However you enjoy the outdoors—hiking, birding, paddling, biking or maybe photography—Louisiana can fit the bill. Full of unusual flora and fauna, the 14-parish Atchafalaya National Heritage Area in the south central portion of the state is rich in interesting wildlife and otherworldly landscapes.

Spring is the peak time to view nature in this outdoor haven. Alligators emerge from winter dormancy, colonial birds, such as great blue herons, seek out spots to nest, and the elusive Louisiana black bear makes some appearances.

St. Martin Parish boasts Lake Martin and the Cypress Island Preserve, an area of bottomland hardwood forests, cypress-tupelo swamps and a live oak natural levee forest that supports one of the largest colonial waterbird rookeries in North America. Take a Spanish-moss-filled swamp tour with Cajun Country Swamp Tours, go paddling with Bayou Teche Experience or follow one of the preserve walking trails.

Iberia Parish is known as a nature photographer’s paradise thanks to the beautiful Jungle Gardens and Rip Van Winkle Gardens, both of which boast bird rookeries over water.

The best places to spot Louisiana’s mysterious black bears are the Richard K. Yancey Wildlife Management Area in Concordia Parish and the Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge in St. Mary Parish. Though seeing a bear is part patience and part luck, it is certainly worth the bragging rights.

St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes are home to more than 356 active bald eagle nests in Louisiana and host the annual Eage Expo in Morgan City. If you take a swamp or wetland tour and keep your eyes peeled, you are likely to see one of these majestic creatures soaring through the skies.

For more information about these and other opportunities to explore the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area or to download a copy of the Louisiana Birding Guide, visit Atchafalaya.org.