Emily Gautreaux, Author at Arlen "Benny" Cenac Jr

The Best Islands Located Within the United States

The secret’s out! Your next island getaway doesn’t require you to search through desk drawers for your passport, and it’s all thanks to Travel + Leisure and their 2021 World’s Best Awards. This year, the travel publication has curated a list of the Top 15 Islands in the Continental United States.

Each year, Travel + Leisure issues their acclaimed World’s Best Awards where the T+L readership is surveyed about the best travel experiences around the globe. What results is a hefty list of 64 total categories announcing the top U.S. national parks, airlines, airports, car-rental agencies, cities, cruise ships, destination spas, hotels, hotel brands, islands, tour operators, and more from around the globe.

For this year’s Best Islands in the Continental U.S. Ranking, the East Coast had quite the spotlighted feature with a majority of the top 15 spots going to the eastern seaboard. Most notably is the obvious standout that is Florida, as “the Sunshine State” claimed five of the top island spots. Though ultimately, South Carolina’s Hilton Head Island topped the list with overwhelming support for the much-celebrated weather, scenery, and atmosphere in which to enjoy days on the beach, town, or golf course. If you’re looking for inspiration for your next vacation outing, check out the full list here and the rankings below.

As you can see above, there are plenty of island experiences for United States citizens to find and enjoy without ever stepping foot in an airport’s international terminal, and while many of those islands listed are generally located in a similar area of the country, they each offer a specific ambiance and experience that cannot be found elsewhere.

Furthermore, it is clear to see that the Travel + Leisure readership didn’t discriminate against groups of islands making their way onto the list as Washington State’s archipelago, the San Juan Islands made a high-ranking placement as the only representative of the Pacific Northwest. Additionally, Georgia’s Golden Isles, which consists of Little St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island, Sea Island, and St. Simons Island, was also featured as #7 on the list, and the notorious Florida Keys rounded off the top ten.

This year’s survey, which was developed by the editors of Travel + Leisure in association with the M&RR research firm, was administered to the publication’s readership from January 11 through May 10, 2021. The editors note that for the Islands list in particular, that while the survey was administered at a time in which many destinations worldwide were lifting COVID-19 restrictions to travel, accommodations, etc, they still believe their data to be a true reflection of the date measured. This is because the survey traditionally allows readers to reflect on the past three years of travel experiences when responding.

For those living in the land-locked states around the country, the thought of vacationing on a serene, sun-warmed beach often is set on an international isle, but it turns out that the United States is home to several much-sought-after islands. These top 15 destinations are all located within the continental United States, meaning that the chart-topping Hawaiian Islands don’t cast an overbearing shadow on this year’s most popular U.S. islands and all of their amenities.

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UL Lafayette Among the Nation’s “Best Colleges & Universities”

Many of Louisiana’s colleges and universities received some national recognition recently as the U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 edition of “Best Colleges” was released and awarded numerous top rankings to the state’s institutions of higher learning. UL Lafayette was listed amongst the top 391 colleges and universities in the nation, making its student body, faculty, and staff quite proud– according to a press release from the school.

In total, 1,466 four-year colleges and universities were assessed by U.S. News & World Report, where they considered the academic reputation of an institution, retention and graduation rates, social mobility, facility resources, student and faculty ratio, ACT and SAT scores of admitted students, and alumni giving. This particular ranking is of “national universities,” which is defined as being a post-secondary learning institution that emphasizes research and offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

In addition to this, the U.S. News & World Report’s Best National Universities are founded on the basis of considering the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. With that being said, in addition to UL Lafayette, the Louisiana colleges and universities below made the following placements on the list for Best National Universities:

#42 Tulane University | New Orleans, LA

# 172 Louisiana State University–Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge, LA

#202 Loyola University New Orleans | New Orleans, LA

# 277 Louisiana Tech University | Ruston, LA

# 299-#391 University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Lafayette, LA

# 299-#391 University of Louisiana–Monroe | Monroe, LA

# 299-#391 University of New Orleans | New Orleans, LA

When news of UL Lafayette’s placement was made public, many of the university’s various programs received additional acclaim such as the school’s undergraduate business program, undergraduate nursing program, undergraduate computer science program, and their undergraduate engineering programs at schools that grant doctoral degrees.

When UL Lafayette’s vice president for enrollment management, Dr. DeWayne Bowie, was interviewed about the school’s placement, he commented, “the rankings underscore the University’s success in many areas, including its quality, academically challenging degree programs, dedicated faculty members who deliver those programs, and ongoing commitment to providing a campus and learning environment that attracts high-caliber students.”

