Top Things to do in Louisiana
The 10 Best Sights & Landmarks in Louisiana, United States
Louisiana tourism is centered on New Orleans and the North Shore region in the southeastern corner of the state near the Florida border. West of New Orleans is the Great River Road, with the I-10 running to the Mississippi River port capital city of Baton Rogue. West of New Orleans along the Gulf of Mexico, the I-10 cuts through Lafayette and Lake Charles on its way past Abbeville to Texas. Central Louisiana is Lake Country, and home to cities like Alexandria and Natchitoches. In northern Louisiana, the I-20 runs west from Monroe to Bossier City, Shreveport, and East Texas. Unless Louisiana is very familiar and frequent territory, New Orleans will be the top choice for a Louisiana vacation. Though Mardi Gras, music, and the winning ways of the New Orleans Saints football team get the spotlight, there is much more to explore in New Orleans. Within New Orleans choose among Bourbon Street, Royal Street, the Upper and Lower French Quarters, the Warehouse and Central Business District, the Garden District and Uptown, and Mid-City. With street car lines linking the French Quarter to the Garden District, Convention Center, and everywhere else, it is easy for the whole family to get around. If long walks are your exercise, explore the scenic city on foot. An easy two-hour drive from New Orleans brings you to Baton Rogue, Natchitoches and Lake Country. Explore old Beauregard Town in downtown Baton Rogue, the historic homes of the Baton Rogue Garden District, and tour one or several working plantations. Walk the 33-block Historic Landmark District and tour the historic homes and churches of Natchitoches. Relive Spanish Empire history in Louisiana at Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site. Heading west from New Orleans is Cajun Country and Lafayette with its mix of French, French Canadian (Acadian), Spanish, and Caribbean cultures. Besides Cajun and Creole cookery, explore the Civil War heritage at the Lafayette Museum. Stop by Abbeville to view the courthouse designed by Hayes Town, St. Mary Magdalen Church, and have a seafood meal. With 75 annual festivals Lake Charles is Louisiana's Festival City, and home to the Creole Nature Trail Scenic Byway. Shreveport and Bossier City in northwest Louisiana are casino and entertainment centers. Shreveport is renowned for hosting the Louisiana State Fair in the fall. Plus floral centers, art galleries, and museums. Monroe in the northeast also has notable gardens.
Restaurants in Louisiana
1. LSU Tiger Stadium
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 893 reviews
Reviewed By johnmS1018WM - Baton Rouge, United States
If you want a college game day(and night) experience that will provide a "Remember the time we..." experience, catch a big night game in Tiger Stadium. There is no pre-game tailgating that compares to LSU...the food (from gumbo to jambalaya to etouffee to grilled oysters to...) is delicious...and most tailgaters are happy to share their dishes. The music varies from party to party, just keep moving till you find your tunes...sattelite dishes/streaming provides tailgaters with the day's games...you will likely end the day with many new friends.... Oh, the stadium...originally designed to look similar to the Roman Colosseum, additions obscure much of the architectural detail; however, the north end of the exterior still maintains the classic look of an acient amphitheatre. Inside, with 102,320 other spectators, is where the magic of Tiger Stadium will transform your viewing of a college football game into a singular experience... Saturday Night in Death Valley
2. Alex Box Stadium/Skip Bertman Field
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 144 reviews
Reviewed By gentre - Baton Rouge, United States
If you want family-oriented fun, excitement, and to see the best in college baseball, go to Alex Box Stadium!!!
3. French Quarter
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 22,334 reviews
The heart and cultural center of New Orleans is the French Quarter, a must-see for its high energy, rich history, diverse architecture, music, street performers, renowned jazz clubs, lively nightlife and the finest art galleries and restaurants in the city.
Reviewed By clarissajg1 - East Haven, United States
the music the people the history the mystery the atmosphere the lore the legends the smell the eclectic air its all the French quarter. you either love it or hate it. I love it it is a part of me. there are great restaurants fun shops wonderful music amazing architecture people watching shopping walking cocktails - its truly amazing -- wear your walking shoes and come experience life
4. Jackson Square
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16,042 reviews
Fun area with street painters, musicians and jugglers.
Reviewed By debbiesE2403PL
Jackson Square is a beautiful little area filled with local artists, music, gorgeous flowering plants (these are inside the gated area), horse-drawn carriages, and tons of opportunities to people watch. A definite must-see when visiting New Orleans.
5. Garden District
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8,808 reviews
An area of the city that features numerous historic homes.
