Road trip in Louisiana

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  NEW ORLEANS

  Two days to take the time to discover this lovely city renowned for its history, its architecture, and its many jazz bars. It is established on a bend of the Mississippi, "Nawlins". You will find a mix of Spanish, African, French, and Creole cultures there. You will have the opportunity to take guided tours of the city with our most knowledgeable guides of the moment to help you discover this city at your own pace.

• day 2

  NEW ORLEANS - BATON ROUGE

  Take the road south to discover the bayous. Take the time to visit Cathy and her husband, the best place to say hello to the alligators! You will then take the road to Baton Rouge. Don't miss its old French parliament, stroll through the streets or, even better, go up to the top of the new parliament to discover a magical view of the Mississippi and the city. Several museums will give you the necessary explanations to understand the culture and history of Louisiana.

• day 3

  Baton Rouge - Natchez

  Quick route to reach Natchez, former cotton capital with French origins founded in 1716, which proudly overlooks the river of the same name. It is one of the oldest and best-preserved Southern cities. Night in a historic residence with typical Old South architecture, offering character, charm, and a remarkable traditional breakfast served by very welcoming hosts. On the way, the most beautiful plantations await you: Dunleith Plantation and Longwood Plantation, with its unique history, never completed and probably haunted – Laura Plantation… The Natchez Trace, a tourist route that crosses the three states of Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee!

• day 4

  NATCHEZ - NATCHITOCHES

  3 hours of driving to reach Natchitoches, on the riverbank, in the heart of the Kisatchie forest. We are immediately overwhelmed by the scents of yesteryear as we pass through landscapes of cotton fields and pecan trees, orchards and plantations dating from the 18th century. Here we are in the heart of the Old South. To fully experience it, we spend the night in a period house, just like the homes one imagines before even setting foot in Louisiana: antique furniture, veranda with wicker chairs, tree-filled park lit by lanterns, cozy rooms, warm welcome...

• day 5

  NATCHITOCHES - LAFAYETTE

  Road to the heart of Cajun country, heading to Lafayette, a laid-back small town with undeniable charm and the scent of provincial America. Night in a small character house, located about ten kilometers from downtown Lafayette, whose hosts' hospitality lives up to the Cajuns' reputation. Already planned in the program: a visit to Vermilionville, an eco-museum recreating a Cajun village between 1755 and 1785, at the time when the first Acadians arrived in Louisiana (with a French-speaking guide). To do, to experience: a visit to Melrose Plantation (1796), which tells the story of the slave Marie Coincoin; the Lloyd Hall Plantation, which has been cultivating sugar cane since 1820; a break in one of the many small cafés in the city; getting familiar with Cajun cuisine, especially famous for its spices and crawfish. Optional: a "Fais Dodo" evening, typical of Cajun country.

• day 6

  Lafayette - Raceland

  On the program - A boat ride in the heart of the bayous and marshes of the Atchafalaya Basin, near Lafayette. Drive through Cajun country to Raceland, for an authentic stay in a real Cajun house where a French from far away is spoken and where our warm host proves to be a wealth of information about the region's history and cuisine. To see along the way - Southwest of Lafayette, the Acadian Village evokes the life of yesteryear in the bayous of the French "displaced" settlers from Canada in 1755, with artisans and actors in costume. Nearby, the Tabasco Factory, in operation since 1868, illustrates the saga and vitality of American brands.

• day 7

  RACELAND - VACHERIE

  Fast route north to Vacherie, where you spend the last night in the absolute model of the Southern plantation. Here, you stay in charming little white-clad wooden cottages dating from the 1880s-90s; the main house itself is listed as a historic monument. Its fame comes from its majestic avenue of 28 oaks, whose interlaced branches form a 400 m long green tunnel.

• day 8

  VACHERIE - NEW ORLEANS - RETURN FLIGHT

  After returning your vehicle, you will go to the airport for the end of this beautiful adventure.