Louisiana doesn’t just show you places—it wraps you in rhythm, story, and soul. Whether you’re wandering the music-filled streets of New Orleans, stepping through centuries of history at a plantation, or riding a streetcar past oaks and iron balconies, every experience is layered with life. Traveling here with my family felt like opening a door into something timeless. These are the places that stuck with us—the ones we talked about long after we left.
Best Things to Do in Louisiana
Strolling the soul of the city on Royal Street
Royal Street didn’t just invite us in—it swept us off our feet. Every block pulsed with creativity: wrought iron balconies, jazz notes drifting through the air, and antique shops filled with treasures that seemed to hum with history. We wandered without an agenda, dipping into galleries, sipping iced coffee, and pausing often just to listen. I remember thinking, “There’s no rush here, and that’s exactly the point.”
What I Loved Most: Watching a street band gather a crowd with a trumpet solo that made everyone—locals, tourists, kids—just *stop* and feel the music. That kind of moment only happens here.
My highlights? A late brunch at Café Amelie, tucked inside a lush courtyard that felt hidden in plain sight. I had the shrimp and grits with tasso cream sauce, and the kids shared buttery French toast with powdered sugar. The dappled light, garden blooms, and sound of clinking silverware made the whole thing feel like a scene from a movie.
Plan your visit:
- Location: French Quarter, New Orleans, LA
- Vibe: Historic, artsy, alive
- Best For: Strolling, shopping, and people-watching
- Don’t Miss: Street performers, local art galleries, Café Amelie
- Hours: Shops generally 10am–6pm; always open for walking
- Address: Royal Street, New Orleans, LA 70116
Stepping into Southern serenity at Rip Van Winkle Gardens
The moment we pulled into Rip Van Winkle Gardens, everything felt quieter—more hushed, more graceful. Ancient oaks stretched overhead like green cathedrals, and bright peacocks strolled across the lawn like they owned the place. The gardens wrapped around the lake and plantation home like a living painting, and we wandered through it slowly, soaking in the calm. I remember thinking, “Places like this don’t just show you history—they let you feel it.”
What I Loved Most: Sitting on a shaded bench overlooking Lake Peigneur, watching a heron drift by while the kids tiptoed through a garden maze. There wasn’t a sound but the wind through the moss.
My highlights? Lunch at Café Jefferson, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the water. I had the crab cake salad with creole mustard dressing, and a slice of pecan pie that tasted like it had been made by someone’s grandmother that morning. The view, the food, the hush—it was restorative in every sense.
Plan your visit:
- Location: New Iberia, LA
- Vibe: Peaceful, historic, botanical
- Best For: Garden lovers, history buffs, couples
- Don’t Miss: Café Jefferson, the live oaks, the Joseph Jefferson Mansion tour
- Hours: Daily 9am–5pm
- Address: 5505 Rip Van Winkle Rd, New Iberia, LA 70560
Hearing the untold stories at Laura Plantation
Laura Plantation felt different. The Creole architecture was colorful and charming, but the real weight came from the stories. We walked through the sugarcane fields, the house, and the slave quarters with a guide who didn’t sugarcoat the past—and that’s what made it powerful. I remember thinking, “This is hard history, but it’s the kind we need to sit with.”
What I Loved Most: Listening to firsthand accounts of the women who ran the plantation, the enslaved families who lived behind the house, and the ways their stories had been kept alive. It stayed with me long after we left.
My highlights? We didn’t eat on-site, but stopped just down the road at B & C Seafood Riverside Market after the tour. I had the shrimp po’boy with a side of hush puppies, and we ate outside overlooking the bayou. It was simple, local, and the perfect way to reflect after an emotional visit.
Plan your visit:
- Location: Vacherie, LA
- Vibe: Historic, educational, thought-provoking
- Best For: Travelers interested in deeper cultural and historical understanding
- Don’t Miss: Guided house and grounds tour, personal family histories
- Hours: Daily tours typically 10am–4pm
- Address: 2247 LA-18, Vacherie, LA 70090
Walking through Southern splendor at Houmas House
Houmas House was the kind of place that made time feel slippery. The white columns, manicured gardens, and soft hush of fountains gave it the kind of cinematic charm you'd expect from an old novel or a classic film. But beyond the beauty, there was weight—the layered stories of wealth, of labor, of life on a sugarcane plantation. I remember thinking, “This place is both stunning and complicated—and that’s what makes it unforgettable.”
