Highway 31 takes drivers on a scenic tour of the bayous and lagoons of Louisiana, where they have a chance of coming across real live alligators. However, you might want to stay in the car if you do see one, but feel free to snap pictures from the safety of the vehicle. Alligators may look slow and lazy, but they can be quick-footed if they sense a meal nearby, which is why it can be a good idea to get some auto maintenance and tire rotation done so you aren't stranded with the scaly beasts.
MotorcycleRoads.us reports that this state highway, which begins in Leonville, winds 46 miles down to New Iberia. It's little more than an hour's drive from Baton Rouge, so if you find yourself in the Southern city, you can zip out to this secluded highway to get a real feel for the Cajun culture and the Louisiana environment.
The highway takes you through St. Martinsville, which is a Cajun cultural hub as well as the home to the state's fourth oldest church. The St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church was built around 1836, according to TakeMyTrip.com. The church's cemetery is also of note for any literary buffs. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a poem called Evangeline about a girl by the same name who is buried in this very spot. The tree referenced in the poem is nearby as well.