Author: Emily Gautreaux

2021 Fall Travel Destinations

Even though many see summer as the season in which to hit the open road for new experiences and a chance to visit exciting travel destinations, the autumnal landscape of September might be the right time to visit some of the following charming locations listed on this index of suggested places to travel to in September 2021 from Travel + Leisure.  Making fall travel an ideal scenario.

September is the ideal fall month when it comes to travel because the world just seems to slow down and settle after the rush and busy summer season begins to fade away. With the ninth month of the year, temperatures become crisper, leaves begin to stand out in a vibrant array of colors.

As always, due to local regulations, travel restrictions, and COVID-19 surges, it is highly- suggested that travelers properly research all local guidelines and CDC recommendations before booking any trip or getting too far along in the travel process in order to keep you and those you care about as safe and responsible as possible in these unprecedented times.

Travel + Leisure’s full list suggests that you make your way up to Vermont, Jackson Hole, and Stowe if you want to breathe in the fresh mountain air; venture out to Niagara Falls if you want to take in some breath-taking views while you pick apples or eat peach pie; take a ride out to San Diego or Carmel if you want to take a stroll along the beachfront or shoreline; and book a stay in Bristol, Virginia for their annual Country Music festival or even a weekend in Las Vegas to survey their new hotels, shows, and restaurants that have recently opened. No matter the September experience you’re expecting, there’s always a location where it can happen, as seen in the listings below.

Carmel, California

Stop by the California coast if you’re not looking to escape the sun just yet, as Carmel, California is the ideal place for you to soak up some Vitamin D with the warm, cloudless days and cool evenings that are held in town and along Carmel Beach. The fall season is the perfect time to escape to a shoreside town to survey its September offerings, and there’s no better place to stay or visit than the following: 

  • Carmel Valley Ranch: Encompassing an impressive 500 acres, this ranch offers its guests and residents all-suite accommodations to make your days not taking advantage of their offerings of hiking trails, rounds of golf, apiary visits, and equine experiences all the more relaxing.
  • The Quail Lodge: If you’re looking to book a stay somewhere more spacious, then the Quail Lodge is your best bet with its spacious guest rooms and suites available to be booked. While you’re here, be sure to check out the many sports activities such as the lodge’s nine-hole putting course, pickleball, pool, and its impressive 18-hole championship golf course.

 Jackson Hole, Wyoming

This is the prime destination for fall travel and for anyone looking to engage in hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, or practically any other outdoor activity, because Jackson Hole is set within (and named after) the valley between the Grand Tetons and the Gros Ventre Mountain Range. While this picturesque locale is a favorite among skiers and snowboarders in the winter months, there’s an array of Autumn activities and other events and seasonal openings to take advantage of; some highlights include:

  • Snake River Sporting Club: a 1,000-acre lodge with miles of trails and an infinity pool
  • The Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival: an annual collection of gallery walks, artist panels and more; held September 8-19.
  • The Caldera House: a boutique hotel found in Teton Village that offers its guests residential suites and luxurious amenities that can be enjoyed when seeking refuge from the nearby shops.

Be sure to check out the full list that goes on to suggest an international escape to Italy, Botswana, and French Polynesia’s Bora Bora.

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Nicholls Awarded Grant to Install Bayou Region Incubator

Thanks to a recently-announced $3.5 million grant, Nicholls State University will soon be the home to the Bayou Region Incubator according to a press release from the school.

This multimillion-dollar grant comes from the Louisiana Office of Community Development, as it is a part of their Block Grant CARES Act Program (CDBG-CV). The awarded funds will be put towards a Bayou Region Incubator that will give local entrepreneurs access to business consultations, various training opportunities, technical assistance, and funding opportunities. The incubator will also bring in multiple guest speakers to Nicholls’ campus, organize entrepreneurial pitch competitions, provide professional development opportunities, and host a variety of entrepreneurial workshops.

