Take a Culture Road Trip through Louisiana

If you want to visit one state with more than a few cultural influences, come to Louisiana. Bordered by the Mississippi River to the East and the Gulf of Mexico to the South, Louisiana has seen more than a few inhabitants over the years. Many such inhabitants have come together to form communities with cultures all their own, namely the distinctive Cajun culture in Louisiana’s Southwest region. Then, of course, there’s New Orleans. This world-class city is rich in history and charm, and offers a music, cuisine and carnival festival scene unparalleled in the region. Add to that, the distinctive environmental features of the state, such as its vast swamplands and accompanying bird populations, as well as the many outdoor destinations to the north, and you’ll find plenty to do and see on your trip to Louisiana.

Also known as The Big Easy, the most populous city in Louisiana is known for jazz music, Creole cuisine, a unique dialect, multicultural roots and of course, the world-renowned Mardi Gras Festival. If you’re into nightlife, you’ll find plenty of it in New Orleans’ popular Bourbon Street, and French Quarter areas. Though the spirit of Mardi Gras can be felt year round, the true festivities happen throughout February and March, during which time you can visit parades and balls organized by local “Krewes,” or social groups known for their distinctive Carnival flavors. 

Where to Stay:

• JW Marriott New Orleans
• New Orleans Marriott
• W New Orleans French Quarter

What to Eat:

• If you go during Mardi Gras, be sure to get a King Cake at Antoine’s Famous Cakes.
• Visit the legendary Cafe Du Monde to try the official donut of Louisiana, the beignet. 
• Known for an intimate vibe and an array of French dishes in the French Quarter, Meauxbar comes highly recommended. 

What to See:

• See the city in a classic  New Orleans Streetcar.
• Hit up an authentic burlesque show at the All Ways Lounge & Cabaret.
• Shop and dine on the historic 10-kilometer Magazine Street.

While you’re in the area, check out an American football game at the LSU stadium, or see some art at the LSU Museum of Art. Then, explore the Antebellum architecture throughout the city, including the castle-like old Louisiana State Capitol and Magnolia Mound Plantation. Located on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River, Baton Rouge is a major port city and home to a culturally diverse population comprising African, European and Native cultures.

Where to Stay: 

• Baton Rouge Marriott
• Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Baton Rouge
• Courtyard by Marriott Acadian Centre/LSU Area

What to Eat:

• Southern favorites get a contemporary spin at Beausoleil, known for their exceptional brunch menu.
• Grab a meal with extensive beer options at The Chimes, an LSU tradition and favorite among students and fans.
• Go for ramen at Umami Japanese Bistro, a local favorite founded by chef Cong Nguyen, a former Louisiana fisherman.

What to Do: 

• Make it a museum day with stops at the LSU Museum of Art and the Louisiana Art and Science Museum. 
• Suit up in purple and gold for a LSU football game.
• Tour a US Navy ship aboard the USS Kidd Museum.

Cajun culture, one of Louisiana’s most distinguishing features, comprises communities, including Lafayette, originally formed by French settlers, Attakapas Native Americans and Acadian refugees from Canada. Cajun communities are known to be deeply rural, subsisting on fishing in swampy coastal areas and raising cattle in the prairielands, while their culture is marked by rustic cuisine and a French-speaking history. The Cajuns even have their own way of celebrating Mardi Gras (“the real way,” if you ask some,) which is known as Courir De Mardi Gras. The Cajun version celebrates the final day before lent, and involves historic begging rituals, traditional costumes derived from the ones worn in early rural France during the same celebration and an event known as a “chicken run.” To learn more about Mardi Gras traditions and history, consider venturing to nearby Lake Charles, where you can see the Mardi Gras Museum, and the stunning centuries-old oak tree in front of it.

Where to Stay: 

• Springhill Suites Lafayette South at River Ranch
• Courtyard Lafayette Airport
• Courtyard by Marriott Lafayette South

What to Eat:

• Try Cajun favorites such as gumbo and crayfish at Bon Temps Grill. 
• Traditional Louisiana cuisine gets a new American makeover at The French Press.
• Visit Lafayette standby, Johnson’s Boucaniere for their famous smoked meat sandwiches.

What to Do: 

• Explore the Louisiana swamplands at Lake Martin, either by kayak or guided tour, and keep an eye out for alligators.
• Learn about Cajun history at the Acadian Cultural Center.
• See how the 18th century settlers lived at Vermilionville.
• Explore the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu.

Along the way, stop by Natchitoches, a small town located between Alexandria and Shreveport, and the oldest city in the Louisiana Purchase. Today, Natchitoches is famous for their meat pies. Northern Louisiana is very culturally diverse, and naturally beautiful, retaining the state’s Cajun culture with added influence from neighboring states Arkansas and Texas. Some call northern Louisiana a sportsman’s paradise due to the area’s immense forests and one of the best bass fishing lakes in the country, Toledo Bend.

Where to Stay: 

• Courtyard by Marriott Shreveport
• Towneplace Suites by Marriott Monroe
• Courtyard by Marriott Alexandria

What to Eat:

• Stop by Lasyone’s Meatpie Restaurant in Natchitoches, to see what this tiny town is known for.
• Try some local fried fare, like crawfish tails and boudin balls, at Crawdaddy’s Kitchen in Shreveport.
• Enjoy a no-frills lunch with all the fixings at Pamela’s Bayou in a Bowl in Alexandria.

What to Do: 

• Northern Louisiana is known for its gambling. Roll the dice for yourself at Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino in Shreveport.
• Visit the only national forest in Louisiana at Kisatchie Park in Alexandria. 
• See Poverty Point, a pre-colonial world heritage site with prehistoric features dating back to 700 BC.