Louisiana is always the life of the party. Our neighbor to the north is also always an easy getaway for us Texans when we’re seeking just a little more color in our days. At just a few hours of distance from Houston, for me, it is a travel destination of choice for long weekends or even same day road trips. It’s the perfect place to travel with friends or just your significant other.
You can also stay at a Best Western Hotel & Resorts location anywhere in the Pelican State so that will make any travel adventure even more relaxing.
As far as what to do and see in Louisiana, the options are kind of endless. From the famous Mardi Gras in New Orleans, to the marshy swamps across the state, anywhere you go there’s a warm and friendly vibe that makes you feel relaxed. You can actually take swamp tours on a boat most of the year. That is one adventure that is currently on my travel bucket list, but it won’t be for very much longer. If you’re feeling lucky, you will want to make a stop in Lake Charles to visit the Golden Nugget and L’Auberge casinos. I’m not even a gambler, and I always have a good time when we visit. It’s basically a huge playground for adults, but if you bring the kids, there’s plenty for them to do as well.
Louisiana is also home to a significant number of antebellum mansions and plantations that offer a fascinating look at lifestyles of the past and a critical portion of American history. You can tour many of the historical plantations and mansions as well. The history there is quite powerful. This is the part of Louisiana that is often overlooked.
Now, you can’t talk about Louisiana without talking about the Gulf Coast. On the drive from Houston to Louisiana, there’s a stretch of interstate 10 between Baton Rouge and Lafayette that is basically an 18-mile bridge over a massive swamp. Literally all you can see for 20 minutes is swamp. You will definitely know when you’re on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge, which is the third longest bridge in the United States, the second longest on the interstate system and the 14th longest in the world. I highly recommend visiting the visitor center where you can learn more about the Atchafalaya Basin.
In Iberia Parish, you’ll find the historic Avery Island where Tabasco sauce has been made for the past five generations by the McIlhenny family on a salt dome surrounded by crops of red peppers and wildlife. The factory offers tours; there’s a museum there; and you can enjoy lunch or dinner at the Tabasco Restaurant as well.
Speaking of food, make sure to get your fair share of Cajun and seafood when you’re visiting. Gumbo, etouffee and jambalaya this delicious will be hard to find once you cross the state line. The same goes for shrimp and crawfish. They just don’t make it quite the same anywhere else.
The truth is Louisiana is a state perfect for sleepy Sunday afternoons, upbeat street parties until the wee hours of the morning, awe-inspiring nature excursions, and so much more – all engulfed in the color and flavor of a culture so diverse it defines the character of an entire state.
And rest easy, because if you’re staying at one of the many Best Western Hotels & Resorts in the state, you’ll be coming back to a restful and relaxing room with just the right combination of character and comfort. Book early and take advantage of the Best Western Rewards program to make the most of your travel plans!