Louisiana is known for its unique Cajun culture, the creole mix of French, Native American, African and Caribbean cultures. It is also known for the raucous and glamourous Mardi Gras, scrumptious beignets, atmospheric spanish moss and vibrant bayous.
Your experience in Louisiana bound to be special. The spicy cuisine will definitely impress your palette. You can try dishes like gumbo, first cooked by the natives of this area, while enjoying the local music, Zydeco.Louisiana is heavy with history too. The nature trails follow the same paths Confederate soldiers and African slaves once forged. Plantations give a peek into the glamourous, yet sinister past. If you just want to kick back, there are luxurious spas, casinos, ample shopping and plenty of bars from which you can choose.
The town of Houma is a wonderful bastion of Cajun culture, famous for its swamps, spicy cuisine, active fishing and awesome music. Most of the residents of this town live a traditional lifestyle as fishermen and shrimpers. You can check out the local alligators and abundant bird-life on an airboat ride, sea plane, tour boat, canoe or charter your own fishing boat.
Visit the area parks, Mandalay National Refuge or the Pointe-aux-Chenes Wildlife Management Area, to hunt for game or waterfowl. In Houma, you will get a taste of the real south, trees draped with spanish moss and southern plantations, many of which you can tour. Outside of New Orleans, during Mardi Gras, this is the place to party the night away.
An hour and half north is New Orleans, the heart and soul of Louisiana. This city offers visitors a taste of the French and African origins of the region. Mardi Gras, in February, will offer the adult crowd endless hours of fun and visual excitement. Those interested in an eerie trip can take a ghost tour of the famed aboveground graves and see some extra-ordinary sights at a voodoo ritual.
The whole family will have fun in the sun and water at the Six Flags Over New Orleans theme park. Take a stroll on the Moonwalk through the famed French Quarter, where you can snack on a sweet beignet at Cafe du Monde. If you want to test your luck, visit Bally's Casino or Harrah's New Orleans Casino. There are plenty of local plantations you'll want to check out, offering Victorian mansions with a decidedly Louisiana flair.
Harvey is located in the metropolitan area of New Orleans, but offers a more laid back resting place, still with good proximity to the downtown sights. In Harvey, you can roll the dice at the Boomtown Casino.
If you have the kids with you, the whole family can experience animals and sea creatures galore at the Audubon Nature Institute which includes a zoo, the Aquarium of the Americas and an IMAX theater. You will also be able to explore the history and nature of the area on a swamp, plantation or city tour with Cajun Pride Tours.
Metairie is conveniently situated between New Orleans and Kenner. This city offers a convenient sightseeing location along Lake Pontchartrain. Lafreniere Park is a peaceful place to enjoy watching birds, playing sports and just relaxing. There's plenty of opportunities to shop on Metairie Road where you can buy some of everything. Sit down for a bite of barbeque at Corky's BBQ or to a side of fries at Lee's Hamburgers.
Kenner is located just west of Metairie. When in Kenner, a must visit is the Rivertown. Located on the shores of the Mississippi River, Rivertown hosts a ton of attractions, including eight museums, a fine arts gallery, Repertory Theater and LaSalle's Landing. Rivertown is a sixteen-block historic district, and includes the Kenner Heritage Park, a replication of historic Kenner, offering beautiful, lush walkways, turn-of-the-century buildings, including an ice house, blacksmith shop and 30's era gas station. Also located in the area is the Cannes Brulee Native American Village, offering an alternative view of the town's past.
On the other side of Lake Pontchartrain is Slidell, giving visitors an authentic touch of Cajun life. Here you can get a taste of Creole cooking and spicy seafood dishes like jambalaya. A Gator Swamp Tour will get you up close and personal with alligators in their natural habitat on a flat bottom boat.
Take I-12 west and you'll reach Covington a small town from the 1800s, surrounded by three rivers. The historic downtown offers many places to shop and snack, including adorable local coffee shops. There are bed and breakfasts, cultural events and frequent concerts in the park.
