Louisiana & Mississippi, the old south
Experience jazz & blues rhythms and the scents of Cajun cuisine.
Discover a land of contrasts made of Spanish, African, French and Creole culture. Louisana has kept the best of these various influences and offers a colorful and voluptuous experience to visitors.
New Orleans: for the beauty of the French Quarter and a walk along Frenchmen Street in Faubourg Marigny. The Garden District crisscrossed by trams with loud rattles. Relax and sip an afternoon cocktail on a porch. A visit to the Algiers Point, the best kept secret, a quiet suburb on the Mississippi River’s West Bank, a mix of homey pubs, small art galleries and quaint Creole cottages. Visitors cross via the New Orleans Ferry or the Crescent City Connection Bridge for views over to Jackson Square and the French Quarter. A night from jazz bars to clubs and of course a night at Preservation Hall, legendary club where all the biggest names in jazz have played. The Warehouse District, housing innovative restaurants, sleek coffee shops, eclectic boutiques and BBQ joints. The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, that exhibits hangover remedies, voodoo potions, absinthe and opium.
Great River Road: a historical road that runs along the Mississippi and follows the rice, cotton, sugar cane or indigo plantations. The planters had built extraordinary residences, many of which have been converted into hotel or museums and still showcase a vanished art of living.
Baton-Rouge: you must go to the Capitol Park Museum to understand the rich heritage of Louisiana, the importance of music, cuisine and cultural mix. The Rural Life Museum for a journey back and to learn about 19th-century cotton plantation.
Natchez: former cotton capital founded in 1716 by the French. The town overlooks the river of the same name and is one of the oldest and best preserved southern cities.
Natchitoches, in the middle of the Kisatchie forest, you will be surrounded by ancient time scents. The landscape is made of cotton and pecan fields, orchards and plantations dating from the 18th century.
Melrose Plantation dates back form 1796. It is located in the National Historic Park, which has the distinction of having been administered by a former black slave, Marie Coincoin. There is a wonderful collection of primitive art by Clémentine Hunter, one of the most famous artists of Louisiana.
Louisiana bayous: huge romantic swamps with cypresses covered by Spanish moss and an exceptional fauna, made of birds and especially alligators.
Explore its natural wonder: longleaf pine forests, combination river delta and wetlands, the bayous, ancient oak trees, and long stretches of unpopulated beaches.
Discover a rich and vibrant culture: Creole heritage, Cajun history, palatial estates, jazz music, Plantations. A view to take your breath away, the wooded walk to the entrance of Oak Alley Plantation is one of the most gorgeous in the state.
The LLoyd Hall Plantation which has been growing sugar cane since 1820
For foodies, boiled crawfish is served throughout the state. You will enjoy Gumbo, Étouffée, Jambalaya, Muffuletta, Po’boy, and Red Beans and Rice.
Seafood is especially popular either as an ingredient or as a main dish such as Shrimp, Crawfish, Crabs, Oysters and Catfish.
Pecan pies and beignets of course.
SAMPLE ITINERARIES
GET INSPIRED
Visit the Tabasco Factory
In operation since 1868, it illustrates the saga and the liveliness of American brands.
Have a romantic dinner at Commander’s Palace
They have served delicious food for the past 130 years.
Take a Cajun cooking class
This hands-on experience takes you into the kitchen with a Cajun chef to learn how Cajun food was born.
Attend a “fais dodo” Party Dance
When night falls, the atmosphere is electrified and the Cajuns invite their guests to a dance party. A good way to discover the spicy cuisine of the Old South and the Cajun culture.
Take a cemetery Tour
A great way to discover the city’s history and culture wandering around beautiful tombs.
Beignets & Café au Lait at Café du Monde
Sit on the crowded patio gazing at the action on Decatur Street and Jackson Square and indulge on hot French-style doughnuts coated in powdered sugar.
Take a cruise in bayous country
Cypress trees, branches thickly hung with Spanish moss and roots curling like the gnarled arms of a dozen trolls digging for treasure, are sprinkled throughout the basin.
RECOMMENDED HOTELS
Hotel Maison de Ville****
Listed as one of the Historic Hotels of America, Sonder – Maison de Ville offers accommodation in New Orleans. Guests will enjoy the private courtyard and close proximity to Bourbon St.
Each room at this hotel is air conditioned and is equipped with a flat-screen TV. Rooms come with a private bathroom fitted with a bath or shower. Free toiletries and a hairdryer are provided.
Complimentary WiFi is available at Sonder – Maison de Ville.
St Louis Cathedral is 200 m away from Sonder – Maison de Ville.
Hotel Audubon Cottages****
This New Orleans French Quarter villa has cottages with a private or semi-private courtyard and butler service is included.
