

12. Mardi Gras

The festive atmosphere in New Iberia lasts several weeks, commencing from Epiphany and culminating on Fat Tuesday.

During this period, you can indulge in delightful King Cake or King Cake-inspired treats available at numerous bakeries throughout the city, including Village Deaux (724 Admiral Doyle Dr), Cane River Pecan Company (254 W. Main St), Caribbean Ice Company (2905 Loreauville Rd), and Meche’s Donuts (403 E Saint Peter St).

Starting weeks before Mardi Gras, parades traverse downtown in a vibrant display of purple, gold, and green floats, throws, bands, and dance troops.

On Fat Tuesday, the Grand Marais Parade takes place, a family-friendly spectacle filled with traditional pageantry, Mardi Gras royalty, and a Grand Marshal, featuring contests for the most creative and humorous costumes.

13. Louisiana Sugarcane Festival

One of the enduring celebrations in New Iberia is the Louisiana Sugarcane Festival, now in its ninth decade.

Centered around Bouligny Plaza, this event is held each September to commemorate the onset of the local sugarcane harvest, known in the region as the “grinding.” A couple of major annual traditions include the Coronation of Queen Sugar and the Blessing of the Crop.

During the three-day festival, attendees can enjoy various events and activities, including four different parades, a carnival, live Cajun and Zydeco performances, sugar cooking competitions and demonstrations, an art fair, a car show, a livestock exhibition, and a 5k run.

14. World Championship Gumbo Cookoff

Every October, during the second weekend of the month, downtown New Iberia hosts a large, family-friendly food festival.

Dubbed the “Superbowl of Gumbo,” this cookoff sees over 100 teams converge at Bouligny Plaza to compete for trophies across various categories, from Amateur Mélange to Professional Seafood, with unique categories like Most Humorous and Best Decorated Booth also included.

The World Championship Gumbo Cookoff has been a beloved tradition for more than 30 years and also features numerous side events, including the 5k Roux Run.

15. Books Along the Teche Literary Festival

New Iberia is home to Pulitzer Prize-winning author James Lee Burke, renowned for his Dave Robicheaux detective novels set in the city.

This inspiration led to a vibrant celebration held on the first weekend of April in historic downtown New Iberia. Packed into three days, the Books Along the Teche Literary Festival boasts an engaging schedule.

Highlights include a book fair, guided Dave Robicheaux-themed bus tours, roundtable discussions, local culinary experiences, Cajun cooking demonstrations, live music, film screenings, bourré card games, and a variety of activities and workshops for children.