Avery Island

A magical place in the midst of Cajun Country.
This is an old Confederate salt mine that’s on a salt dome in the midst of the swamp in the middle of nowhere. Dem Yankees came and blew up the salt mine, and they ended up resurrecting it as a hot sauce factory. It’s a true island, with a swampy lake all around it. You can fish in these waters.
You must pay a dollar toll to drive onto the island, which I’d highly recommend, since there’s plenty to see and do on this small island. Much of it is dedicated to the Tabasco factory, but there’s also the Jungle Garden Nature Preserve here, that you can drive through.

We were there yesterday around 3pm. Best time of day to be there, the light was magnificent. The parc, called Jungle Garden, is amazing too. A really beautiful, special place. I love all these oaks and their spanish moss. we saw birds, turtles, and a baby gator sleeping on the grass, even though it’s apparently not uncommon to see bigger gators (there are warning signs everywhere, exciting !). A good place for wedding photography or a picnic with kids, as long as you keep an eye on them (because «don’t feed the aligators») :) We didn’t visit the tabasco factory, it was closed by the time we finished wandering in the parc. Since its so close to Lafayette if i was a local i wouldnt mind coming here frequently. A must see near Lafayette.

Neat place to visit — they have the Tabasco Factory and Jungle Island. Both are worth the visit. The factory is a short tour but they’ve got an awesome gift store. The «jungle» you get to roam around in your car and get off at certain stops for a scenic walks.

What a lovely island. What a place it would be to call home. If you were born to the Mcllhenny family you would have lived here! The public side will get you to the Tabasco factory and the Jungle garden after you pay a buck to enter. Then the tour of the factory is free, the Jungle Gardens does cost to enter, and is a very pleasant drive around the swamp, the gators, the deer, the Buddha and incredible bird views, and more. Come with a picnic and enjoy all the island has to offer at a slow pace and a lazy afternoon. Oh an afternoon nap there sounds just so right…

I grew up right down the road from Avery Island and have visited on many occasions. It is wonderful. It is fascinating. It is breathtakingly beautiful. Where else can tour the birthplace of the best hot sauce on the planet, spot a doe and her fawn, see a beautiful swamp, and walk right next to alligators in their habitat? All in one place? Avery Island, that’s where.
Go on a weekday and do the Tabasco tour. It’s fun and informative. Be aware that the red pepper permeates the air inside and may sting your nose a bit, but you’ll acclimate quickly.
Next I suggest a leisurely stroll of the Jungle Gardens. It’s so tranquil it feels like a mini spa vacation in and of itself.
On your way out stop by the Tabasco gift shop and pick up some Tabasco flavored chocolate and Tabasco flavored ice cream for your friends and some really cute Tabasco themed décor for your kitchen.
I love this place and I know you will, too.

Tabasco plant wasn’t running so the tour was a bummer but their gift shop made it worth the trip. Words and pictures can not describe how beautiful the Jungle Gardens are. Glad we made the detour to NOLA to stop and take in the beauty.

On my drive back from Lafayette, LA, being an avid fan of Tabasco, I decided to detour to Avery Island to visit the Tabasco Museum and its surrounding beauty. I got there, paid $ 1 and drove to the museum. It was Sunday so the bottling was not being done but they had a short tour which included the history of the Island. It was really fascinating, then we walked through the bottling area and then to the store, where I tasted everything and bought a few things, which I cannot wait to try.
After the museum, I drove to see how long it would take to tour the Island’s egret sanctuary and other beautiful parts, and was told 2 hours or I can drive right through it. The entry fee is $ 8. I thought about it and decided I did not want to drive through such beauty and miss it, so opted to come back to do this on foot so I can thoroughly enjoy it. Probably in the early Spring when the weather is decent will be a good time.
I definitely recommend this place to be on your «must stop by» place if you are in the area. I wouldn’t mind coming back to watch the bottling so will add that in my «to do» on my return.
I LOVE TABASCO!!!

The Gardens are beautiful and walking around the swamp (assuming it’s not mid July) is a fantastic relaxing way to spend the afternoon. However, avoid the Tabasco museum like the plague. I tried to count the number of times hey said «Tabasco, the worlds most famous hot sauce» in the video which they made you watch after locking you in a room.

A.K.A. the Jungle Gardens of Avery Island. This is one of the most beautiful places.
You can see anything from thousands of white birds, to alligators right at your feet, to 300 year old live oaks with beautiful moss hanging from them to a giant Buddha overlooking an algae covered swamp.
It’s very intriguing.