An Authentic Deep South Experience
An Authentic Deep South Experience including stays in historic BB’s, Inns and some of the finest Louisiana’s plantation homes.
Experience the grandeur of a bygone era as you enjoy an overnight stay in some of the most renowned Plantations of the south. These majestic marvels and their manicured gardens will provide an unforgettable experience! This journey takes you from New Orleans to Baton Rouge, through St. Francisville and Natchez before traveling into Mississippi for ample plantation splendour. Along the way back to New Orleans you will have the opportunity to enjoy a taste of nature and the music of the South… Blues.
Day 1: New Orleans
Arrive at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) and proceed to your hotel for check-in. Maison Dupuy is a unique hotel set inside the city’s historic Vieux Carré district within the French Quarter, just two blocks from the heart of Bourbon Street. New Orleans is known world-wide for its multicultural and multilingual heritage, cuisine, architecture, music (particularly as the birthplace of jazz), and its annual Mardi Gras and other celebrations and festivals. The city is often referred to as the “most unique” city in America.
Day 2: Baton Rouge
This morning after your breakfast you should contemplate taking one of the many half-day city tours available. These tours some by foot and others via coach - offer a chance to see the major sights across the City like the French Quarter, the elegant Garden District, and the famous Lafayette Cemetery. Leave the capital city behind in the early afternoon and make stops at Houmas House Plantation and Longwood Plantation, each offering its own version of southern antebellum splendour, as you drive towards Baton Rouge for a one-night stay at the historic Nottoway Plantation. Along the way, Nottoway, known as “White Castle”, is the South’s largest remaining antebellum mansion and a member of Historic Hotels of America. Enjoy the unforgettable grandeur and gracious hospitality offered by this unique lodging experience and end your day with an elegant dinner at The Mansion Restaurant, offering classic Creole-inspired Louisiana cuisine. The beautifully restored turn-of-the century dining room boasts stunning views of the grounds.
Suggested Experience: Let your own ‘local expert’ unravel the mysteries of America’s oldest and most unique living neighbourhood! Follow in the footsteps of historic figures as you stroll along the Mighty Mississippi, through the French Market and Jackson Square, and down the banquettes (sidewalks) of quaint streets named for saints and sinners from our European past. See the old Quarter come to life as your guide explains its secrets and helps you understand all it has to offer - architecture, courtyards, food, music, art and gardens. You will discover love potion and gris-gris potions at the intriguing and unusual Pharmacy Museum.
Day 3: St. Francisville and Natchez
Have an early breakfast this morning and join the 9:00 am guided Plantation tour for a bit of culture and a lot of history. Get to know this historic 64-room antebellum mansion with its collection of period furnishings, the pristinely manicured grounds and the Nottoway museum, which houses artifacts of the original owners. Shortly after, depart toward Natchez, stopping in St. Francisville as you leave Baton Rouge. This charming town is known for its historic downtown district and the numerous structures on the national historic registry. Pickup a “Walk Through History” brochure at the West Feliciana Historical Society Museum to learn all about this Historic District’s cultural and architectural history. Continue to Natchez where your stay has been arranged at the historic Monmouth Plantation.
Day 4: Vicksburg
Start your day by having a full breakfast and get ready to take the tour of the Monmouth Plantation this morning at 10:00 am. This historic antebellum home contains many original Quitman pieces and is surrounded by formal gardens. The appeal of Monmouth lies in its carefully calculated balance, symmetry, and proportions, as well as the subliminal impact of the bold lines of the Grecian mode. After having lunch, travel to Vicksburg for a one-night stay at Cedar Grove Inn; this fine Antebellum Estate is one of the largest and most elegant bed and breakfasts in the South. While in Vicksburg make sure to follow the markers of the “Mississippi Blues Trail” and find facts you didn’t know, places you’ve never seen, and you’ll gain a new appreciation for the area that gave birth to the Blues, the single most important root source of modern popular music. In the early evening, all Cedar Grove guests are invited to enjoy a complimentary glass of house wine as well as the chocolate & sherry turndown service performed nightly.
Day 5: Natchitoches
Wake up to a home-style country breakfast followed by a tour of this unique historical mansion. Tour all five historic buildings containing elegantly decorated rooms with period furnishings set on five acres of gardens. After the tour you may want to enjoy lunch and depart to Natchitoches for a stay in the beautiful historic district. From here it is easy to set out on foot to experience Cajun history in the numerous Creole Plantations that abound this area. You may also want to visit Alligator Park which offers visitors a glimpse at an authentic Cajun countryside, complete with Cajun music, genuine Cajun cuisine, and plenty of gators.
Day 6: Alexandria, Lafayette, Raceland
Today, after a delicious breakfast, depart Natchitoches and make a stopover in Alexandria, known as the heart of Louisiana. Here, historic plantation homes offer an authentic look at plantation life, and cultural art museums and galleries are a must-see. Continue your journey to Lafayette. Located in the heart of Louisiana’s Cajun & Creole Country, Lafayette offers excellent cuisine, music, festivals, history, culture, shopping, architecture, arts, outdoors, and wildlife. You may choose to spend some time here before continuing on to Raceland for your overnight stay at the Chateau on the Bayou Bed & Breakfast. Ready for relaxation? Your B&B is located on the banks of Bayou Lafourche, so grab a rocking chair or a hammock and enjoy the natural surroundings and the bayou that gently flows. If you are up for some more exploring, you are just minutes away from airboat and swamp tours, and plantation homes.