Tammany Trace is Louisiana's first and only former railroad to walking or biking trail conversion. It meanders through pines, oaks, and magnolias from Slidell to Covington. Here that you will witness astounding wildlife in its habitat, historically preserved sights, bayous and impressive original railroad bridges.
Continue west on I-12 and you will arrive at Hammond, a city with a year round pleasant climate. The Hammond Regional Arts Center offers access to crafts and fine, visual, performing and literary arts. A guided walking tour will show you a commercial farm where you can fraternize with the local reptiles at Kliebert's Turtle and Alligator Tours. Laugh at the queen or the jester at the Louisiana Renaissance Festival, hosted here each winter.
Springfield is a tiny town with a population of close to 400 people in the Baton Rouge metro area near the Mississippi state line. Tickfaw State Park has thirty campsites with water and electricity, and is located along three miles of the Tickfaw River. There you will find four ecosystems, over a mile of boardwalks, a cypress/tupelo swamp, a bottomland hardwood and a mixed pine/hardwood forest and the river itself. There is a first class golf course at Hawthorn Suites Carter Plantation in Springfield, designed by PGA champion David Toms and ranked by Golf Magazine in 2004 as one of the Top Ten You Can Play.
Baton Rouge is the capital city of Louisiana, boasting a semi-tropical climate. Outdoorsy types will love the range of activities the city has to offer. This includes the beautiful swamplands at the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center where you will see many bird species, including hawks and warblers. Beside having a fabulous Mardi Gras, this city has a vibrant nightlife and casinos for those who like to play their luck. The Blue Bayou Water Park and the Greater Baton Rouge Zoo are fun options for the kids. Louisiana State University is located in Baton Rouge, and has a beautiful, walkable campus, an art museum and Greek theater. LSU Rural Life Museum and Windrush Gardens depict the rural heritage of the 18th and 19th centuries and the Old Arsenal Museum offers an idea of the lives of early settlers and Civil War troops. Baton Rouge is quickly becoming "Hollywood South" bringing in industry film crews, so be prepared to witness a filming!
Port Allen is located on the western banks of the grand Mississippi River and is within the Baton Rouge metropolitan area. When you're staying in Port Allen, you'll enjoy the West Baton Rouge Museum which has preserved pre-Civil War slave cabins and a working sugar mill.The Railroad Depot shows visitors how life was for those working on the railroad in the 1940s. Head over to the Mississippi Riverfront for a breathtaking view. Take time to relax at one of the gazebos and enjoy some public entertainment.
Situated on the Vermilion River, Lafayette is the fourth largest city in the state. If you want to truly enjoy the regionally unique Cajun or Creole cuisine, this is the town to eat in, as it has one of the highest number of restaurants per capita in the U.S. The city hosts a monthly art walk in the downtown area, but galleries can be visited during the week, as well.
Learn more about Cajun culture at one the city's many museums or take a tour of historical homes. You can stroll around the Acadian Village, a reconstructed Cajun bayou, where the past of this area comes to you, offering an authentic image of the town in the 19th century. The nightlife is alive and well with a variety of bars and clubs featuring live entertainment. Stock up on great buys at downtown boutiques and at the Acadiana Mall.
An hour west is Lake Charles, conveniently situated on I-10 between Houston, Texas and New Orleans. You can bask in the sun on the sandy beaches of the Calcasieu River, only 30 miles upstream from the Gulf of Mexico. The Creole Nature Trail All-American Road will bring you through one of the last great wildernesses in the U.S., offering the sights, smells and sounds of fertile prairies, delicate marshes and abundant wildlife.
Take a stroll around the downtown Carpentier District, 20 blocks of Victorian era homes with unique character, as they were built without conventional carpenters. Whether hitting the casino at L'Auberge du Lac or camping, this place is beautiful and fun enough for the whole family.
