Less than 35 miles south of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s campus and living along the shores of the Vermilion River lives a place where anyone needing a dose of nature can get their fix.

What is its name? Palmetto Island State Park, a 1,299-acre wetland set aside and protected by Louisiana for the public to enjoy.

Palmetto Island State Park, Louisiana
Photo by Karley Nugent

The idea for the park was first born in 1981 when the state purchased the land to set up the park. State budget cuts and various other problems would prevent any further development for over 20 years.

Finally, the park was opened in October of 2010, and despite its struggle to start, the park has become one of the most popular in the state. Palmetto Island has hosted more than 418,122 visitors since its humble opening.

A mix of swamp, marsh, and land, this state park protects something special: it protects a piece of true, quintessential Louisiana. For a $2-per-person entrance fee, Palmetto Island also offers its visitors a multitude of things to do, places to see and activities to experience.

The visitor center is a great first stop for people to learn about all they can see in the area whether it is the animals that live in the park or the different plants you are surrounded by.

Palmetto Island Visitor Center, Palmetto Island State Park, Louisiana
Photo by Karley Nugent

Nature trails weave through the woods of the park, offering the perfect place for anyone suffering from hiking withdrawals.

Palmetto Island State Park, Louisiana
Photo by Karley Nugent

Water trails also slice through the very same forests, presenting the opportunity for canoeing, kayaking, fishing and much more.

Canoe Trail, Palmetto Island State Park, Louisiana
Photo by Karley Nugent

Palmetto Island is a haven for indigenous flora and fauna. Alligators, hawks, and various snakes are just a few of the many species that can be found residing in the park. Even the Louisiana black bear can occasionally be found here. Plant-wise, there is everything from poison ivy to magnolia trees, and of course, the plethora of palmettos scattered throughout the park that gives this place its name.

Palmetto Island State Park, Louisiana
Photo by Karley Nugent

There is even a playground paired with a splash pad for children to enjoy on those hot and humid summer days Louisiana is famous for.

Palmetto Island State Park, Louisiana
Photo by Karley Nugent

In addition to all of the things you can do, the park also hosts multiple events throughout the year that any and everyone is encouraged to go to. From a Halloween bash to the annual Stir the Pot Seafood cook-off, Palmetto celebrates just about every major holiday through the calendar year.

Stir the Pot 2016, Palmetto Island State Park, Louisiana
Photo by Karley Nugent

But if you still haven’t had enough of the park, there’s good news: you can spend the night.

With six cabins, 98 sites for campers (20 of which also have space for tent camping), and four private primitive camping sites, all available for rental at great prices, Palmetto Island is a great place to get away for the weekend.

Despite all of the things Palmetto presents to its visitors, the best thing about this place is the atmosphere.

It is a place where nothing but positive attitudes and good energy fills the air. In my countless visits to this swampland utopia, I have never met an unhappy person. With so many fun things readily available, how could anyone not be at bliss here?

At night, crickets and locusts chirp the perfect ambient soundtrack to go along with the crackle of your campfire, while the distant sounds of your temporary neighbors’ laughter, also enjoying their night, laces the background air.

Palmetto Island is something special; if it wasn’t, it would not have been set aside in the first place, like all the other parks. It is a place that showcases the true nature of Southern Louisiana’s outdoors experience, and your only worry in the world will be the raccoons scavenging for food at night.

Beyond all of that, the park has given me something more than just a getaway for the weekend; time and time again, it has given my brothers and I a place to bond; an accomplishment not easily achieved.

We love to go camping together at Palmetto Island because we know there’s no closer place to get such a deep connection with nature and with each other. Palmetto gives a place and an excuse to spend time together, and there’s nothing more rewarding than that.

I hope you make time to go there, disconnect from technology and city life and experience all it has to offer you and those you love.

There’s no free WiFi, but I promise you will have a far better connection.

Happy exploring.