Each luxurious cottage at Audubon Cottages is uniquely styled with modern décor and elegant furnishings, including a 42-inch flat-screen TV. Complimentary beverages are provided in the cottages and replenished daily. Wireless internet is accessible free of charge.
Guests of Audubon can enjoy a refreshing swim in the heated saltwater pool or relax with in-room spa services. A fitness centre with cardio equipment and weights is accessible to guests.
A fresh continental breakfast is served in your private cottage or room each morning. There is also a dedicated on-site « French Quarter Butler Service, » which can assist you with anything from unpacking your luggage to making dinner reservations.
Hotel Monteleone****
This charming, historic hotel is located 1 block from famous Bourbon Street. Criollo restaurant, the Carousel Bar, and a heated rooftop swimming pool are featured on-site.
Guests can work out in the state-of-the-art fitness center or enjoy a massage at the full-service spa. There is a business center along with a gift shop.
A fridge and single-serve coffee machine are included in all rooms. The rooms have earth tones and high ceilings and provide a safe. The marble and granite bathrooms offer plush robes.
Monteleone Hotel is located in the heart of the French Quarter.
The Soniat House****
Built in the 1800s, the Soniat House has a story to tell. What was once the early 19th-century family residence of Joseph Soniat Dufossat is now a 30-room hotel celebrating New Orleans’ unique history and architecture.
The spacious rooms and suites at the Soniat House provide deluxe bathroom amenities and bathrobes.
Hotel Le Marais***
Located in the French Quarter and within a 5-minute walk to Bourbon Street, Hotel Le Marais offers accommodation with an on-site bar.
Rooms at Hotel Le Marais include a flat-screen TV with streaming device, walk-in shower and bathrobe. A work desk and seating area are provided.
Vive!, the on-site bar, offers a wide range of cocktails and wine with indoor and outdoor seating.
Guests can enjoy the heated saltwater pool, shared lounge area or landscaped courtyard. A business centre, fitness centre and free WiFi are also provided.
Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral are less than a 10-minute walk away.
Nottoway Plantation Resort****
This historic White Castle resort offers on-site dining, an outdoor pool and a hot tub. Located 15 minutes’ drive from Iberville Museum, its elegant rooms provide a flat-screen cable TV.
Guests can work out in the fitness centre or on the tennis court during their stay. Nottoway Plantation & Resort also offers a games room and a gift shop. Mansion tours are available for guests.
Complimentary WiFi and coffee-making facilities are provided in the rooms. They have antique furnishings and a seating area. Rooms with a patio are available.
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Mansion Restaurant at Nottoway Resort serves Louisiana cuisine. Le Café, open Thursday through Sunday, offers baked goods, Louisiana cuisine and drinks.
Monmouth Historic Inn****
Located on a 26-acre estate, this historic inn offers a romantic getaway just 5 minutes’ drive Natchez city centre. Features include a full Southern breakfast, light hors d’oeuvres, and a tour of the Antebellum Mansion.
The on-site 1818 Restaurant offers guests an authentic Antebellum dining experience. An a la carte menu is available and cocktail hour is also held daily.
Free WiFi, a work desk, and an en suite are standard in every room at the Monmouth Historic Inn. Rooms are individually decorated with antique and period piece furniture. In-room bottled water and ice service are provided.
Guests of the Monmouth Historic Inn can take a relaxing stroll around the landscaped gardens. The property also has free WiFi and fax and photo copying services. Free parking is provided.
Andrew Morris B&B
The Andrew Morris House Bed and Breakfast is a Historic Louisiana antebellum planters cottage built around 1855. The beautiful home is located directly in the center of the National Landmark district just steps away from Historic Front Street. Recently renovated, the Andrew Morris House Bed and Breakfast has beautifully appointed one and two bedroom suites, King and Queen Sized beds with updated private and spacious bathrooms with one or two person Jacuzzis. They serve the ultimate multi-course breakfast each and every morning!
Mouton Plantation***
Set in Lafayette, 1.7 km from The Acadiana Center for the Arts and 1.9 km from Cathedral of St John, Mouton Plantation offers accommodation with free WiFi, air conditioning and access to a garden.
All units come with a seating area, a flat-screen TV with cable channels and a private bathroom with a hairdryer, shower and bath. For added convenience, the property can provide towels and bed linen for an extra charge.
Guests at the bed and breakfast can enjoy a Full English/Irish or an American breakfast.
The Inn at Houmas House Plantation B&B
The Inn at Houmas House Plantation features a restaurant, bar, a shared lounge and garden in Darrow. This pet-friendly inn also has free WiFi.
The units come with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a coffee machine, a shower, a hairdryer and a desk. At the inn all rooms come with a wardrobe and a private bathroom.
The Inn at Houmas House Plantation offers a à la carte or American breakfast.
The accommodation offers a terrace.
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