Sulphur is just a few miles from Lake Charles and is the gateway to the Creole Nature Trail. The name of the town yields from the town's mining past, which is documented at the Brimstone Historical Society Museum. There are many beaches nearby where you can enjoy the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Back east, and further inland is Opelousas, the third oldest city in the state. There is a bit of culture and history here for everyone. The Opelousas' Museum of Art is located in the historic downtown district in a building dated at 1820. Le Vieux Village offers visitors a peek of historical buildings of the area, and includes a schoolhouse, church and even an outhouse. A guided tour will present you with more details of the town. You can learn about the history of Louisiana's prominent African American community at the Creole Heritage Folklife Center. In December the whole village is aglow for the annual lighting ceremony, which will really get you in the holiday spirit.
Drive an hour north on I-49 and you'll find Alexandria, situated along the banks of the Red River. Here you can experience the wild west at 4B Dude Ranch, nestled in the Kisatchie National Forest. A horse ride will take you around the ranch where will enjoy the scenery, riding over creeks and grassy meadows and stopping at historical sites. This town is also a great spot to relax at a spa or to a game of golf. Alexandria is a perfect city for shopping, eating, exploring plantations and many local museums. The Alexandria Zoological Park offers kids a safe view of wild animals, such as lions and tigers, as well as 33 acres of flora and fauna.
Ten minutes away is Pineville. When staying in Pineville, you will have access to the same locations as Alexandria but with more of a small town atmosphere. Military buffs won't want to miss the Louisiana Maneuvers & Military Museum, built as a replica of WWII barracks, showing memorabilia and war artifacts. The kids will love Buhlow Fun Park where they can play mini-golf, hit balls at the batting cages and get dizzy on the rides.
Louisiana's oldest town, Natchitoches, is just a short drive up I-49. It is known as the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase Territory, making it a strong draw for history buffs. Almost every month there is a festival for you to enjoy, whether you like jazz, crafts or Zydeco.
There are many guided tours where you can explore plantation homes, the Cane River National Heritage Area, museums, churches, Alligator Park, Adai Indian Nation Cultural Center and recreational outdoor activities. Sports fans will want to drop by the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame for memorabilia and portraits of all the state's inductees.
Further upstate, and just next to Texas, is Shreveport. Here, you'll want to taste some fried catfish or southern barbeque and finish it off with a homemade doughnut at Southern Maid Doughnuts. You also won't want to miss the city's six casinos, casino riverboat rides or horse tracks.
There are year round festivals honoring the arts, African American culture, Cinco de Mayo and even trees! Shreveport has amusement parks, water parks, bowling, paintball and more. Beside conventional shopping opportunities there are plenty of antique and collectors shops where you can pick up a unique piece of Louisiana to bring home with you.
In the Shreveport area is Bossier City which enjoys a rich and fascinating history that dates back to the early 1800s. The whole family can learn at local plantations, Civil War and pre-war sights. You can hike or bike on the Red River, and enjoy the warm weather. There are class-act casinos and gaming establishments in the area. From this city you're only a short drive from Dallas and Arkansas. There are also more than a few RV campgrounds nearby, where you can park, relax and take in the fresh air.
Monroe is nestled on the shores of the beautiful Ouachita River. Here you will find a plethora of museums, including a military, art, history, African American heritage and even a doll museum. The Biedenharn Home and Gardens is the home of the first Coca Cola bottler. Stop by to enjoy flowering gardens, sculpture, a Bible museum, a Coca Cola museum and a conservatory. Another impressive historical home in Monroe is Layton Castle, over 200 years old and still standing, it lies on the picturesque river.
If you've got the kids with you, the Northeast Louisiana Children's Museum has hands on, fun exhibits. You can tee off at the 18-hole golf course at Chennault Park. The Black Bayou National Wildlife Refuge has a fertile lake with fowl, tupelo tress and fisheries. Before you leave, you might want to sample the coffeehouses and boutiques of the bustling Marketplace on Forsythe.
Louisiana has experienced many trials, and has overcome them with a flourish. It is a place that has met the challenges of uniting different backgrounds with class and style, and has made its own unique culture from the many. Whether for Mardi Gras, for the history, cuisine, nature or casinos, this state has a little of something for everyone to enjoy.
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