Passing through Berwick after spending time at the nearby bridges, you can't really say that a…read morebright red three story lighthouse on stilts is hiding, but the Southwest Reef Lighthouse does feel a little tucked beneath the E. J. "Lionel" Grizzaffi Bridge where US-90 crosses the Atchafalaya River. If you're focused on the road as you come over the span, you'd miss it entirely, which makes the surprise of seeing it up close even better. We had the place to ourselves this afternoon, which meant I could wander freely around the site, walking underneath the structure to appreciate the stilts and the heavy boiler plate skin, then climbing the stairs up onto the floodwall for an eye level view. From that height the lighthouse feels even more striking, a square pyramidal tower with a presence that's both industrial and elegant, the kind of design you rarely see preserved onshore. The history here is well documented. Established on September 1, 1859, the Southwest Reef Lighthouse originally stood near the entrance to Atchafalaya Bay on the Gulf Coast, marking the approach for vessels navigating the shifting waters of the bay. Its design is one of only two of its type ever built in the United States, a fully enclosed square pyramid sheathed in boiler plate and elevated on iron piles. When first lit, it displayed a fixed white oil light 54 feet above mean high water, visible for roughly 14 miles across the Gulf. It remained an active aid to navigation until March 30, 1916, when it was replaced by the Point Au Fer Reef Lighthouse. After decommissioning, it continued serving as a day beacon for more than seventy years. By the 1980s the structure faced deterioration, and in October 1987 the Town of Berwick moved it ashore and restored it, giving the lighthouse a second life as a local landmark. Seeing it now, tucked beneath the modern highway bridge yet still carrying the lines and materials of its 1859 origins, you get a sense of how much maritime history is layered into this small stretch of the Atchafalaya. [Review 331 of 2026 - 105 in Louisiana - 25518 overall]

Crossing through on my way to Louisiana to see my two sons and family who live in Gray, La(Bayou…read moreBlue). I was so excited to be heading there to visit. I can't wait to return. This seems like they have a pretty nice Fire Station here. That is a good thing. You never know when you might need them. Great place to take your children and grandchildren for a tour/visit. It's always nice to drop off cookies and brownies to the Firemen and women. They are always happy to receive sweet treats.

This is a unique post office in a strip mall. There's an outside mailbox and the hours are strange…read more But the employees are nice

Several years ago a friend of mine on Yelp said that I would review anything. I think that…read morestatement is very accurate, and I pride myself on reviewing the places others wont. That is occasionally difficult, especially when reviewing chains, gas stations or in this case, the landfill. This isn't my first landfill review. That distinction belongs to the River Birch site located on Hwy 90. The Houma Landfill may not be as large as River Birch, but what it lacks in size, it makes up in customer service. Customer service at a landfill? Surely I am joking, right? I assure you I am not. The Houma Landfill continues the great customer service, and friendly employee trend that I have found at nearly every business I have been to in the Houma area. The reason for my visit to this landfill was that I needed to buy an additional trash can. I couldn't use any plain can, and the landfill is one of the locations where you can buy the official trash can of Houma. It is also the place where you can dump large trash as long as you have a local address on your license, or some local utility bill. Unfortunately I visited on a Saturday. While I was unable to buy the can I needed (apparently that is a weekday only thing), the employees did give me very thorough instructions on how to acquire one during regular hours. An additional plus about this dump is that it smells significantly better than any other landfill I have visited. If you're in Houma and need to throw away large items, or get the official trash can, stop by the landfill.

I love lift bridges and go out of my way to see them, and the Berwick Bay Bridge is one of those…read morestructures that rewards the detour. This Southern Louisiana workhorse carries rail traffic across the Atchafalaya River, a vertical lift span built in 1975 to replace an older swing bridge that could no longer keep up with modern rail demands. When I arrived the span was raised, which turned out to be perfect timing as we watched a tugboat called "The Ingram Way" pushing barges upriver toward Houston, the whole scene framed by the steel towers and counterweights of the bridge. The setting is pure Atchafalaya country with the river wide and restless with the bridge rising out of it all like the piece of purposeful industrial architecture it is. The bridge isn't open to pedestrians or cars, so this is very much a see and don't touch experience, but even from the riverbank you can appreciate the engineering. The lift towers stand tall over Berwick Bay, supporting a movable span that can rise high enough to clear deep draft vessels navigating the Atchafalaya. Its design is straightforward and muscular, built for freight rather than beauty, yet it has that familiar elegance that comes from function dictating form. Watching the river traffic slide beneath it while the railroad waits overhead, you get a sense of how essential this crossing is to both the waterway and the rail line that threads through Morgan City and Berwick, a reminder that even the most utilitarian bridges can carry a quiet kind of drama. [Review 330 of 2026 - 104 in Louisiana - 25517 overall]

Totally awesome to walk around the actual slave quarters and plantation. Even being here it is…read morehard to imagine what those times were like. Nice to see that these are being preserved so that we can learn from history and never repeat this sad part of American history.

The Laurel Valley Heritage Foundation is in charge of maintaining this Village of slave homes. Some…read moreare in need of minor repairs, some major repairs. There was a wooden fence all around the property and gates that were locked. I was hoping there would be someone here to let people walk around. But there wasn't. There was a gravel parking lot. When I am in the area in the future, I will make sure to stop back by to see if I can actually walk around. This is an amazing spot with so much potential.

I am always on the prowl for new to me places to tour. I was scrolling through social media and…read morenoticed a post about a meal and tour here at this house and did not realize it even existed. I emailed asking to schedule a tour and the guide got back to me within an hour or two and we got it scheduled for the next day. Reasonable price, this was more like a conversation about the house and family and how things have changed and evolved. This is unlike most of the other house tours I have done. Very special and unique. I would recommend to anyone in the area.

This Plantation is a must see. It is beautiful and so full of history. The grounds are so nice and…read morethe tour offers so much knowledge and many stories from the past.

What a fantastic space, seemingly in the middle of what seems like the end of the road. I lived in…read moreHouma for 6 most, post-katrina, I didn't know all of this greatness was on the other side of the water... literally, I'm talking about the little bayou that you have to cross to get to the facility. Visiting The Civic Center for a Women's Empowerment Seminar; I was surprised at the grandness of this venue. I'm not sure if this place is newly renovated, but for me, I was quite elated to see this spectacular sight. This is just another testament to the growth of this area. Beaucoup parking... Spacious indoors... Indoor suites vary in size... Modern restroom facilities... No indoor lingering food or nasty carpet smells... Oh and speaking of the carpet; it seems freshly laid... Friendly management staff... I'd love to return for a larger venue & see what they have in store for me.