Top Things to do in Louisiana
Countries
5 Cultural Events 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. Mardi Gras
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 125 reviews
The city of New Orleans is the place to be for Mardis Gras, the last hurrah of the carnival season before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. While much of the focus of the event is on the rowdy, debaucherous crowd that takes over Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, there is arguably more (family-friendly) fun to be had in other neighborhoods throughout the city, where parade 'krewes' toss beads, cups, doubloons, and stuffed animals from elaborately-decorated floats to spectators that line the streets. Locals in the know stake out prime spots for the best parades up to 12 hours in advance!
Reviewed By travelinfam25 - Los Angeles, United States
Mardi Gras this year was three days before my 50th birthday, so I decided it was the perfect excuse for me to finally go! Stayed in The Pontchartrain Hotel in the Garden District right on St. Charles (the parade route street), and got a room with windows facing the parade. It was freezing this year- 36 degrees when the parades started on Fat Tuesday morning at 8AM- so having a hotel room right nearby and with viewing access from indoors (which we occasionally did) was a huge bonus. The crowds were very friendly, with lots of families and food booths. We never had trouble finding a spot, though it was crowded there was always room to get up close, in some cases even right in front, and people were friendly and polite. We arrived Monday night and saw the Orpheus parade, then saw Zulu and Rex on Fat Tuesday. Would have liked to arrive a few days earlier and seen Bacchus, but worked free airline miles and Monday was the only date I could arrive. FYI the parades on Fat Tuesday, the Mardi Gras "closing" parades, are at 8AM and 10AM, so be prepared for an early start! There are night parades in the days leading up to Tuesday, but none on Tuesday itself. We walked out at about 8:30 AM on Tuesday and were able to find a spot near the front, right by our hotel. Caught lots of beads, both Monday night (Orpheus) and Tuesday (Zulu and Rex). Seemed like it was important to lock eyes with the thrower- I think that helps them know they aren't going to give you a head injury! Almost all the beads I caught were when I managed to maintain eye contact with someone on a float. Each parade has about 40 floats, which are numbered, and they seemed to last a lot longer than the scheduled two hours. Of the three we saw Orpheus had the most elaborate floats- a dragon they had was my favorite, though Rex had a really cool bull that snorted out smoke that was my second favorite. Zulu had a lot of entertainment themed ones (Simpsons, Marvel, DC, etc.). Honestly the level of floats varied widely, some felt like highschool style floats, and it can feel a bit repetitive after awhile... but then along comes a giant bull snorting out steam and you start shouting for beads like a 5 year old again! (I caught a toss from the bull one, a bull pendant). Interspersed between the floats are energetic highschool marching bands, dancers, dudes in very weird colorful outfits including capes and masks, groups of old men wearing the same color jackets, and dudes wearing outfits that in any other context would look like KKK paraphernalia! It was loud and colorful and chaotic and fun, everything I wanted. I never saw people fight over beads, and in fact the street and trees were covered with beads to be had. (tip: don't stand near an overhanging tree, it will catch the throws instead). If you can get there early and bring a chair, that will hold your spot the entire time, whether you're with the chair or not. I saw no nudity during any of the parades. Just unlucky that way, I guess. ;) I also went to Bourbon Street Fat Tuesday night just to see it, and was mildly disappointed. It was PACKED wall to wall with people, but again no nudity or even any colorful costumes. No one falling down drunk either, no pushing, everyone was very civil, which was great. I will say that I didn't stay there too late though, I left around 11PM. I went in a few bars and was able to get served right away. In fact my fears about not being able to get in anywhere to eat or drink during Mardi Gras were completely unfounded, we had no trouble at all from the day before Fat Tuesday to when we left on Thursday. One final suggestion: make sure you don't just see Bourbon Street. Try to experience the Garden District, Magazine Street, Frenchmen Street, and a swamp tour too, to get the full range of what New Orleans has to offer while you're there. I loved it before and I love it even more now. I had a great time, laissez les bon temps rouler!
2. Whitney White Linen Night
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Put on your cleanest white duds and head over to NOLA’s Warehouse District for one of the city’s biggest street parties (and that’s really saying something!) as well as the chance to rub elbows and partake in a tipple or two with a largely local set of folks keen to comb the area’s many gallery-glorious lanes and nearby museums. White dress only is de rigueur at this height of summer shindig and makes for quite a sight to behold as throngs of merrymakers dance the night away to live outdoor entertainment.
3. Satchmo SummerFest
4. Natchitoches Christmas Festival
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By jgwisdom - Dacula, United States
We had read about this town in Southern Living Magazine a few years ago and have wanted to come and visit. This was the year and we came during Christmas. Stayed at the Chateau Saint Denis which puts you right at the end of the street to walk all the holiday lighting along the river. They do the holidays right in this town! The events along the river are really first rate too. Loved it, glad we came and glad to tell you about it so you can plan to come sometime !