Executive director of the Bayou Region Incubator, Kevin Pitts, commented on the vital need for such an establishment for growing businesses, saying “as these businesses grow, they will create more jobs and contribute their fair share of taxes. All of this will help the local economy. While some businesses will focus on coastal dynamics, we will work with a diverse variety of businesses. These will be businesses that the Bayou Region can be proud of.”

The incubator identifies some of its primary objectives as enhancing a sense of resilience for entrepreneurs in a post-COVID-19 landscape by diversifying the surrounding, local economy and developing multiple strategies for businesses to adapt to. Some of these strategies will be used to respond to new economic trends that may emerge and other imaginable, unexpected challenges. In addition to these pragmatic objectives, the incubator also plans to organize several programs for minority-owned and women-owned businesses and to generally support business development and the creation of jobs in communities with low and moderate levels of income.

When the funding for the project was initially announced, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards emphasized the focus on economic recovery in the wake of a worldwide pandemic as a reason as to why the state is supporting such an initiative. Out of the total $3.5 million, $2.6 million will be used to construct the nearly 8,000 square foot facility this fall, and the remaining $900,000 will contribute to operating expenses.

Nicholls President Dr. Jay Clune said of the grant, “this grant will cement Nicholls State University as the economic heart of the Bayou Region. We expect the Bayou Region Incubator will produce everything from coastal solutions to innovative ideas in technology, healthcare, and more. Rebuilding our coast is more than physical land. It’s rebuilding the quality of life. And the Bayou Region Incubator will sprout businesses and generate jobs that will only augment the unique character of South Louisiana.”

The building, which will be located on the same “footprint” as Nicholls’ future Coastal Center on the corner of Acadia and Ardoyne Drive, will house collaborative workspaces, private offices, and a multifunctional conference room. All of the facilities within the incubator will be accessible by participating small businesses. At the conclusion of this 2-year grant, the Bayou Region Incubator will transition into a self-managed nonprofit.

The dean of Nicholls’ College of Business Administration, Dr. Marilyn Macik-Frey, said of the future facility, “this facility will be a place for entrepreneurs to access training, mentoring and space to make their dreams of a successful business come true. Helping ideas grow into viable businesses benefits the entire region through economic diversification and job creation. We are especially excited that the incubator will be on the campus. Students and faculty will have a resource in their backyard that allows them to transition research and creative ideas into viable businesses.”

With this new Incubator being housed on the campus of Nicholls, small businesses in the Bayou Region will be set up with the facilities, resources, and expertise needed to be successful and innovative in the competitive entrepreneurial landscape of not just South Louisiana, but the world at large.

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Recipes to Make in the Final Days of Summer

As the final days of summer get closer and closer and begin to wind down, it causes us to reflect on the past few months and see if the summer that occurred lives up to the summer we expected to have. For many, this self-assessment involves whether or not they enjoyed the notorious meals of the summer season such as an astoundingly ripe watermelon salad or a plate of lightly-salted tomatoes. So, if you’re in need of a few recipes to break out just before the autumn leaves begin to emerge, then look no further than this list of “19 Recipes You Need to Make Before Summer’s Over” from Epicurious.

Cantaloupe and Cucumber Salad

This refreshing recipe is a wonderfully delicious ode to some of the summer season’s oft-forgotten fruits and vegetables.

Ingredients:

½ cup of olive oil

¼ cup of Champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar

1 teaspoon of ground coriander

1 teaspoon of kosher salt

¼ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper

⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom

½ large cantaloupe, flesh cut into 1-inch pieces (with rind & seeds removed)

1 large English hothouse cucumber, sliced at a diagonal ½ thick

2 Fresno chiles, thinly sliced

½ cup of unsalted, roasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

¼ cup of chopped cilantro

¼ cup of chopped mint

Suman (for serving)

Recipe:

  1. Start by first preparing your ingredients in their listen manner and set them aside. Then, whisk your oil, vinegar, coriander, salt, pepper, and cardamom in a large bowl. Add your cantaloupe, cucumber, and chiles. Toss it in order to coat it in the dressing.
  2. Let it sit, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
  3. Serve this salad by adding pumpkin seeds, cilantro, and mint. Toss gently to combine, and top with sumac, a tart, citrusy spice that is generally sold in ground form at specialty foods stores or online.