Suggested Experience: Take a Boat Tour along Louisiana’s Atchafalaya, North America’s largest river swamp. It ranks among the top 10 wilderness areas in the United States. On any given day one can expect to encounter beaver, nutria, otters, mink, deer, squirrels, and other mammals, as well as up to 38 species of birds, including some which are endangered. And of course, alligators!
Day 7: New Orleans
This morning, have a leisure breakfast. Time for some last-minute tax-free shopping in New Orleans before your afternoon flight back to the UK. But do not worry, if you want to extend your holiday. We can add a couple of days in New Orleans or perhaps arrange a visit in Nashville or Memphis. Maybe some beach time on the golden sands of Gulf Shores, Alabama or Florida? The choice is yours!!
Call us today on:
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New Orleans, the “most unique” city in America, is known world-wide for its multicultural and multilingual heritage, cuisine, architectu...
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New Orleans is one of the world's most fascinating cities – it is home to a truly unique melting pot of culture, food and music. New Orleans is one of America's most culturally and historically rich destinations. A culture-lover's dream, the city boasts awarding-winning museums;...
Visit Baton Rouge, Louisiana to experience all the things to do in the capital city. From a hot culinary scene to live music, Baton Rouge of...
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Once you have had a chance to explore the excitement of the Big Easy (New Orleans), head to Louisiana’s capital, Baton Rouge. Located just 80 miles from New Orleans, this beautiful city exhibits a diverse range of architectural eras, including the Art Deco-inspired state capitol building and a taste of the Italian Renaissance period seen throughout Louisiana State University’s campus. Louisiana’s Capital City highlights the unique history, music, culture and outdoors that both visitors to Louisiana and locals alike enjoy. With French, Spanish, Creole and Native American roots, our city is rich in its culture and politics. Nicknamed the “Red Stick,” Baton Rouge houses over 300 years of history, much of which can be tasted in our food, seen in our architecture and learned through our state’s history.
Natchez, located just five miles south of Natchitoches, is situated in one of the earliest-settled parts of Louisiana, where French, Spanish...
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Natchez, located just five miles south of Natchitoches, is situated in one of the earliest-settled parts of Louisiana, where French, Spanish, English and African cultures converged. With a population of around 600, Natchez is among the state's most historically significant small towns.
Natchez's significance to black history makes it one of the stops on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail, a collection of more than 20 sites telling the stories of African American contributions to the state's history, music, food and culture. Because Natchez is one of the oldest Creole communities in Louisiana, the entire city falls within the Cane River National Heritage Area run by the National Park Service.
With sweeping views of the Mississippi River, Vicksburg blends Southern culture and heritage with exciting modern-day attractions....
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Vicksburg is a place bursting at the seams with local culture, character, art, entertainment and outdoor adventure. With sweeping views of the Mississippi River, Vicksburg blends Southern culture and heritage with exciting modern-day attractions. From four world-class casinos and upscale shopping, dining and spas to some of the most fascinating historic sites, architecture and antebellum mansions in the nation, Vicksburg offers an authentic Southern experience you don’t want to miss.
View the film The Vanishing Glory as an introduction to the siege and fall of Vicksburg. The capture of the city was crucial to the Union victory. After 47 days, Confederate General John C. Pemberton finally surrendered to Grant on July 4, 1863. The Old Court House Museum is packed to the rafters with antebellum and Civil War-era artifacts. The building was a Civil War target until Union prisoners were moved into the upstairs courtroom. After lunch, explore the Vicksburg National Military Park, 1,800 acres of earthworks, cannons, and monuments. Also displayed at the park is the USS Cairo, a Union ironclad sunk by the Confederacy and raised after more than a century underwater.
Natchitoches is the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase. The city’s red-bricked Front Street is part of a charming scene...
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The City of Natchitoches is the heart of Natchitoches Parish. Founded in 1714 the site was established near a village of Natchitoches Indians. As the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase territory, its history is also a story of the development of our nation.
The City’s Historic Landmark District, which fronts Cane River Lake and encompasses a 33-block area, includes many historic homes, churches and commercial structures. A mixture of Queen Anne and Victorian architecture, along with Creole style cottages can be seen throughout the district.
People settled in the Natchitoches area in large numbers after the Louisiana Purchase. Eventually, however, the river changed its course, bypassing Natchitoches. What was once known as the Red River is now Cane River Lake.
In the Cane River Creole National Historical Park, browse historically significant buildings such as those at Oakland and Magnolia Plantation. Visit landmarks that reflect the area’s Spanish and Native American influences in Robeline, see historic landmarks in Marthaville and Melrose, and view Louisiana's colourful political past at the Louisiana Political Museum in Winnfield.
Located in the south eastern part of Cajun Country, Raceland is in the heart of Louisiana's wetlands. ...
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Located up the Bayou, Raceland is the home of Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Welcome Centre. Raceland has a history deeply rooted in the grounds of Louisiana. It is home to the oldest complete sugar mill in the United States and has served as a backbone of the American sugar industry since its beginning in 1825. Houma, Thibodaux, Grand Isle and the surrounding towns are vibrant with Cajun culture, food, music and fun to be found throughout this incredibly beautiful area of Louisiana.
Being so close to the Gulf of Mexico, there are numerous charter boat outfitters in and around Raceland. When you are planning your trip to south Louisiana's bayou country, look up local outfitters and also take some time to pick up fresh-caught Gulf seafood from one of Raceland's markets and restaurants.
