PLAQUEMINE — The Bayou Plaquemine Waterfront Park offers visitors an opportunity to explore and connect with nature.

Visitors can slow down and take in the scenery on the bayou's calm waters. The park includes boardwalks, fishing piers, pavilions and picnic areas.

During the 1800s and into the mid-1900s, Bayou Plaquemine served as a transportation route that connected the Mississippi River to Louisiana's interior. It played a major role in the region's commerce and economic growth.

For some people, the bayou is part of an everyday routine.

"It just really helps me get in a good mindset. It also helps me to unplug and just kind of get back to what is important and not get so caught up in the little details," a visitor said.

The waterfront has also hosted major concerts, including a performance by John Foster that drew 14,000 people. City leaders hope to build on that momentum by making the waterfront a bigger destination for community events.