New Orleans Plantation Country
When you travel through Louisiana, the history and culture are evident - nowhere more so than in Louisiana’s beautiful plantation homes. You can tour, dine and stay in many of these magnificent homes several of which are located in New Orleans Plantation Country. Here is one of many suggested itineraries that you can follow through New Orleans Plantation country:
DAY 1
- Begin your tour in Vacherie at Oak Alley Plantation, one of the world’s most photographed plantations with its alley of 300-year-old oak trees and Civil War history. Spend a little time shopping in Oak Alley’s vast gift shop on the grounds.
- Nearby is St. Joseph Plantation, a working Creole sugar plantation with tours provided by descendants of Joseph Waguespack who acquired the property in 1877.
- After a full morning of touring, you can cross the river at Highway 641 and stop for lunch at Nobile’s Restaurant. Nobile’s was founded in 1895 during the logging boom and still serves authentic Louisiana dishes in an historic atmosphere.
- Head east to Garyville where the opulence of San Francisco Plantation with its vivid colours and intricate architecture will stand in stark contrast to the more modest Creole homes.
- Make sure you leave time for souvenir shopping at Roussel’s Antiques in LaPlace or a Cajun Pride Swamp Tour before dinner at Frenier Landing Restaurant & Oyster Bar.
DAY 2
- Take the I-10 to Darrow for a tour of Houmas House Plantation & Gardens, stopping off at their lavish gift shop.
- Then take I-10 to Exit 220 and head for the tours at Ormond Plantation and Destrehan Plantation. Ormond is a West Indies-style plantation, and Destrehan is the oldest documented plantation home in the lower Mississippi Valley and boasts skilled artisans and displays of the original Louisiana Purchase documents. Ormond Plantation serves lunch during the weekday, or Zydeco’s in Boutte is also a good option.
- An exhilarating Swamp Adventures or Airboat Tours by Arthur Matherne will round off the afternoon.
- Followed by dinner at Mario’s Cypress Café plus another night’s accommodations in the area will leave you refreshed for one more day of touring.
DAY 3
- Explore our African American heritage. Laura: A Creole Plantation has tours based upon Laura’s detailed memoirs of life in Creole Louisiana in 1805, including the interaction between the slaves and her family. This plantation is also noted as the place where the tales of Br’er Rabbit were first recorded. A wide variety of gifts,including Laura’s memoirs are available in the gift shop.
- Stop for lunch at B&C Seafood Market & Cajun Restaurant, a quaint spot known for its mouth-watering down-home Cajun and Creole dishes.
- Evergreen Plantation in Edgard has the most intact plantation complex in the South, with 37 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places including 22 slave cabins.
- Cross the Mississippi to Reserve to “feel the spirit” at Our Lady of Grace Historic Sanctuary, ) the first Catholic Church in the area built for African American parishioners. Evergreen, Our Lady of Grace and Laura: A Creole Plantation are featured on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail because of their dedication to preserving the true stories of slaves, as well as their contributions to art, history and Louisiana culture.
For full details on this area visit neworleansplantationcountry.com or email louisiana@deep-south-usa.com.
