Plantation Country
Louisiana Regions
The history of Louisiana truly comes to life in Plantation Country, located in the Southeastern region of the state. Come wind your way across the Atchafalaya Basin, through the rolling hills of St. Francisville and along the Great River Road that begins just west of New Orleans as you travel back to the 1800's.Throughout this area there are plantations that offer tours of the property, gardens and/or homes. Many of these plantations also offer over night stays, including The Myrtles, which, by the way, has been called "the most haunted house in America."
Plantation homes are to Louisiana what the crown jewels are to England-each is a sparkling gem, in an equally spellbinding setting, with a unique story attached. Each home gives you an intimate glimpse into the daily lives of this fascinating period in history. You'll find ornate dining rooms with lovely china laid out exactly as it would have been for a party before the Civil War; austere portraits of the original owners of the homes hung above the fireplaces and nurseries complete with vintage christening gowns draped at the end of mini sleigh beds. But perhaps more interesting are the tales you'll hear of star-crossed lovers, Confederate spies, yellow fever victims, mad spinsters, and the occasional playful ghost.
From Oak Alley, one of the most photographed plantations, with its famous alley of oak trees to Nottoway Plantation, with its 365 openings – windows and doors-one for every day of the year, to Houmas House, where Bette Davis filmed "Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte," the customs, architecture and rituals of our past have been lovingly preserved forever. As you tour this region of the state you'll also find charming antique shops, rustic churches, arts and craft galleries and local heritage museums that add to your adventure and bring our the past into the present.
Nestled amid all this splendor is Louisiana's state capital, Baton Rouge, with its 34-floor Art-Deco style Capitol building, the tallest in the nation, and the Old State Capitol, a 150-year-old gothic-style edifice, sitting on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. In Baton Rouge you'll find a number of diverse and impressive museums, casino gaming and entertainment venues for the entire family. You can even view the beauty of our swamps in this area. BREC's Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center in Baton Rouge and Alligator Bayou in Prairieville provide ample opportunities for wildlife viewing.
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There is so much to see and do in Louisiana. Here are a few ideas to get you started.