NEW ORLEANS

Day 1

NEW ORLEANS

Arrive in New Orleans and proceed to your hotel. “Let the good times roll” is a Louisiana way of life, one that New Orleans is determined to uphold. A city unlike any other American city, New Orleans’ particular melting pot of peoples and cultures make it perhaps the most American of cities. The birthplace of jazz and the home of Mardi Gras, New Orleans is also the perfect place to begin your tour of the South.

Day 2

NEW ORLEANS

The capital of the French colony of Louisiana, New Orleans was established as a fortress by French settlers in the 18th Century. Begin with a walking tour through Jackson Square and the heart of the French quarter, which offers all kinds of attractions, sights, restaurants, and of course, music. Experience the intimate and subtle architecture while learning about the history, art, and musical culture that is this city’s unique heritage.

Day 3

NEW ORLEANS » VACHERIE / WHITE CASTLE (125 mi / 200 km)

Depart New Orleans for the Mississippi River Plantations along the Great River Road. Begin with Destrehan (1787), Louisiana’s oldest plantation, where scenes from Inteview with a Vampire were filmed. Continue to Laura Plantation (1805), the finest remaining example of a Creole plantation in existence, and the only plantation where the original slave cabins still stand. The plantation tour is rated as one of the best historical tours in the country. Next is Oak Alley (1839), a classic Gone with the Wind - style Greek Revival plantation, surrounded by majestic columns and antebellum opulence. Finally, Nottoway Plantation (1859), the largest of them all with 64 rooms, one of which still has a Civil War cannonball lodged in it.

Day 4

VACHERIE / WHITE CASTLE » NATCHEZ (145 mi / 235 km)

Your drive continues past the French Creole homes along the False River to the New Roads-St Francisville ferry, where you’ll cross the Mississippi River by boat. Visit St Francisville’s picturesque historic district before continuing to Natchez, Mississippi. Located on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, Natchez was the center of the Mississippi Delta’s cotton region and one of the wealthiest cities in the United States before the Civil War. In the historic district above the river, more than a dozen antebellum homes and gardens are open to visitors. In Natchez-Under-The-Hill, on the banks of the Mississippi below the city, a variety of evening entertainments can be found, including restaurants, saloons and a riverboat casino.

Day 5

NATCHEZ » LAFAYETTE (175 mi / 280 km)

Your drive continues to Lafayette, capital of Louisiana’s Cajun Country. Cajuns are descendents of French Canadian settlers who were exiled to Louisiana by the British in 1755, and due to their relative isolation, were able to maintain their language and culture for over 250 years. They are especially well-known for their music (Cajun, Zydeco & Swamp Pop), their cuisine, and their love of festivals. Visit the Acadian Cultural Center and the Vermilionville living history and folklife museum to learn more about these unique people. Tonight, enjoy nightly live Cajun music, food and dancing at nearby Mulate’s, or ask at your hotel for their personal recommendations.

Day 6	LAFAYETTE » BAYOU COUNTRY » NAPOLEONVILLE (175 mi / 280 km)
Today you’ll explore Louisiana’s bayou country, the lush swamps and wetlands that are at the the heart of Cajun Country. At Lake Martin, Louisiana’s largest nesting area for herons, egrets and ospreys, you can observe swamp wildlife and alligators from a hiking trail or your car. Stop at the Tabasco factory and Jungle Gardens on Avery Island, then follow the Bayou Teche to your overnight.

Day 7	NAPOLEONVILLE » NEW ORLEANS (75 mi / 120 km)
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before returning to New Orleans for a final day in the “Big Easy”.

Day 8	NEW ORLEANS (75 mi / 120 km)
Departure for your return flight home