LUMCON

LumCon, for Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium. This is where you'll learn all about the Gulf and marshes, the lifestyle and diet of their inhabitants, why some crabs are blue and what a whale vertebra looks like. Of course, LumCon is a research center: it is a highly respected scientific institution in its research on coastal erosion as well as the medium and long-term effects on the ecosystem of the BP oil spill in 2010. But the center is also meant to be educational with its aquariums where some specimens from the Gulf of Mexico and the Barataria-Terrebonne estuary are displayed, marshes to walk around the site, a (possible) visit of the Pelican, a research vessel that would make Commander Cousteau blush, and, of course, the observation tower (72 steps without an elevator, you'll be warned!) which allows you to get one of the best panoramas of the region, especially at the end of the day when the sun is declining. The center also offers scientific discussions on a variety of interesting and educational topics, all in webinar format (see Facebook page for dates and registration). Want to take the experience further? Educational activities can be downloaded from the website and you can also watch some videos. In short, we highly recommend a visit to LumCon, because to appreciate is to know. Note that expansion work will take place in the summer of 2022, a project called Blue Works.