Summer Squash and Basil Pasta

This delightful recipe is the perfect blend of herbs and vegetables to spoil your end-of-summer pallet, and the toasted pine nuts are the cherry atop the proverbial dessert.

Ingredients:

¼ cup of olive oil

8 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

2 pounds of assorted summer squashes & zucchini, quartered lengthwise (sliced)

Kosher Salt

1 teaspoon Aleppo-style pepper, plus additional teaspoon(s) for serving

12 ounces of paccheri, ziti, or an alternative large tube pasta

2 ounces of Parmesan, grated (approximately ½ a cup) plus additional ounces for serving

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

½ cup of basil leaves

Recipe:

  1. Begin this Italian kitchen-inspired recipe by preparing your ingredients accordingly and heat your olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook your thinly-sliced garlic cloves, stirring them occasionally until their edges are very lightly browned. This can take about 4 minutes.
  2. Add your squash, season it with salt, and cook it in the galic while tossing it occasionally. Cook until the squash begins to break down and has a somewhat jam-like consistency. They may start to stick to the skillet a bit, which is a good sign. This should take about 12-15 minutes; after which, you’ll toss in 1 teaspoon of Aleppo-style pepper.
  3. As this is cooking, cook your pasta in a large pot of boiling salt water/ Stir the pasta occasionally, and keep a watchful eye until it’s very al dente.
  4. Transfer your pasta to a skillet using a slotted spoon or a spider strainer skimmer kitchen ladle. Add about ½ cup of your pasta water, and cook pasta while adding 2 oz. Parmesan in stages along with more pasta cooking liquid as needed. Do this until the sauce coats the pasta and it’s al dente. Then, toss in lemon juice and most of your basil.
  5. To serve, divide the pasta among bowls and top it off with more Parmesan, Aleppo-style pepper, and your remaining basil.

The remainder of Epicurious’s summertime recipes can be found here, so be sure to check out their delicious recipes for Classic Tomato Toast with Mayonnaise and Chives, Peach-Plum Galette, and so much more.

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2021 Fall Hikes For Your Next Trip

One of the best times to experience a hike is in a season where the weather conditions are not overbearingly hot, humid, or otherwise terrible, making fall the perfect time to lace up your backpack, grab your water bottle, and lace up your hiking boots. And now, it’s never been easier to take advantage of the season and the beautiful landscapes across the continent with Travel + Leisure’s curated list of the best 2021 North American fall hikes to be experienced.

Port Townsend, Washington

One of the greatest ways to discover all that the waterfront town of Port Townsend, which is located on the Olympic Peninsula, has to offer is to trek on foot across its hikes of varying views, lengths, and difficulties. What makes this location perfect for an outdoor excursion is that in the background of your hike are the distant white-capped mountains, and gasp-worthy fall foliage is in the foreground. Prepare to be inundated with history and Port Townsend’s “true” residents, including deer, eagles,  hawks, seals, and sometimes whales as you traverse the Fort Worden Trail. Though, making it up to the summit of Mt. Walker is an absolutely stunning experience that you must consider, as it’s difficult to put into words due to the immense amount of plant life and sheer natural beauty that is to be observed at its great height.

Nashville, Indiana

This town is far too special to be left behind in the shadow of its Tennessee counterpart. The tiny town of Nashville, Indiana is considered by many to be a best-kept secret due to the transformative vision that is attained each year between late September and early November when the leaves change color. Explore “Indiana’s Stonehenge” or Browning Mountain when you hike through a deep set of woods to find a baffling circle of sandstone slabs, a quaint pool, and an old gilding foundation on this superb hike. Additionally, one of the area’s best fall hike trails is the 160-mile Knobstone Hiking Trail that shows those who seek it out a rugged, scenic look at one of the more interesting areas of the South Central Midwestern United States.

