Head South to Louisiana This Winter

Feed your soul with the music, food and history at the heart of the Bayou State’s contagious personality

Posted: November 12, 2018 03:18 PM ET

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From a tourist’s perspective, New Orleans is the state’s beating heart. And while the Big Easy shouldn’t be missed, there is so much more to Louisiana. Exploring the rest of the state allows you to discover a wealth of cultures that are the roots of the state’s distinct character, which you can taste in the food, hear in the music and sense in its history.

Check out fairs and festivals across the state

Yes, there’s the world-renowned Mardi Gras, which takes over New Orleans and flows through Louisiana. But the state that delivers such a spirited party knows how to celebrate, well, everything. Crawfish, jazz, swamp blues, arts and crafts, holiday lights, bonfires, andouille sausages—you name it, there’s a festival for it. There are actually more than 400 festivals that happen across the state every year, inspired by food, music, history and more. In cities and towns of all sizes, there’s a festival that locals are looking forward to—and that you can plan a trip around.

Explore the architecture and history of plantation country

The iconic 1800s Louisiana plantations tell the story of a pre–Civil War era, when America’s greatest concentration of millionaires lived on a nearly 200-kilometre stretch along the Mississippi River. But beyond the stunning architecture and formal gardens, these stately mansions now serve as living history museums where you’ll find in-depth exhibits on slavery contrasted with the back-in-time interiors that encapsulate the lavish lifestyle funded by sugar fortunes.

Visit Louisiana’s capital city

Situated between New Orleans and Lafayette, Baton Rouge is the hub of all things Louisiana. The exciting college town, nicknamed the Red Stick, houses over 300 years of history, which can be explored through its museums, political landmarks and distinct architecture.

Discover Cajun culture in Lafayette

Lafayette, a university town on the bayou, just over a two-hour drive from New Orleans, is sophisticated, cosmopolitan and drenched in Cajun culture. Dubbed the Happiest City in America, it’s the perfect place to laissez les bons temps rouler, as they say. You’ll have no problem finding high-quality, authentic food, but for insider insight, consider a tour. The Cajun Food Tour will not only take you around to sample some of the best Cajun originals—boudin, étouffée, pork cracklin’ and more—but you’ll get a lesson in the area’s history at the same time. At night, venues around the city host Louisiana musicians who have mastered the distinctly local genres of Cajun, Creole and Zydeco—and that will definitely have you dancing.

That’s just the beginning!

Start planning your adventure with Louisiana Travel, where you’ll find all the information you need on the state’s vibrant cities and historic towns, plus all the festivals you can dream of.

Image credit: Iberia Parish CVB, Louisiana Travel, iStock.com/CrackerClips and Little River Inn