Top Things to do in Louisiana
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Top 10 Specialty Museums in Louisiana, United States
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. National Hansen's Disease Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 47 reviews
The museum tells the story of the leprosy quarantine hospital developed on site and operated, first by the state of Louisiana, and then the U.S. Public Health Service. Exhibits and self-guided audio tours available. History covered spans 1894 to the present. NOTE: There are no longer any patients on site. Hansen's disease (leprosy) is now treated as an out-patient disease.
Reviewed By tumbleweedchris - Asheville, United States
This unassuming, not advertised museum is on the campus that housed America's lepers from the late 1800s until the condition was largely treatable. There were people living here until the late 1990s as far as I could discern. The museum is fairly large and has lots of interesting exhibits, videos, and photos. At the back of the museum, you will find free audio guides. I'd find that room first if you are interested in the guide stops. The most interesting part to me was how the grounds was its own contained society. The residents even put on their own Mardi Gras parades with homemade floats. After the museum, you can take an audio driving tour of the grounds and stop at the cemetery. The place is now a military facility and you will need your ID to enter. Overall, this is a free museum and covers a very specific, but interesting chapter in American medical history. Check it out.
3. Masur Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 17 reviews
The Masur Museum of Art is the largest visual arts museum in Northeast Louisiana. Housed in the former home of the Masur family, the museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Our mission is to support and foster visual arts in our community through quality exhibitions, educational programs, and our permanent collection. Because admission is always free, all members of our community can expand their horizons through the museum's many and diverse offerings. The Masur Museum of Art presents an ongoing schedule of temporary exhibitions that are supported by a wide variety of educational programs for children and adults. We offer art classes, summer art camps, workshops, lectures, and artist talks. In addition, we have pARTy 318 for young professionals, Studio 318 for our patron members, and the annual Off the Wall fundraiser. The Masur Museum of Art operates as a partnership between the City of Monroe, which owns and maintains the building, and the Twin City Art Foundation, which supports exhibitions, educational programs, and collections. The museum is a division of the City of Monroe's Department of Community Affairs
4. Whitney Plantation
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,642 reviews
Reviewed By colleenpollett - Fort Lauderdale, United States
Our visit to the Whitney Plantation exceeded our expectations. Ali was our tour guide and he did an excellent job of explaining the history of the plantation and the history of America colonization providing context and perspective that is missing from the history lessons we received in school. Anyone who has the opportunity should make the trip. I hope other plantation tours across the American South start to incorporate this level of education and expertise into their tours.
5. Tunica-Biloxi Cultural and Educational Resources Center
6. Finding Our Roots African American Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By Stagen - Massachusetts, United States
The museum has a LOT of great pictures and artifacts going back to before the Civil War. There is lots of detail about anything from daily life to major events. I learned a lot as well as have a greater respect for what happened over a couple hundred years. Margie and Alvin have done a fantastic job to find and arrange everything. This is a MUST SEE if you're anywhere near Houma, and even worth a day trip from New Orleans.
7. Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,252 reviews
Mardi Gras World is the most unique attraction in America’s most uniquely attractive city. Come see how Mardi Gras is made and get up close to Mardi Gras' grandest floats and sculptures.
Reviewed By dragondoll
Mardi Gras World attracts a lot of tourists, but for us it was an experience not to be missed. Located in a huge warehouse on the river, it offers a behind-the-scenes look at wonderful huge sculptures created for floats and celebration displays. It was so interesting to witness people hard at work creating these fabulous works of art, many of them recognizable characters from the movies and books. The tour guide gives explanations regarding their creation and origin. Everyone gets a bottle of water and a piece of King cake, a staple of the Mardi Gras celebration. We like the idea that after the presentation you can wander at your leisure around the warehouse to revisit the sculptures seen on the tour and take pictures. They even allow you to try on costumes so you can pose with the characters. This was a true kick and certainly worth the admission fee around $21.00. Look for it on discount sites such as Groupon and you will get it for less.
8. New Orleans Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,096 reviews
NOMA is committed to preserving, presenting, and enriching its collections and renowned Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden; offering innovative experiences for learning and interpretation; and uniting, inspiring, and engaging diverse communities and cultures. NOMA is New Orleans’ oldest fine arts institution and most ambitious cultural convener. NOMA’s permanent collection is at the heart of all museum programs and has grown from 13 works in 1912 to more than 40,000 today.
Reviewed By loesshawk2015 - Sioux City, United States
Allocated 3hours to visit and easily could have spent more time and will pay a return visit. If you only have a couple of days to see the sites I would certainly put this near the top of your must see cultural attractions. A very nice collection and knowing the history of hurricanes, I am very appreciative that they are open and sharing their collection. Great range of artists and styles and I had a very leisurely visit. Couple this with the sculpture park and you will have a very enjoyable day, of course throw in a unique lunch along the way and cap it off with dinner in the French Quarter. Enjoy!
9. 1911 Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13 reviews
10. Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 54 reviews
A visit to this museum shows how life along the southern Louisiana coast has been shaped by cultural, industrial and ecological events.
Reviewed By Marie1943
Situated on a bayou downtown, this museum offers a lively, informative and interactive experience of Terrebonne then and now. Lots of old photos, videos, dioramas and artifacts creatively displayed. Great for kids and adults.
