Louisiana 2019

When H and I were in New Mexico, we were amazed at how the entire trip turned out—and we realized we wanted more. I had a million ideas for where to go next, but Yellowstone and the Olympic Peninsula were at the top of my list. I kept asking H what was on her list, and she sheepishly said, “New Orleans.”

I think she felt a little guilty for wanting to go there—for two reasons. First, I had already been. Second, I didn’t really like it the first time. But there was no way I was going to let my past experience keep her from visiting the one place she truly wanted to see.

So, I started planning. We would go to New Orleans—but we’d also travel throughout Louisiana, including a trip to Vicksburg. At the time, I thought Vicksburg was in Louisiana... later I found out it was actually in Mississippi. So we went to Mississippi as well!

And so, on a snowy day in March, we made our way to New Orleans and spent eight glorious days exploring Louisiana.

Our flight from Boston to New Orleans was delayed due to a blizzard the night before. While the airports were open, the staff and aircraft weren’t in place for our flight to leave on time. Of course, they didn’t tell us that until we were already at the airport. We ended up waiting about three hours before finally taking off.

By the time we landed, it was already dark—and we still had a two-hour drive ahead of us to Lafayette, our first stop. I’m not a big fan of driving in the dark, especially in a state I’m unfamiliar with, but we made it work.

The next day, I had us booked for our first swamp tour. H had said she wanted to do a boat tour of the bayou—but what she didn’t know was that the “bayou” isn’t one specific place. So I chose Lake Martin and the Cypress Island Preserve for our first outing.

It turned out to be a perfect way to spend our first full day in Louisiana. As you can see from the photos, the scenery was spectacular, and our guide was amazing. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour. The weather was perfect by our standards—though the locals thought it was cold!

Our next stop on this road trip was Natchitoches.  With only one day here we were able to check out the historic district and take a stroll along the Cane River, which looks more like a lake.  It was very beautiful but empty as you can see from the photos.  It was a gorgeous day so after taking a tour of the Melrose Planation we came back and had lunch.  

Our next stop on this road trip was Shreveport. We stayed at Sam’s Town, and while I don’t usually mention the hotels we stay at, this one was a real surprise. The rooms were huge and stunning—especially for the price: just $60 per room per night. And no, H and I don’t share a room.

We figured the low rate had something to do with the casino in the hotel. I’m not much of a gambler, but H definitely is—she won $180 at the tables! I’m still not sure what game she was playing or what time she finally went to bed. Meanwhile, I happily ordered room service, soaked in the giant tub, and called it a night.

When I was researching things to do in Shreveport, not much came up. But we decided to check out the Gardens of the American Rose Center. A few years earlier, we had stumbled upon the Dallas Botanical Gardens and absolutely loved it—so we figured, why not?

Well… it was the first week of March, and not a single rose was in bloom. Note to self: don’t visit a rose garden when roses aren’t blooming. Lesson learned.

We stopped by the Once in a Millenium Moon Mural which was suggested on Trip Advisor and worth checking out.  There are quite a few murals like this in Massachusetts.

We also stopped by the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium just long enough to snap a few photos of the statues outside. After that, we said goodbye to Shreveport and hit the road toward Vicksburg.

I’ve always been interested in the Civil War, and Vicksburg played such a major role in it—so of course, I was intrigued. What really got to me was the land itself. The hills and valleys they had to traverse back then are still there today, unchanged. Standing there, taking it all in, was mesmerizing. It brought history to life in a way that books just can’t.

The monuments scattered throughout the battlefield are all so different—each one unique in design and dedication. We decided to pay $50 for a two-hour guided tour, with the guide driving our rental car and explaining things along the way. It was well worth it.

The park is massive—1,728 acres according to the National Park Service—with over 16 miles of roads and around 1,400 monuments and statues. There’s no way to see everything in one day, but the time we spent there was truly meaningful. The site is incredibly well done, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a full Civil War-themed road trip is in my future.

As for the photos—I took plenty, but I have no idea who or what many of the statues represent, so there won’t be any captions this time. Just quiet awe. Quick Fact:  Ulysses Grant (General) won the battle at Vicksburg which solidified the Union's victory.  He was also he 18th President and the first to create a National Park Yellowstone to be exact in 1872 (NPS) and I am a huge fan of our National Parks and the NPS in general.  So many connections in life.

Because I’m a complete Boston snob, cities don’t usually impress me. So, when I plan these trips, if we end up in a big city, it’s typically due to convenience, price, or location.

Except for New Orleans, of course—this stop was entirely for H. It’s been on her bucket list for a long time, and I was happy to oblige. She’s a fantastic travel partner—easygoing, up for anything, and more than happy to let me do all the planning.

The last time I was in New Orleans was for a restaurant convention. That trip was all about partying and drinking—after 20 years in the bar business, that lifestyle just doesn’t appeal to me anymore. But this time was completely different. We were out exploring in the mornings and afternoons, and I saw the city through a new lens.

New Orleans during the day has a very different energy—more vibrant in some ways, more raw in others. Jackson Square still had its share of homeless drunks and addicts, which was disappointing but not surprising.

On our first day, we decided to take a tour bus through the city. It was a great way to get the lay of the land, see the neighborhoods, and ease into the vibe of New Orleans without diving in too deep right away.  We also spent some time at Oak Alley Plantation, experienced another Bayou tour and did the Steamboat ride on the Mississippi River.