Travel guide Louisiana
The mention of this southern U.S. state is enough to conjure up an avalanche of images: the old cotton plantations, the New Orleans carnival, the alligator-filled bayous, jazz, Cajun culture... So many seductive images that reality does not contradict. A multi-faceted destination, it is indeed all this that constitutes its DNA, but more, and this is what the Louisiana travel guide proposes to expose. Music lovers will be delighted in New Orleans' French Quarter, where blues and jazz are heard, while in Cajun country, worn wood floors take the repeated heel-tapping of zydeco dancers. The unique blend of white-American, Creole and black cultures has also made Louisiana a blessed land for foodies, and all of these influences can be found in typical dishes like the po'boy sandwich or jambalaya. A hydrofoil ride through the swamps to meet the meter-long alligators will delight thrill-seekers, while the plantation country and its sumptuous villas will satisfy history buffs, immersing them in the turpitude of the colonial era and the American Civil War. Lafayette and its region will seduce travelers who wish to meet the Acadians, a warm population and guardian of a unique francophonie, the one that names mosquitoes mosquitoes! After Katrina, Louisiana is getting back on its feet and doing what it does best: "Let the good times roll."
What to see, what to do Louisiana?
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When to go Louisiana ?
When to go to Louisiana? Between the end of January and the beginning of March, at carnival time, of course! Make sure to book your flight and accommodation well in advance - a year of anticipation is the norm here -, as prices really go up at the time of this great New Orleans celebration. The winter period is also recommended to admire the crazy Christmas decorations and to party in Louisiana's capital. Outside the city, however, the major tourist sites are closed. That's why nature lovers looking for the best time to go to Louisiana will prefer spring and fall. In addition to enjoying more affordable rates than during Carnival, the weather in Louisiana is beautiful and warm from April to June: the flora is in full bloom, the fauna is fully recovered from its winter numbness and the JazzFest is in full swing in New Orleans. After an episode of high tropical heat in summer (80 to 90% humidity!), the temperature becomes pleasant again for tourism in Louisiana from September to November, the vegetation is then luxuriant and the fauna very active. Autumn is also the hunting season for alligators. When to go to Louisiana? Except for the hot months of July and August, each season has its own charm.
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Travel Louisiana
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Louisiana may not be very big in terms of surface area, but it is a true condensation of culture, history, gastronomy and joie de vivre. There is so much to see and do that one could spend weeks there, especially since the Louisianans are particularly welcoming and the change of scenery is total. It is worthwhile to consult the website of each regional tourist office. They offer many ideas for tours, some with specific themes such as the plantation route, the Mississippi River, black pudding, Cajun cuisine, the history of jazz in New Orleans, African-American heritage and civil rights. Here are also some suggestions to make sure you don't miss anything, from the must-see in a week to the grand tour of Louisiana, including a stay in the four corners of Cajun country.
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How to go Louisiana
How to go alone
Louisiana is easily accessible for independent travelers, and while English dominates public life in the state, one will be pleased to hear French spoken from another era when traveling to Lafayette and Cajun country. Louisianans are friendly and will be happy to help you. To get around the territory and some national parks, renting a car can be very useful. In New Orleans, public transportation will suffice.
How to go on a tour
There are several tour operators specializing in Louisiana, offering thematic tours (around history, gastronomy, nature or music) allowing you to get a complete idea of the region's treasures and to create a customized trip. Most of the organized tours start in New Orleans and propose a road trip in the territories of the Cajun country, in the heart of the bayous and in the sumptuous Creole plantations along the Mississippi.
How to get around
With the exception of major cities, public transportation is rarely convenient for travelers and does not serve outlying cities and suburbs well. However, it is generally cheap and reliable. While New Orleans is a pleasant city to visit on foot or by bicycle, there are day passes that combine buses and the famous Crescent City streetcar. It is better to rent a car to explore the rest of the state and its wide open spaces.
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Discover Louisiana
For many people, Louisiana can be summed up as New Orleans, capital of the perpetual party and Mardi Gras, the plantations, witnesses of opulence and slavery, the Cajun country, a French-speaking/phile bastion on American soil, and the bayous, kingdoms of cypress trees and alligators. But what about the rest of the state, its history and its incredible cultural mosaic? To get to the heart of the matter before setting foot in the state, this chapter provides an overview of these subjects, as well as economic and social issues, the "father of waters" that is the famous Mississippi River, the whims of Mother Nature and the ravages of the petrochemical industry, voodoo beliefs and rites, architecture, street art and the music scene, of which jazz is the figurehead. And because the discovery also passes by the plate, we draw up for you the greedy portrait of this extraordinary destination.
