Louisiana is one of our favorite states. We go back again and again and are always surprised by how much we missed in the last times we visited. The state always has new things to offer and excite us. Louisiana is one of those places we visit that always feels like a non-stop party while still managing to feel warm and comfortably like home. Here is The Constant Rambler list of 5 Must-see Attractions in Louisiana.
1. NOLA
The first thing that comes to mind when you think of Louisiana is New Orleans. It can’t be helped. The non-stop party city that is famous for Mardi Gras and music keeps us coming back time and time again. At the heart of the city is a vibrant music culture that energizes your very spirit. New Orleans is the site of the First Opera House in North America as well as being home to the 10-day celebration that is Jazzfest.
New Orleans isn’t all about debauchery and libations though. There are many family friendly things to do in the city as well. We had a wonderful time visiting the Aquarium of the Americas where we saw this little guy. There is also the Louisiana Children’s Museum that chock full o hands-on exhibits and fun activities for kids.
2. Abita Brewery
The Abita Brewery is found in Abita Springs, LA. This is a must-see attraction for any beer drinker and a definite “top-o-the-list” for a beer lover. Found just 30 miles North of New Orleans, Abita is the place to go to take in some crafty brews and learn about how beer is made.
If a brewery tour seems not so fun, you can always grab a beer and some fantastic grub at the Abita Brew Pub found in downtown Abita Springs. The brew pub serves up great creole inspired dishes and a great selection of Abita’s beer even some hard to find seasonals.
3. Houmas House Plantation and Gardens
The Houmas House Plantation and Gardens is a historic plantation complex and museum in Darrow, Louisiana. The grounds were a sugar plantation in the 1800s and now feature lush gardens, amazing restaurants and an eclectic and fun museum.
In the planation house you can take a guided tour where you can find this weird mix of fascinating antiques. Take a stroll in the gardens and you can even bring your own lunch and picnic on the grounds.
4. Avery Island
Avery Island is home to two must-see places in Louisiana. The first being the Tabasco plant. Every bottle of tabasco sauce in the world starts here. Clearly you can see that we have a great fondness for their product and the tour was short but spicy. Everyone left with tiny bottles of tabasco sauce that are perfect for one time use or to keep in the car when in a hot sauce pinch.
Jungle Gardens is also found on Avery Island. This 170 acre garden and bird sanctuary is a gorgeous place to spend the day taking in some local flora and fauna. You can even stumble upon this Chinese garden that houses a Buddha statue if you are on the lookout. There is a small fee to enter the gardens but it is absolutely worth it. The lush tropical surroundings are a great place to take a stroll or have a picnic.
5. Boudin
I admit that sausage is not considered an attraction, but anyone in their right mind that has consumed Boudin would disagree. Boudin is a pork sausage of epic tastiness. I would classify boudin as an event, an attraction, a gift sent from the heavens. Boudin sausage can be made into sausage rolls (something like an eggroll wrapper stuff with sausage) or balls (coated in batter and deep fried).
Our favorite are boudin balls that come from a small little convenience store in Scott, LA. Look at this truck-sized sausage ball. This ladies and gentlemen can definitely qualify as an attraction and is worth the drive.
Louisiana will keep us coming back for more. The warm climate and warmer people make this one of our favorite states and we love visiting. Can’t wait until we cross into the state once again!
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I had Abita beer for the first time a few weeks ago, and OMG yum! You just reminded me that I need to see where I can get some more here in NY. A tour of the brewery sounds great! I will look into doing that when I return to NOLA this summer!
This…is the worst….I love New Orleans but man, there is a hella lot more to us than New Orleans and Abita and tabasco…..lowest common denominator blogging here….nothing to see….move along….
Hi John,
I agree there is plenty to Louisiana and many things that we both loved quite a bit. In making a top five list though, these are some of the key stand outs. For example, the food in Lafayette was amazing, and the craft beer being brewed in most of the state was excellent. However, if you are looking for a brewery experience, Abita has the best overall experience, with the largest variety of beer. Most people we met were quite friendly and positive and absolutely loved being from Louisiana. Even looking at your comment, you agreed that New Orleans was great and you made no mention of boudin or Houmas house, which leads me to believe that you agree with those as well. Ultimately that means you agreed with 3/5ths of the post. As opposed to making a negative comment, why don’t you make a positive contribution to the post and share some of the things you love about Louisiana or tell us what you think we missed?