Reviewed By bron1962 - Dural, Australia
Beautiful area and we just took streetcar and walked around ourselves - lovely houses, beautiful mansions and easy just to wander through the streets. We got off at washington street and walked down various streets and got back on streetcar at Louisanna Street
6. Oak Alley Plantation
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,419 reviews
From its beginnings over 200 years ago, Oak Alley was just a land claim on a map. Today, Oak Alley is a National Historic Landmark, dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history its inhabitants left behind. With an emphasis on its time as a sugar plantation, visitors are invited to walk under its iconic alley, explore its exhibits: Slavery at Oak Alley, the ‘Big House’, Sugarcane Theater, People of Oak Alley and the Blacksmith Shop and leave with a better understanding of this plantation’s complex history.
Reviewed By LWRFL - Lakewood Ranch, United States
This was by far our favorite Plantation to see! It's a beautifully preserved National Historic Landmark - a real treasure! The outside is breathtaking - starting with the 28 huge Live Oak trees lining the walk to the mansion, which are mirrored by 28 stately white columns on the home. All of the grounds are well cared for! Plan to eat at the restaurant - it's truly excellent! By the way be sure to get a Mint Julep at the end of your tour - they were so refreshing and delicious - and all of the profits go to the Foundation with cares for this plantation. Really worth a visit!
7. Preservation Hall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,774 reviews
New Orleans' Preservation Hall was established in 1961 to honor one of America's truest art forms - Traditional New Orleans Jazz. Operating as a music venue, a touring band, and a non-profit organization, Preservation Hall continues its mission today as a cornerstone of New Orleans music and culture. Situated in the heart of the French Quarter on St. Peter Street, the Preservation Hall venue presents intimate, acoustic New Orleans Jazz concerts over 350 nights a year featuring ensembles from a current collective of 100+ local master practitioners. On any given night, audiences bear joyful witness to the evolution of this venerable and living tradition.
Reviewed By 226tandyc - Six Mile, United States
Preservation Hall was a lot smaller and more intimate than I had envisioned, but it was perfect, and we loved our experience. We booked tickets ahead of time, which was fortunate since the line of people waiting to get in was extraordinarily long, and those without reservations who were able to buy on-site tickets had to sit on the floor or stand at the back. We sat on a bench at the front; the wooden benches are probably original, hard and unpadded (for those with bad backs). Surprisingly, there are no bathrooms inside; they send people to the bar next door. You can bring food and drinks inside. The musicians are gifted, funny, and engaging. The whole experience was memory-making. So glad we booked this piece of historic New Orleans.
8. Louisiana State University
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 252 reviews
Louisiana's top university since 1860 has a beautiful, tree-covered campus and lots of attractions to visit, like the Union Art Gallery, Museum of Art, Greek Theatre and Museum of Natural Science.
Reviewed By drmommca - Asheville, United States
On our way to visit "Mike", we drove through the LSU campus, which is truly one of the most beautiful campuses in the state! Azaleas were blooming and the signs of winter were gone. Building upkeep is excellent!
9. Cathedral of St John the Evangelist
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 403 reviews
This quasi-Romanesque brick cathedral in Lafayette is worth a look.
Reviewed By sallyhZ267CK - Youngsville, United States
We were led to grounds of St John’s Cathedral in our downtown Lafayette scavenger hunt. We happened to see the cathedral the day before Easter. Unbelievably beautiful!
10. Louisiana State Capitol
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 724 reviews
This art deco masterpiece has been the site of a bombing, an assassination and the infinite machinations of state kingpins and politicos.
Reviewed By edieann - Denver, United States
Having been very disappointed by the Florida capitol “skyscraper” I had few expectations for the tallest of the capitol buildings: Louisiana. I was pleasantly surprised by the gorgeous art deco rotunda, House and Senate. We were lucky to arrive at the start time of a tour. Without our tour guide Bernard we would have missed out on the history, creation and stories of the current capitol building and the governor who created the building and was also shot there, Huey Long. We spent more than an hour touring the first floor, marveling at the incredible beauty of the marble, depiction of Louisiana’s history in bas relief just below the ceiling circling the rotunda, and in the solid bronze doors leading to the chambers. Not to mention the statuary, ceiling patterns and pencil like wood shard imbedded in the ceiling of the senate, a reminder of the dynamite bomb that had been planted and detonated in 1970. We also heard a number of conspiracy theories regarding the shooting of Governor Long plus got to see the two unfilled bullet holes left from the shooting.