The 12 keywords Louisiana
1. Alligator
The alligator is present here in all its forms: everywhere in the bayous, in the plates with a hot sauce or in the popular legends - the Cajuns think that a yellow alligator brings bad luck - and even on the phone, since there is a special number to contact in case of intrusion of one of these predators in your home!
2. Bayou
Bayous are bodies of water formed by the ancient branches and meanders of the Mississippi River, which extend into a green jungle in the southern part of the state. During your trip, you will be told about bayou and swamp - the latter being more difficult to penetrate - and marsh, brackish water swamps, devoid of trees.
3. Brass band
Brass band can be translated as "fanfare" in funk-jazz version. Their brass and percussion instruments create a great atmosphere with an incredible noise and a desire to shake from the first notes. Even when brass bands lead funeral convoys, the music is still very cheerful: it's the Second Lines.
4. Sugar cane
It is to its cultivation, with that of cotton and indigo, that the plantations of the American South were dedicated. These crops, which made the fortune of the planters, went hand in hand with the Black slave trade. These same people have co-written the history of the region and the country and are one of the pillars of its cultural, religious and ethnic mix.
5. Go to sleep
Popular ball of the Cajun country. It was mainly Cajun French songs and two-step dancing to zydeco tunes. The name comes from the fact that young mothers would tap their feet, eager to see their children go to bed so they could run to meet their husbands at the ball, who were probably already dancing with another woman...
6. Jazz
Born in NOLA, it comes from the songs and music of slaves. The style is distinguished by the instruments used: trombone, trumpet, clarinet and saxophone for the wind instruments, banjo or piano for the string instruments. A good jazz band is also a good rhythm section composed of a drummer, a double bass player or a tuba.
7. Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras Day is the culmination of several days of parades and festivities in almost every city in Louisiana. Everything stops for 24 hours. If New Orleans organizes the biggest Mardi Gras party, whose fame goes beyond the borders of the country, the cities of Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Lake Charles are not left out.
8. Mississippi
This mythical river winds its way through Louisiana, guiding travellers along the plantation route. An economic, agricultural and cultural force, the Mississippi, 3,778 km long, lives up to its Amerindian name of "Father of Waters"(Mee-zee-see-bee). Louisianans gaze upon it with fascination and awe, fearing its terrible whims.
9. Hurricane
Hurricanes are a frequent occurrence in Louisiana. The deadliest of these, forever etched in people's memories, was Katrina in 2005, with almost 2,000 deaths. Every rainy season, from June to September (or even October), brings its share of floods, tornadoes and other natural disasters. Caution is therefore advised if you travel during this period.
10. Parish
Louisiana is divided into 64parishes, represented by a "jury of police". This term is a reminder of the French heritage. The parishes are administrative districts. Louisiana is still different: all other states speak ofcounties, orboroughs in the case of Alaska.
11. Planting
The winding road that follows the course of the Mississippi is lined with massive mansions in architectural styles that have been celebrated in movies. They recall the history of Louisiana, from the first settlements of French Creoles to the great era of sugar, cotton and indigo production, through the tragic episode of the Civil War.
12. Voodoo
Called "Louisiana voodoo" or "New Orleans voodoo" - not to be confused with Haitian voodoo or Hoodoo - its beliefs and practices originate from the African diaspora in Louisiana. Having become rather mainstream over time, it goes without saying that tourist attractions abound in the state's largest city...
You are from here, if...
You'll understand what NOLA, The Big Easy, Crescent City, The City That Care Forgotare all about: just a few of New Orleans' nicknames.
You avoid the Bourbon Street area during Carnival, as it's taken over by tourists who don't hesitate to get drunk to the point of coma and show off their private parts in exchange for necklaces ( flashing, by the way, is a forbidden practice).
For you, summer is synonymous with air conditioning, while the mercury soars and humidity averages close to 80%!
You don't swim in the bayous and marshes after dark, when the alligators are hunting. But even though Louisianans swim there during the day, be careful if you want to give it a try. Alligators and snakes are never far away...
You don't kiss unless you know the person well. In the U.S., we don't kiss, we shake hands (even with ladies) or, better still, hug.