In addition to the annual guidebook, US News also recently released their list for the “Best Value School,” which ranks universities on the quality of the program vs the cost of attendance, and they’ve also ranked the nation’s Liberal Arts Colleges. These rankings are paired with several other resources from the news publication such as articles on how to “make college cheaper,” “how to apply to college,” and many other much-sought-after articles and guides. These resources and lists are ultimately put together in the 2022 edition of the U.S. News Best Colleges Guidebook, an invaluable guide to all things postsecondary from prospective students and families.

Outside of Louisiana’s most notable National Colleges, the state’s “best colleges,” as indicated by U.S. News & World Report are:

The publication made a distinction of the state’s mixture of research universities, mid-sized colleges, and small liberal arts colleges not only being located in various areas state-wide but also within its larger cities. For instance, New Orleans was heralded for being a centerpiece hub of higher education institutions with the city having ten colleges and universities on the list within the Crescent City’s limits.

There’s never quite been a time like the present to be benefiting from an education from the great state of Louisiana, and it’s encouraging to see that sentiment be shared on the national stage.

For more education-related information, click here.

After 107 years, Chauvin Grocery is Destroyed by Hurricane Ida

When Hurricane Ida left historical amounts of damage and devastation in its path, some of the state’s more historic structures were irreparably damaged, and according to an article from HoumaToday, Cecil Lapeyrouse’s 107-year-old Chauvin grocery is one of those lost community structures that is particularly tough to see go.

Hurricane Ida, the ravaging Category 4 storm, had 150-mph winds that swept much of Southeastern Louisiana in its path, including (but not limited to) sheds, construction sites, gas tanks, pieces of road and highways, and so much more. It was this type of debris that struck the 107-year-old store, and its roof was pulled off in the massive winds.

One of the more devastating aspects of the loss of Cecil Lapeyrouse’s Grocery is the fact that this single structure, one that has stood tall in Chauvin, Louisiana offering its small community a reliable source of food, produce, and service, has stood by many other disasters for over a century. And it’s that massive period of time that is so striking; as the article highlights, this grocery store stood by as a titan, making it through two world wars, depressions, various storms, and pandemics, yet it was no match for Ida.

Many Louisiana citizens have been seriously affected by the damage from Hurricane Ida, particularly in the Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes. If you or someone you know is in need of FEMA resources, please see this resource.

In the weeks that have passed since the storm made landfall, there have been few silver linings sprinkled throughout the recovery process of an entire corner of Louisiana. Some of these linings have been community members banding together, the city of Houma hosting a “Where the Heart Is Hurricane Ida relief event,” and even Louisiana’s food stamp recipients seeing disaster assistance added to the SNAP benefits. Despite these little moments of hope, owner Cecil Lapeyrouse doesn’t see a promising future to the fallen Grocery anytime soon, but he is hopeful of the coming years.

He told reporters, “It’s never going to be like it was, you know? You’ll always see remnants of ‘Oh, that was done for Ida. … It’s never going to be back like it was. I can guarantee you that we would not be able to have any kind of holiday in the shop so it’d be well into next year. I’d like to be able to be open today, you know, but I mean it’s just, it’s not possible that soon, with this, this amount of damage. It’s going to be all right. We’re going to stay with it.”

The interview occurred days after the Lapeyrouses’s neighborhood had its power turned back on, but that valuable resource, like to many others, proved to need extensive electrical work before lights could be turned back on. Even with all these obstacles present, volunteers continue to arrive at the Chauvin Grocery to distribute hot meals, clean water, and ice to a neighborhood in dire need. The publication asked that if any among its readership had the means to help the struggling grocer, they could “reach out to Cecil and Etta Lapeyrouse by email.”

The resilience of a city as impacted and impactful as Chauvin is seen in the members of its community, its facilities, and its population’s pride. Chauvin Grocery not having its spirit inconceivably shaken despite having everything else up-ended is a symbolic promise that Hurricane Ida, while detrimental, didn’t take the Southern Louisiana spirit in its winds. If the community grocery store can eventually make it after all this, then the community can as well.

For more Louisiana-related articles, click here.

Savory Hamburger Topped With Fig Jam, Goat Cheese & Arugula

You’re sure to thoroughly enjoy an unconventional twist on the American hamburger thanks to this deliciously sweet and savory burger recipe from Food52. This particular recipe is so popular on the recipe blog because it combines the diverse, sensational flavors of spicy beef, sweet fig jam, tangy goat cheese, and the earth-flavored arugula to create an unforgettable hamburger. Whether you’re enjoying it on a porch, patio, kitchen table, or beside a pool, it’s reliable and always enjoyable, and this is great news because the deliciousness of this meal cannot be stopped or lessened if it is cooked on a barbecue grill or cast-iron skillet.

