The Atchafalaya Basin — North America's largest river swamp — begins at Morgan City's edge. Flat-bottomed boat tours depart from the river landing and move through a landscape of bald cypress draped with Spanish moss, black water channels, and ancient tupelo gum trees. The basin is a world-class birding destination and one of the few places in Louisiana where you can reliably see alligators in the wild.
Tours typically run one to two hours and encounter egrets, herons, roseate spoonbills, osprey, and woodpeckers alongside the gators. Spring and autumn are the best seasons — summer is hot and humid, and the mosquitoes are fierce. Several operators work out of Morgan City and the nearby town of Berwick across the river; check current schedules and book in advance during peak season.