The superb semitropical gardens, nestling along Bayou Petite Anse, are home to some 600 species of plants and heaven for bird watchers and nature lovers. A round journey, mainly by car, will take you past a splendid wood of oak trees covered in Spanish moss, clumps of brightly colored azaleas and irises, tropical plants and a lagoon seething with alligators. Don't miss the Bird Garden, the 12C Buddha in the Chinese Garden or the thousands of snow white egrets for which the gardens are famous.