Top Things to do in Louisiana
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10 Things to do in Louisiana That You Shouldn't Miss
Louisiana tourism is centered on New Orleans and the North Shore region in the southeastern corner of the state near the Florida border. West of New Orleans is the Great River Road, with the I-10 running to the Mississippi River port capital city of Baton Rogue. West of New Orleans along the Gulf of Mexico, the I-10 cuts through Lafayette and Lake Charles on its way past Abbeville to Texas. Central Louisiana is Lake Country, and home to cities like Alexandria and Natchitoches. In northern Louisiana, the I-20 runs west from Monroe to Bossier City, Shreveport, and East Texas. Unless Louisiana is very familiar and frequent territory, New Orleans will be the top choice for a Louisiana vacation. Though Mardi Gras, music, and the winning ways of the New Orleans Saints football team get the spotlight, there is much more to explore in New Orleans. Within New Orleans choose among Bourbon Street, Royal Street, the Upper and Lower French Quarters, the Warehouse and Central Business District, the Garden District and Uptown, and Mid-City. With street car lines linking the French Quarter to the Garden District, Convention Center, and everywhere else, it is easy for the whole family to get around. If long walks are your exercise, explore the scenic city on foot. An easy two-hour drive from New Orleans brings you to Baton Rogue, Natchitoches and Lake Country. Explore old Beauregard Town in downtown Baton Rogue, the historic homes of the Baton Rogue Garden District, and tour one or several working plantations. Walk the 33-block Historic Landmark District and tour the historic homes and churches of Natchitoches. Relive Spanish Empire history in Louisiana at Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site. Heading west from New Orleans is Cajun Country and Lafayette with its mix of French, French Canadian (Acadian), Spanish, and Caribbean cultures. Besides Cajun and Creole cookery, explore the Civil War heritage at the Lafayette Museum. Stop by Abbeville to view the courthouse designed by Hayes Town, St. Mary Magdalen Church, and have a seafood meal. With 75 annual festivals Lake Charles is Louisiana's Festival City, and home to the Creole Nature Trail Scenic Byway. Shreveport and Bossier City in northwest Louisiana are casino and entertainment centers. Shreveport is renowned for hosting the Louisiana State Fair in the fall. Plus floral centers, art galleries, and museums. Monroe in the northeast also has notable gardens.
Restaurants in Louisiana
1. The National WWII Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 29,577 reviews
The National WWII Museum is the top-rated tourist destination in New Orleans and #2 in the U.S., and an unforgettable way to experience World War II—from industrial efforts on the home front to the combat experience of the American servicemember abroad. Offering a compelling blend of sweeping narrative and poignant personal detail, the Museum features immersive exhibits, multimedia experiences, and an expansive collection of artifacts and first-person oral histories to take visitors inside the story of the war: why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today. Beyond the galleries, the Museum offers unique access to experiential history, including an opportunity to tour and ride on an authentically restored PT-boat, tours behind the scenes to handle artifacts alongside Museum curators, and an impressive collection of restored and working macro-artifacts to discover. Open early through 1/2/18, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Reviewed By J7140OOpauln - Sacramento, United States
The New Orleans National World War 2 Museum brings so much history to life and tells the stories so well that the time flies past. The museum tells the bigger picture of the war and also shows the personal side and the tragic costs of this war, The museum is several very large building with exhibits such as the Road to Berlin and the Road to Tokyo as well as a large exhibit of D-Day. The exhibits are all very well done and the staff is helpful and knowledgable. Please allow at least a full day to see this museum, you will not regret the time spent at this treasure. The optional movie, Beyond All Boundaries is also very well done and worth the time to see. Very highly recommended.
2. R. W. Norton Art Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 366 reviews
Museum chronicles more than four centuries of American and European art featuring the works of Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell. The springtime sees more than 10,000 azaleas bloom in the museum's garden.
Reviewed By jkj01
So glad we sought this museum out and visited! Beautiful art. My husband appreciated the gun collection. A special section of art for children. The setting is another destination not to be missed. Grounds are immaculately manicured with a walking trail to enjoy. We cannot wait to return to see hundreds of azaleas in full bloom!
3. LSU Tiger Stadium
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 893 reviews
Reviewed By johnmS1018WM - Baton Rouge, United States
If you want a college game day(and night) experience that will provide a "Remember the time we..." experience, catch a big night game in Tiger Stadium. There is no pre-game tailgating that compares to LSU...the food (from gumbo to jambalaya to etouffee to grilled oysters to...) is delicious...and most tailgaters are happy to share their dishes. The music varies from party to party, just keep moving till you find your tunes...sattelite dishes/streaming provides tailgaters with the day's games...you will likely end the day with many new friends.... Oh, the stadium...originally designed to look similar to the Roman Colosseum, additions obscure much of the architectural detail; however, the north end of the exterior still maintains the classic look of an acient amphitheatre. Inside, with 102,320 other spectators, is where the magic of Tiger Stadium will transform your viewing of a college football game into a singular experience... Saturday Night in Death Valley
4. Louisiana's Old State Capitol
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 693 reviews
Louisiana's Old State Capitol sits on a hill overlooking the Mississippi River in downtown Baton Rouge. Completed in 1849, the castle-like fortress has been restored to its original grandeur. It houses both traditional and state-of-the-art interactive exhibits and a multi-media film presentation. Audio tours available in English, French, German and Spanish. Free admission.