Some of the unconventional toppings found in this hamburger recipe are from the chef’s love for those unusual toppings, such as peanut butter or apples, that have made their way onto various hamburger patties nationwide in a semi-recent trend. What’s resulted is a meal that’s not light on flavor, but because of the various textures and diverse tastes coming together, you’re not left overwhelmed as a result. Instead, you’re left wanting more having enjoyed your first (of possible many helpings).

Ingredients:

2 hamburger buns

½ pound of ground beef (fat percentage to your liking)

½ to 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes

¼ teaspoon of onion powder

¼ teaspoon of garlic powder

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

2 to 3 tablespoons of fig jam (freshly canned, if available)

2 ounces of goat cheese (fresh)

1 handful of arugula

1 teaspoon of olive oil

Recipe:

You’ll begin this recipe by preheating your oven to 350° F. While this is heating up, place a sheet of oven-safe parchment paper onto a baking sheet. When the oven is at 350° F, place your hamburger buns face down onto the sheet tray, and toast them in the oven for approximately 10 minutes. Be watchful throughout and careful so as to not burn them.
While the buns are toasting, take out a small mixing bowl, drizzle some olive oil over your arugula, and season it with salt and pepper. Then give it a toss.
Then, grab another mixing bowl and combine your ground beef with salt, pepper, crushed red pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. While you can use a safe cooking utensil to mix these ingredients, many burger chefs prefer to use their hands to mix the meat with the seasoning. You’ll want to mix the ingredients together and then form two solid beef patties. You can be gloved throughout this process, but either way, you should follow the handling and mixing of raw meat with a thorough washing of your wrists, arms, and hands with soap and water before touching anything else.
Now it’s time to prepare your cooking surface. Obviously, this meal can be best prepared on a lit grill, but if you’re cooking on the stovetop, you’ll want to heat your cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Melt your butter or oil in the skillet and then carefully place your patties into the pan. If the skillet’s properly heated, you’ll hear an auditory sizzle as you cook the patties for approximately 2 to 3 minutes before you flip them over. Note: your cooking time will vary depending on the particular thickness of your patties, so do consider utilizing a meat thermometer.
After they’re flipped, place some goat cheese on top of each patty in order to warm and soften the cheese. Follow this by cooking the second side for 2 to 3 minutes.
Lastly, it’s time to assemble your meal! Spread the fig jam on the bottom bun to prevent too much of a mess, put your patty on top, and then put the arugula between the cheese-topped burger and your top bun.
Enjoy!

For more delicious recipes, click here.

Chauvin Sculpture Garden: Damaged by Ida with Plans to be Restored

Storm damage left in the wake of Hurricane Ida is set to be repaired and reversed by supporters of Nicholls State University’s Chauvin Sculpture Garden, according to an article from Houma Today.

When Hurricane Ida historically made landfall and damaged a significant portion of Southeastern Louisiana in late August, one of Terrebonne Parish’s most recognizable and unique landmarks was significantly damaged. Owned by Nicholls State University and located at 5337 Bayouside Drive, the Chauvin Sculpture Garden receives approximately 10,000 visitors each and every year. Despite receiving damage from the state’s previous storms, several of the Chauvin Sculpture Garden’s pieces had sustained significant damage from falling trees from Hurricane Ida.

As soon as pictures, reports, and eyewitness accounts were made public via Facebook, supporters of the garden came out in droves not just with well wishes but also donations and offerings to help bring the garden and its pieces back to their former glory. One of the pieces receiving significant damage was the “Flowered Path,” a personal favorite of the garden’s sculptor, Kenny Hill.

A self-taught artist, Hill was first a brick-layer by trade before he moved to Chauvin in 1988 and created the garden with over 100 concrete statues that rest along Bayou Little Caillou. In the garden lie many beloved portrayals of Cajuns, angels, self-portraits, and other impressive figures, though as described by the president of the Friends of the Chauvin Sculpture Garden, Dr. Gary LaFleur, many sustained massive damages.

LaFleur reported to Houma Today, “It has gotten some damage from hurricanes before like Katrina and Gustav, but nothing of this magnitude. The winds in Chauvin were pretty high, maybe as high as 150 mph. A lot of trees came down. One tree branch came down on part of the “Flowered Path,” where the artist Kenny Hill was able to make angels look like they’re flying in the air. But they weren’t made to have a big branch on them. One of those angels is carrying a baby, and somehow the baby fell out of the angel’s arms and got caught up in the branches but did not hit the ground. We caught the baby and stored it away so the baby is OK, but most of the angels took some damage.”

