When we think of the Great American Road Trip, we often immediately think of long drives along the dusty roads of old Route 66. While these trips can be wonderful in this place, we also believe there are plenty of other regions of the country to explore. And while anyone can hop on a plane and fly to their ultimate destination, sometimes the classic road trip is the very best way to experience a new region of the country.
Have you ever considered traveling the Deep South by car? Here in Louisiana, in the heart of the South, there’s plenty to see and do. With incredible cities like Baton Rouge and New Orleans as well as all the remarkable parks, towns and sites in between these cities, a car is the only way to truly experience these and more destinations at your leisure.
To help you plan your big road trip across the beautiful state of Louisiana, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite things to do in Louisiana for adults and families. You may not be able to hit them all, but that’s all right. By the time you’re home again, we think you’ll already want to start planning your next trip.
Check out this list of fun and historical places to visit in Louisiana. Which ones will you include on your road trip itinerary?
Louisiana’s little Avery Island is the birthplace of Tabasco Sauce. Today, you can visit this island for a tour of the Tabasco Museum and Factory. While you’re there, don’t forget to stop in for a bite to eat at Tabasco Restaurant 1868!
Take a trip to Jungle Gardens on Avery Island. This semitropical 170-acre garden is home to diverse wildlife and abundant native plant life. Depending on the season you choose to explore the park, you might spot colorful bamboo, alligators, snowy egrets, gorgeous azaleas and even a centuries-old Buddha statue that’s located deep within the garden.
Also known as The End of the World, Venice, Louisiana, is located at the very southeastern tip of Louisiana, right where the Mississippi River empties into the Gulf of Mexico. While it’s exciting enough to see the stunning sight of the world dropping away into the empty ocean at what feels like the edge of the earth, there’s also plenty for fishing enthusiasts to enjoy here. Use one of the many charter boat services to take a trip out into the water for a fishing experience to remember.
If you’re looking for the beautiful with just a touch of the strange, then you won’t want to miss the Chauvin Sculpture Garden. Here, a reclusive artist and bricklayer worked single-handedly to transform his bayou-side property in southeast Louisiana into an amazing sculpture garden featuring statues of angels, soldiers, God and even the artist himself. The site has been open to the public since 2002, and you can wander the grounds yourself, taking in the many unusual and wonderful statues.
If there’s one thing Louisiana is known for, its wetlands and swamplands. Atchafalaya Basin is famous for being the largest swamp not only among all the swamps in Louisiana but also in the entire nation — its size surpasses even that of the Florida Everglades. These stunning wetlands are home to 65 species of amphibians and reptiles, at least 250 species of birds and more than 100 species of fish, as well as huge numbers of bald eagles. Visit the Basin today and take part in activities like paddling, biking, camping and boat tours.
Louisiana is dotted with many different historic plantations, and you can choose to visit as many or as few as you want on your road trip. Even if plantations aren’t necessarily your cup of tea, however, we think Melrose Plantation is worth the visit due to its unique story — it’s one of the biggest plantations built for and by free blacks in the South. Also on the property, you’ll find the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail.
If you choose only one other Southern plantation to visit on your road trip in addition to Melrose Plantation, let it be Oak Alley Plantation. This site is famous for the jaw-droppingly gorgeous oak-lined road leading up to the front of the main house, where the oaks arch up over the road to form a canopy. Be sure to grab plenty of photos while you’re here, as this is undeniably one of the South’s most beautiful sights.
There isn’t one definitive spot for taking a swamp tour. The state is crisscrossed with wetlands and swamps, and there are plenty of different sites for taking guided boat tours along the swampy rivers. It doesn’t matter where you choose to launch your tour, but it’s such a quintessential Louisiana experience that you’ll want to be sure to include it somewhere in your tour. And if you’re looking for recommendations for where to start, Lafayette is an excellent choice.
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For nature enthusiasts, Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge is a must-visit destination. This refuge is located within the boundaries of New Orleans, making it the largest urban refuge of its kind in the country. The entire site covers a staggering 24,000 acres and is home to such native species as alligators, bald eagles, brown pelicans and a stunning variety of natural plant life.
Originally built in 1718, St. Louis Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in the United States. While it’s been added to, refurbished and rebuilt many times over the years, it remains a spectacular sight and a gorgeous landmark that’s easily recognizable in the heart of New Orleans. Today, you can visit this beautiful site of Spanish Colonial architecture and take a self-guided tour or call ahead to reserve a guided tour.
New Orleans has so many amazing sites and activities that you could easily spend days here, but if your trip only allows time for one quick afternoon in the city, then use that afternoon to visit the French Quarter. By far the oldest neighborhood in the city, this neighborhood is known for its exuberant party atmosphere and amazing selection of restaurants. Visit Jackson Square, the Audubon Cottages and of course, the incredible bars on Bourbon Street.
This item is less about a specific destination and more about a particular time of year. If you’re planning your road trip during February or March, then you’ll want to be sure to swing through the French Quarter of New Orleans to catch the eye-popping Mardi Gras celebrations. Nowhere in the world does Mardi Gras quite like New Orleans.
Located in New Orleans’ French Quarter, Café Amelie may be a relatively new addition to the neighborhood, but it’s also quickly become one of the top spots you won’t want to miss in the city. This café offers a beautiful and romantic courtyard where patrons can choose to dine in addition to their dining room, an extensive menu of creative cocktail creations and a variety of exquisite lunch and dinner items to try.
New Orleans isn’t just known for its delicious food and richly diverse cultural history. It’s also widely recognized for all the musical legends it has produced, and at Musical Legends Park, you can celebrate just a little bit of that history. Check out the life-sized statues of famous New Orleans musicians that decorate this small park and gain a new level of appreciation for the musical innovation this city represents. For any and all music enthusiasts, this park should be a top destination.