Reviewed By BHartMich - Northville, United States
We walked in on a whim, and enjoyed a short time walking around the old state capitol. Upon entry we were greeted by a guide who gave us an quick overview, and then gave us a sheet enabling us to do a self guided tour. We could have spent longer than the 20 minutes we did, but we wanted to walk around the city a bit more. It is a beautiful building inside and out, with some very interesting history, and well worth stopping by.
5. Vermilionville
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 807 reviews
Get a taste of life for the 18th-century Acadian settlers in this 23-acre village with meticulously recreated period homes, costumed staff demonstrating arts and crafts and a restaurant serving Cajun and Creole food.
Reviewed By virginias729
One of the earliest settlements along the banks of the Bayou Vermilion. Two hundred years ago! Very historic and the interpreters are wonderful. They are in the time period wardrobe and give detailed history of life and crafts of the time period 1765 to 1890. We were totally impressed with this historic village! Spend as much time as you have in this place.
6. USS Kidd
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 631 reviews
The USS KIDD Veterans Museum is a nonprofit organization, highlighting the role that Louisiana and its citizens have played in U.S. military history. The shoreside museum offers a permanent collection of Louisiana veterans’ artifacts, traveling exhibits, visiting ships, and event space with views of the Mississippi River. For nearly 40 years, the Museum and the USS KIDD, a National Historic Landmark and the Museum’s largest artifact, have served as a reminder to the people of Louisiana of the service and sacrifices of our state’s veterans. Both are visited by thousands of people from around the world each year.
Reviewed By Jellybeandean - Tucson, United States
Wonder what service in WWII was like, come aboard. Tight quarters and a tight fast ship in the war. Get in gun position and let your mind wander.
7. Oakland Plantation
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 42 reviews
Reviewed By lisaX8188LZ - Cape Town, South Africa
We loved this visit. The grounds were neat and retained the historic value, I am sorry we missed the free guided tour as i think that would have been really informative and we would have been able to go into the main house.
8. Mike the Tiger's Habitat
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 615 reviews
Reviewed By jasoncastano - Dripping Springs, United States
We see Mike VII everytime we are in town. It is great habitat. He is not always out, so do not be surprised if he is inside. He does what he wants. He is still young, so if you do see him, you may notice how big his paws are for his body. The picture on my avatar was taken about 6 hours before kick off of game. A few things to clear up: 1) Mike VII, like his predecesors, is a rescue tiger. Meaning, LSU found him at a big cat rescue, Wild at Heart Wildlife Center, where he was rescued by Wild at Heart, when they took over from the prior owner who abused him; 2) Tigers do not live in prides. They are solitary cats and in the wild only come into contact to mate or if mama is raising babies. I have seen people say he should be in a pride in the comments. Just want clarity since I have read some comments that say he does not belong in the habitat and should be free. I get the sentiment. But, he is a rescue cat, born in captivity, not by LSU, but now taken care of by LSU.
9. Mississippi River
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 96 reviews
Reviewed By georgia638 - Dallas, United States
I have been on 11 cruises with Regent Seven Seas, Norwegian, Celebrity, Holland America and Viking, and American Queen Steamboat Company beats them all! I just Finished the cruise on The Countess from Memphis to New Orleans. Memphis is such a cool city. It has a great vibe. The first stop after Memphis was the Grammy museum in Greenville Mississippi. Did you know that more people from Mississippi have won Grammys than any other State? The food is outstanding. They have prime steaks and lobster available every night included so you can order lobster with your entrée every single night. Which I did. They also have open bars all throughout the day with no limit and no excluded alcohol. Lots of people were experimenting with different cocktails and enjoy themselves every night before dinner. The wine pairings with dinner were excellent. We had an inside cabin and it was spacious. There was plenty of room for the two of us to store our belongings. We never felt crowded in anyway. The bathroom was really large. Everything is beautiful on the Countess. The highlight of the cruise was the entertainment. The stage band is comprised of extremely talented musicians from some of the best musical universities in the United States. The singers and dancers were fresh off of Broadway. Of course, Broadway he has been closed for a year, so it’s nice to see these people having a chance to earn a living. One night we had a magician perform. He was funny, talented, and engaging. It was a great show. Each day, all of the excursions were included. We learned a lot about history and culture, music and food. The excursions are very interesting. The nice thing also is they have their own dedicated buses so your same bus driver stays with you throughout the cruise and the buses are extremely comfortable. I am booking their Columbia and Snake River cruise for 2022 right now!! This was the best vacation of my life and I have been to 45 countries. American Queen Steamboat Company hires only US citizens. Support America. Support our economy and our jobs! These River towns depend on the tourists to survive. Book your cruise now!!
10. Golden Nugget Casino
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,251 reviews
Reviewed By 635judyw
In addition to the great casino are great restaurants, a gorgeous pool and lazy river. There are even cute places to shop! Try it!
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