Lake Placid, New York

Located in the Adirondack Mountains is the lakeside village of Lake Placid, which is home to the largest trail system in the nation. The region’s marked hiking trails cover over 2,000 miles, so it’s no wonder why the locals love the outdoors so much. One of the more notorious trails in this area is the region’s system of trails that lead up to the breathtaking views of the 46 High Peaks, an area of over 4,000 feet that has to be seen to be believed. If you’re in a time crunch, the Lake Placid website separates its trail suggestions by their allotted time, allowing you to plan a 1-2 hour hike or a 2-4 hour hike at your leisure.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

The city of Gatlinburg has been known by those on the East Coast to provide a plethora of outdoor activities to keep you entertained year-round, but the autumn season truly sets this location apart from the others. Plan your visit to experience amazing fall hikes. Traverse some of the over 800 miles of hiking trails that can be experienced along the Great Smoky Mountains and its valleys can range from a leisurely walk beside wildflowers to a challenging, yet rewarding trek through the backwoods.  Some standout hiking routes to seek out include watching a sunrise or sunset from the 6,600 feet height of the LeConte Lodge that rests atop Mt. LeConte and the five-mile round trip along Abrams Creek to the gorgeously deep Cades Cove Valley.

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Power Starting to Return to Terrebonne and Lafourche

After undergoing detrimental, life-altering setbacks from Hurricane Ida, electricity is slowly beginning to return to the parishes of Terrebonne and Lafourche, according to Houma Today.  For Hurricane Ida recovery, resources, and assistance in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes, please visit this link.

As of Wednesday, September 8, Houma Today reported that there were 26,404 Entergy customers in Terrebonne Parish without power and 42,137 people, or 95%, without electricity in Lafourche Parish.

Though the process of getting power back to the communities of Terrebonne and Lafourche has been slow ever since Hurricane Ida left the southeastern Louisiana parishes into darkness in late August, some Houma communities like the Oakshire neighborhood have had their power restored by SLECA with more to follow soon. SLECA, or the South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association, reported that their crews have been “putting in 16-hour days” to restore power to its 6,500 customers in Terrebonne and Lafourche.

Entergy is the largest utility company in the Houma-Thibodaux area, serving 71,720 customers in two parishes, and as of September 8th, there were 1,075 poles broken in Terrebonne, 879 downed wires and 1,270 damaged transformers, according to Entergy who estimates a date of 100% restoration to be at the end of September. Though, the parish aims to have power restored to critical areas well before that date. For instance, one of the top priorities identified by parish officials has been to restore power to Terrebonne General Medical Center.

Entergy Senior Communications Specialist Brandon Scardigli said of the restoration efforts, “while the estimated date of restoration is Sept. 29, we expect to begin powering critical facilities and other social infrastructure within the parish in advance of this date. We continue to clear roads and pick up poles and wire while simultaneously repairing feeder lines to critical customers. We expect to continue this focus while we expand to residential areas and restore power to the parish.”

With electricity slowly beginning to trickle back across the area, it’s possible that Terrebonne Parish’s boil advisorymight soon be lifted. According to officials, power has returned to the Schriever Water Plant, which will allow for water to once again be tested against “stringent standards” for the safety of the community.

Terrebonne Parish President Gordy Dove reported that the Terrebonne Parish Utilities Department has also been making strides to the 13,308 customers in Houma’s city limits. Dove said of his parish’s progress, “As of right now (September 9) we have 2,200 households with power. All the substations are completely repaired. As we hook up and energize an area, they will have to cut the power to your house if there’s damage because they don’t want to turn the electricity on and shock someone or burn the house down.”

Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson told Houma Today that significant portions of Thibodaux and Chackbayhave begun to see lights returning to the area. When interviewed about what the recent return to “some time of normalcy” meant for her family when her electricity returned earlier in the week, Thibodaux resident Danielle Stein said, “we are so grateful. We know how blessed we are to be some of the first in Lafourche Parish with power so my daughter and I are out volunteering in the community today, doing what we can to give back to those who are less fortunate.”

Outside of electrical updates to the Houma area, the Terrebonne Animal Shelter has reported that they are encountering and saving more and more stray animals every day. Residents are encouraged to contact the organization known as 911 Foster Pets in the event that they need temporary foster care to be provided for a pet. The shelter staff has also been handing out pet supplies at the various distribution sites throughout the parish for those in need. In addition to supplies being distributed by the shelter, FEMA has been conducting Disaster Survivor Assistanceoutreach and registration at Grand Caillou Middle School.

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New Cajun Prairie Habitat and Outdoor Classroom Coming to UL Lafayette

Students at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette will soon be able to take their learning outside of the traditional classroom setting by building an innovative outdoor classroom to study Louisiana’s Cajun Prairie, according to a news release from the school.

The new classroom is just one of two new environmental changes happening at the University as part of their Sustainability Strategic Plan, an initiative that encourages the creation of urban prairie environments on ULL’s campus. The project to cultivate the planned Cajun Prairie Habitat aligns with the Office of Sustainability’s master plan for stormwater management. By installing more urban prairies instead of other types of landscaping systems and structures, ULL will reduce the need for mowing, help to reduce stormwater runoff, and provide a habitat for bees, birds, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Once the urban prairie is installed on the campus, it will also serve as an outdoor classroom from which students can conduct research and learn about stormwater runoff erosion management, native grasses and plants, bees and other pollinators, and soil quality. Also, in addition to being used by students directly involved in STEM courses and research studies, the outdoor environment will also serve as a type of gathering spot for all types of learning.

Gretchen LaCombe Vanicor, the director of the University’s Office of Sustainability said of the layout, “the idea is to have a plaza-like outdoor seating area with no walls or roofing – a true outdoor classroom where students, faculty members, and the public can meet while they are working on the project.”

This vision of a school-wide classroom isn’t just a concept that exists in the completion of the Cajun Prairie Habitat and Outdoor Classroom, but the interdisciplinary aspects of the project’s inception, planning, construction, and much more will provide learning opportunities for students from many colleges and disciplines.

The work to bring this project to life will begin this fall semester with an interdisciplinary effort to plant more native flowers and grasses along the 4 acres on either side of Coulee Mine, a stream that bisects University Common behind Blackham Coliseum. The planting of more native fauna along this section of the waterway will be led by UL Lafayette’s Ecology Center and its Office of Sustainability. This work will lay the foundation for what will become of the urban prairie environment, as it allows for students, community officials, faculty members, and researchers to gather and learn about the ecological value of native flowers and grasses in an environment where they actually exist.

Vanicor went on to highlight this stage as “one of the most important components of the project, because native plants’ expansive, fibrous root systems hold soil, reducing erosion caused by stormwater runoff. They slow water drainage, which reduces flooding, and also filters contaminants.”

Outside of the Ecology Center leading the installation and planting of the prairie, other ULL schools are collaborating to bring the project to life. For example, students who will help design and build the outdoor classroom will be from the School of Architecture and Design. Then, after it’s completed, students partaking in community service with the University’s AmeriCorps program and the Office of First-Year Experience’s ‘Big Event’ will coordinate the maintenance of the urban prairie along the coulee.

According to Vanicor, any findings and research gathered at the future site will be shared with public officials and water management professionals in an effort “to inform community dialogue and decisions, including about implementing flood mitigation methods.”

So while it’s encouraging for UL Lafayette to have so many students from several of the University’s departments and schools coming together to bring the academic and ecological dream of the Cajun Prairie Habitat and Outdoor Classroom to life, the Louisiana community outside of the school will also be able to benefit from the research conducted in the urban prairie as well.

For more education-related information, click here.