Another New Orleans neighborhood that should be near the top of any traveler’s must-see list is the beautiful Garden District of New Orleans. Here, you can find stunning 19th-century mansions, travel by streetcar and stop by the Washington Cable House. If you happen to be passing through around the dinner hour, this is also the perfect opportunity to visit Commander’s Palace, one of the most famous and recognizable restaurants in the city.
Named by some as the number one destination for World War II history and education in the nation, the National World War II Museum is set in New Orleans and is one of the top museum destinations in the country, let alone the state. When you visit the museum, you can see real-life artifacts including bombers and aircraft as well as experience a 4-D film experience and an interactive submarine simulation.
New Orleans offers plenty of bright and colorful fun, but it’s also home to one of the most beautiful hidden places in Louisiana — Audubon Park. A perfect spot to stop for some fresh air and relaxation between major destinations, this park features gorgeous landscaping and is set on an old plantation site. Today, you’ll find picnic facilities, sports fields and a rookery that regularly attracts huge numbers of wading birds.
Not far outside Lafayette, you’ll find the gorgeous semitropical Rip Van Winkle Gardens, home to the Joseph Jefferson Mansion. From beautiful nature to historic architecture, there’s something to interest everyone here. Check out the ancient mastodon bones in the museum, explore the salt mine where an accident led to the creation of the biggest man-made sinkhole ever recorded, and don’t forget to track down the tree where notorious pirate Jean Lafitte buried his treasure.
Who said you need to travel all the way across the ocean to see roaming giraffes, zebras and camels? Instead, you can head to the Global Wildlife Center in Folsom, Louisiana, the largest wildlife center of its kind in the country, and take the safari you’ve always dreamed of. Get up close and personal with exotic animals by scheduling a private event or by joining a group safari tour.
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If you’re interested in history, then it’s worth taking the trip to Natchitoches, Louisiana, which has the distinction of being the oldest permanent settlement in the state as well as in the entire Louisiana Purchase territory. Some things to do here include checking out the historic Creole Plantations and going paddling out on the beautiful Cane River.
21. KISATCHIE NATIONAL FOREST
You might not think of traditional forest hiking as something you can do in Louisiana, but the Kisatchie National Forest is the exception to the rule. This pine and hardwood forest encompasses over 600,000 acres and is home to the Wild Azalea Trail, the longest continuous trail in Louisiana. So grab your backpack and plenty of water bottles and get ready to do a little hiking on your great Southern road trip.
If a beach vacation is what you’re looking for at the end of your road trip, then Grand Isle State Park is the perfect destination. A major Louisiana tourist region, this park includes pristine beaches that line the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico where you can swim, sunbathe and relax on the sand to your heart’s content.
For the horticulture enthusiasts, your number one destination in Louisiana can only be the Gardens of the American Rose Society. These 118-acre wooded gardens are filled with roses of every color and type in a glorious celebration of this beautiful flower. Stroll these grounds, and you’ll also find ponds, statues and thick patches of woods that make for the ultimate peaceful and relaxing experience.
Interested in the history of Louisiana? Then you’ll want to include a visit to the LSU Rural Life Museum on your trip. Located in Baton Rouge and operated by LSU, this museum provides a fascinating window into the lives of ordinary working-class families during the 18th and 19th centuries. You can browse the reproductions of barns and houses and authentic artifacts via guided or self-guided tours.
At LSU, the tiger isn’t just a generic mascot. His name is Mike, and he’s a real tiger living in his very own habitat on LSU’s campus. Tourists and students alike can stop by to visit him and meet the famous face of LSU. And if you can’t manage to fit a visit to the tiger habitat into your busy schedule? You can always check in on him via his live feed as well.
Have you ever seen a photograph of the Baton Rouge skyline? Chances are, it includes a view of the Horace Wilkinson Bridge. This bridge spans the width of the Mississippi and is the highest cantilever bridge to do so. If you are interested in bridge architecture, famously recognizable landmarks or just love documenting your trip in photos, this is one spot you’ll want to be sure to get a snap of.
No trip to Louisiana’s capital city would be complete without visiting the Capitol building. The tallest capitol building in the nation, this high-rise has 34 floors and stands 450 feet tall. At the 27th floor, you’ll find the Observation Deck which offers one of the most spectacular views of Baton Rouge you’ll find anywhere.
The Old State Capitol no longer houses the Louisiana government, but it’s still a gorgeous and historic building that’s now home to a museum of state political history. Stop by this Baton Rouge landmark to enjoy the beautiful gothic architecture and the fascinating snapshot of Louisiana history, all offered for free admission.
The World War II history buffs will have plenty to see and do in Baton Rouge, particular at the USS Kidd Veterans Museum. The USS Kidd is a Fletcher-class Destroyer from World War II, and the only one still preserved in its war-era state. Today, you can tour both it and the associated museum to learn a little bit more about the war and the history of ships like this one.
Whether you’re traveling in from far away or a native of Baton Rouge just looking for fun things to do in Louisiana this weekend, no Baton Rouge experience is complete without stopping to sample the city’s terrific culinary scene. And no spot in Baton Rouge is better for doing so than The Gregory. Located conveniently in the Downtown neighborhood, the Gregory serves up delicious Cajun-style favorites — all made using the freshest local ingredients and served in an elegant dining room for a truly special dining experience. Book your reservation to reserve your table today.
Once you’ve completed your Louisiana road trip, don’t forget to stop back and tell us which destination you enjoyed the most.
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