LouisianaTravel.com

No city in the country throws a better party than New Orleans, and no party in the world tops Mardi Gras. And it’s far from the only show in town. With festivals, major sporting events, the Audubon Nature Institute, the National World War II Museum and the French Quarter inside city limits, and a 19th-century fort, historic battlefields and cemeteries, world-class fishing and much more outside the city, the New Orleans area will keep you entertained and enthralled (not to mention well-fed).

Clear streams, piney woods and idyllic communities filled with antiques shops, galleries and restaurants line the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Ponchatoula is known for its annual Strawberry Festival and 40 antiques shops. At Fairview-Riverside State Park in Madisonville, enjoy a picnic lunch and excellent fishing for bass, bluegill, white perch and more. Take a bike trip along the Tammany Trace, a 31-mile asphalt trail that connects a string of towns. Nearby breweries and wineries, with tours and tastings, will slake your thirst.

The landmark-rich roads that run along either side of the lower Mississippi River have earned the area the nickname Great River Road. The plantation homes range from merely grand to simply stunning, as many were built by wealthy landowners of European descent who were bent on affirming their social status. Today, the homes are open for viewing and, in some cases, overnight stays. Built mostly in the Italianate and Greek Revival styles, the antebellum homes and their gardens bring history to life.

Historic sites abound in and around the state capital. The beautifully restored Old Louisiana State Capitol building is one of the most impressive examples of Gothic architecture in the country. Area museums interpret the history of steam locomotives, African-American art, early village life, the criminal justice system and more. Plantations tell of French Creole influences in the area. With a noted university, fine dining, live music, a bustling riverfront and casinos, the Baton Rouge area is full of life.

In the eastern part of Cajun Country, look for blue-winged teal and Caspian terns along a section of America’s Wetland Birding Trail. Visit Laurel Valley Village, in the Thibodaux area, to see the remains of a sugar plantation, a schoolhouse and a museum. In Houma, consider stops at the Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum, Southdown Plantation House, the Terrebonne Museum and the Terrebonne Folklife Culture Center. Fishing is huge here. The Golden Meadow-Fourchon International Tarpon Rodeo occurs annually at Port Fourchon, and just up the road is Grand Isle State Park.

Sample the region’s unique cuisine, and be sure to taste cracklins, a Louisiana delicacy. In New Iberia, visit Conrad Rice Mill, the country’s oldest working rice mill. Examine the history of Louisiana’s sugar cane industry at the Jeanerette Bicentennial Park and Museum. Don’t miss nearby Avery Island, home to the McIlhenny Co.’s TABASCO® Sauce bottling plant. Three museums interpret the region’s history – the museum of the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana in Charenton, the Louisiana State Museum in Patterson and, in Morgan City, the International Petroleum Museum and Exposition.

In this area known as Acadiana, indulge in the excellent cuisine and entertainment at restaurants and music clubs. Hit the shops in Jefferson Street Market. In St. Martinville, the heart of Cajun Country, visit St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church, founded by the Acadians who arrived in 1765. Check out the history of the Catholic Church at the Academy of the Sacred Heart school for girls in Grand Coteau. The Louisiana Orphan Train Museum in Opelousas commemorates the arrival of the Orphan Train riders starting in the 1870s.

Lake Charles is a bustling city, with much of its commerce centered around its port. In the Historic Charpentier District, find 20 blocks filled with the finest Victorian architecture in the state. Two major casino resorts offer gambling, dining and live entertainment. Or try your luck at Delta Downs Racetrack, Casino and Hotel nearby. History lives at the Mardi Gras Museum. For great wildlife viewing, head to sprawling Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge, where you might spot a bald eagle, peregrine falcon or Louisiana black bear.

Life along lovely Cane River Lake – a loop left behind when the meandering Red River changed course – has a distinctly genteel quality. Natchitoches is the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase. The city’s red-bricked Front Street is part of a charming scene that draws people to stroll and socialize along the river. Don’t miss the hugely popular Christmas Festival of Lights. At the Cane River Creole National Historical Park, browse historically significant buildings. Visit landmarks that reflect the area’s Spanish and Native American influences.