Greater River Road

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 – located from Darrow and Burnside to Vacherie, Edgard and Destrehan – 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.