LaFleur continued to explain that though it’s a bit early to restore the garden, due to the substantial damages to the surrounding area, the wheels are already in motion. In fact, as soon as the story of the garden’s damages was spread across social media channels, organizers began to organize together with a goal of restoring the garden so as to bring a symbolic gesture of faith and hope to a community similarly weakened by the storm.

Jonathan Foret is the Executive Director of the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center in Houma, and upon seeing Ida’s impact on the garden, he reported to Houma Today that he was particularly pained by it.

Foret expressed, “it may seem odd, but of all the things I didn’t want to see this broken the most. Not to make insignificant all the people that lost their possessions and homes. I know that is most important. I’m not sure why, but maybe I do. It’s an important symbol of Chauvin … and Terrebonne Parish. I want to be a part of putting this back together. It’s symbolic … and I hope it can help us all heal.”

If you’d like to track the restoration efforts of bringing the Chauvin Sculpture Garden back to its full, former spectacle and glory, it’s suggested that you visit the Garden’s Facebook Page. In addition to this restoration effort, if you’d like to also assist struggling residents in the Houma area who were affected by the storm, please visit the New York Times’ linked resources.

For more Louisiana-related articles, click here.

Small Town Fall Travel for 2021

Each year the transition from summer to fall has many looking forward to new opportunities for fall travel, chances, and experiences, and this sensation of new beginnings is often mirrored in the changing weather conditions and transformative color patterns found in the fall foliage of the country’s smaller towns. Thankfully, Travel + Leisure has published an acclaimed list of the seven best towns to visit so that you can ring in the new season in the best way and in the best places.

As always, it’s advised that you research and look to local travel guidelines and CDC recommendations prior to booking any accommodations in these unprecedented times so that you may keep yourself and those you care about as safe and responsible as possible.

Manchester, Vermont

Set between the Taconic and Green Mountain Ranges of southwestern Vermont, the town of Manchester is a quintessential destination for anyone who wants to experience fall travel by enjoying the colorful vibrancy that comes with the changing fall foliage, and according to the Vermont Foliage Forecaster, the best time to observe them in Manchester is around mid-October. The town takes pride in its offering of premier cultural events and world-class recreational activities that can be experienced in a dreamlike environment that is conducive to someone who needs to unplug, restore, and recharge. The town abounds with accommodations to best serve your autumnal vacation as there are plenty of quaint cottages, boutique hotels, and charming inns that can be booked ahead of your stay, such as the Kimpton Taconic Hotel, located in the middle of the village.

Due to the area’s close proximity to the Taconic Mountain Range, some of the best views of the fall foliage can be seen while on a rewarding hike (or drive) up Mount Equinox, the tallest mountain in not just the state of Vermont but the entire Taconic Range at an elevation of 3840 feet. Mount Equinox protectively stands watch over the idyllic village, and it can be accessed by car or on foot. If hiking the 6.8 mile (round trip) trek, it’s suggested that you are among the more intermediate or advanced hikers, but no matter the skill level, all reaching the summit agree that the views from the top can’t be beat.

In summation, there are countless activities to engage in if you are spending an autumnal escape in the town of Manchester such as a round of two of vivacious gaming at Pastime Pinball, a perusing of the shelves of the cozy, acclaimed inn-turned-independent bookstore known as the Northshire Bookstore, or discovering new aspects of presidential history while visiting the stately 1905 mansion, the Hildene, which was once the home of the only surviving son of President Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary Todd. Take the trip to Manchester, Vermont this fall and fall in love with New England, nature, and the fall season all over again in the perfect location for doing just that.

Torrey, Utah

The astoundingly small town of Torrey stands watch at 6,800 feet above sea level as the chief gateway to the Capitol Reef National Park. Especially in the autumn months (particularly November), the population of fewer than 200 residents regularly enjoy the cool temperatures while observing the astoundingly panoramic view of the Cathedral Valley, Boulder Mountain, and the Henry Mountains that is seen in the background of the quaint town.

Other than being a beneficial home-base for fall travel to those looking to explore, trek, and enjoy the offerings of the nearby National Park, the town itself has been known over the past 25 years for keeping a vibrant art scene alive and well in the area. This is most notably seen in the Torrey Chamber Music Festival, bi-monthly gallery showings by local artisans, and the Wayne County County Fair. If you’re stopping by the town before the end of the year, be sure to try and attend the highly-anticipated Wayne County Farmers’ Market, which is held on Saturdays for the best offerings in food, commerce, and community that the town has to offer.

Be sure to check out the full published list, which can be read at Travel + Leisure, as it includes the towns ofBardstown, Kentucky; Cambria, California; Cape May, New Jersey; Cashiers, North Carolina; and Gretna, Louisiana.

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