Louisiana Vacations Idea #1:
The Audubon Nature Institute, in New Orleans, is great for the whole family. There are hands-on exhibits at the
Interpretive Center. The
Planetarium will wow you with its 30-foot diameter dome. Explore the 86 acres of forest on the three walking trails. Walk among the free-flying butterflies in the
Butterfly/Hummingbird Garden. The
Botany Center features displays of some of Louisiana's native plants.
Louisiana Vacations Idea #2:
Take a
Louisiana Swamp Tour. One of the companies that will take you into the swamp is
Alligator Bayou just south of Baton Rouge. Board their all weather boat and explore deep into the bayous, swamps and lakes of Spanish Lake Basin. Some of the sights you can expect are old-growth cypress trees, egrets, herons, ibis, and cormorants. And, of course, lots of alligators.
Louisiana Vacations Idea #3:
The
Barataria Preserve, outside Marerro, is part of
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park. it consists of forested wetland, swamp, and flat treeless marsh. You can explore the preserve either on foot or by canoe. There are 8 miles of hiking trails, including 2 ½ miles of boardwalk. There are 9 miles of canoe trails and 20 miles of waterways are open to all types of boats.
Vacation Ideas in Louisiana #4:
Calling all duck lovers. The annual
Gueydan Duck Festival is held each august in Gueydan. It's a four-day festival with events like duck and goose calling, duck carving & painting demonstrations, outdoor cook off, skeet shoot competition, dog trials, wine & cheese party, and the Grand Parade. Oh, and lots of music too.
Vacation ideasin Louisiana #5:
If you like to eat and drink then you will enjoy the
New Orleans Wine & Food Experience. Held every year at the end of May, the focus is a dinner from one 38 of the city’s best restaurants along with an international selection of wine. During the five day event enjoy street parties along with wine and cooking seminars. While eating, drinking, and browsing the art and antique displays you will be entertained by live music.
Louisiana Vacations Idea #6:
The Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo, located in Monroe, provides fun entertainment for the whole family. There are 80 beautiful acres full of birds, reptiles and animals.
The Catwalk showcases the exotic White Bengal Tiger, the Red Bengal Tiger, the mysterious Black Jaguar, and the Lions of Africa. See the giant Anaconda and Python in
The Reptile House. Take the Bayou Safari boatride down the bayou to see the Camels, the Lechwe, and the Addax.
Louisiana Vacations Idea #7:
The Global Wildlife Center, in Folsom, is the largest totally free-roaming wildlife preserve in the country. You can take a guided Safari Wagon tour over 900 acres of beautiful Louisiana countryside among 3,000 exotic, endangered, and threatened animals from all over the world. Bison, giraffe, zebra, camels, eland are just a few of the animals you can meet face to face.
Louisiana Vacations Idea #8:
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park celebrates the cultural history of jazz in its birthplace, the city of New Orleans. You can enjoy live performances on both indoor and outdoor stages as well as jazz exhibits. The musical performances cover a wide range of jazz styles. Throughout the year there are special events including interpretive music demonstrations and lectures on a wide variety of jazz related topics. You can take ranger guided or self-guided walking tours of historical jazz sites in the French Quarter.
Louisiana Vacations Idea #9:
Travel to Louisiana for the
New Orleans Mardi Gras, the greatest party in the world. Mardi Gras can occur on any Tuesday from February 3 through March 9. During the 12-day period leading up to Mardi Gras, nearly 70 parades are held. It’s two weeks of impromptu partying, costumes, pageantry, and of course, beads. Mardi Gras is celebrated around the world but New Orleans does it best.
Louisiana Vacations Idea #10:
Jazz is everywhere in New orleans. For jazz purists,
Preservation Hall is the place to go for classic New orleans jazz. It's a dark and spartan venue with a worn wooden floor and wooden benches to sit on. But Preservation Hall has been showcasing traditional jazz in the French Quarter since 1961.
Other great New Orleans jazz institutions are the former gambling and whorehouse Tipitina's and Snug Harbor where you can see some of the best musicians in the world in a close-up intimate setting. And then there's the Mid-City Bowling Lanes, a.k.a. Rock 'n' Bowl where dancing, bowling and modern jazz combine and the party goes on into the wee hours of the morning.
Louisiana Vacations Idea #11:
The Louisiana State Fair runs for two weeks at the end of October and the beginning of November. There are plenty of family activities including 40 midway rides, musical entertainment, musicians, and clowns. You can see cheerleading competitions, milk a cow, pony rides, or watch chickens hatch. Other events are the Junior Livestock Show, dog obedience competition, horse agility and competition, beef & steer shows, and more.