What I Loved Most: Wandering the gardens in the late afternoon light, hydrangeas blooming on either side of the path and the Mississippi River humming just beyond the trees.
My highlights? Lunch at Latil’s Landing, the fine dining restaurant tucked inside the 1770s French house on the property. I had the duck confit with sweet potato purée and sautéed greens, while the kids tried gumbo for the first time (with cautious but curious bites). The dining room was candlelit and cozy, with service that made us feel like honored guests.
Plan your visit:
- Location: Darrow, LA
- Vibe: Grand, scenic, reflective
- Best For: Couples, families, history buffs
- Don’t Miss: Mansion tour, gardens, dining at Latil’s Landing
- Hours: Daily 9am–7pm; tours typically until 5pm
- Address: 40136 LA-942, Darrow, LA 70725
Finding rhythm and realness on Frenchmen Street
If Royal Street is the elegant heartbeat of New Orleans, Frenchmen is its wild and wonderful soul. The moment we turned the corner, the sound hit us—brass, drums, vocals, all tangled up and bouncing off the walls. It wasn’t staged, it wasn’t polished—it was pure. We slipped into The Spotted Cat and let the music carry us, no plan needed. I remember thinking, “This is the real show, and it’s happening right in front of us.”
What I Loved Most: That magical hour just after sunset when the street lights up, musicians spill out of open doorways, and the crowd is nothing but smiles, sways, and shared energy.
My highlights? A plate of fried catfish tacos and a side of jambalaya at Dat Dog, eaten outside under string lights while a brass band played across the street. It was loud, messy, and absolutely perfect.
Plan your visit:
- Location: Marigny neighborhood, New Orleans, LA
- Vibe: Lively, soulful, unfiltered
- Best For: Live music lovers and night owls
- Don’t Miss: The Spotted Cat, Blue Nile, art market pop-ups
- Hours: Music starts ~5pm and goes late
- Address: Frenchmen Street, New Orleans, LA 70116
Riding history through the heart of New Orleans
There’s nothing like riding a streetcar in New Orleans. It’s not just a way to get around—it’s part of the city’s rhythm. We hopped aboard the St. Charles line, wooden seats creaking and bell chiming, and rolled past live oaks, old mansions, and porches full of life. The kids pressed their noses to the windows. I sat back and thought, “This is what moving slowly feels like—and I don’t want to rush it.”
What I Loved Most: Watching the city shift from one neighborhood to the next—from the Garden District to Canal Street—with every mile offering something new, something real.
My highlights? We hopped off at the edge of the French Quarter and grabbed po’boys and beignets from Mother’s Restaurant. I had the Famous Ferdi Special with roast beef debris and ham—messy, warm, and glorious. We ate at a park bench nearby, powdered sugar flying in the breeze.
Plan your visit:
- Location: New Orleans, LA (multiple lines)
- Vibe: Classic, nostalgic, accessible
- Best For: Families, first-time visitors, slow travelers
- Don’t Miss: St. Charles line, Canal Street, hop-on stops near parks and museums
- Hours: Daily, typically 5am–midnight
- Cost: $1.25 per ride, or day passes available
- Address: Start at 1500 block of St. Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA
Let Louisiana Linger
From the jazz notes floating over Frenchmen Street to the hush of old gardens and the clang of a streetcar downtown, Louisiana invites you to listen—to music, to memory, to the past and present blending together. Each stop was more than a place to visit—it was a feeling, a moment, a story we now carry with us. If you’re ready to let the good times roll, there’s no better place to start than here.
More to Explore
Jump to a Spot...
- • Strolling the soul of the city on Royal Street
- • Stepping into Southern serenity at Rip Van Winkle Gardens
- • Hearing the untold stories at Laura Plantation
- • Walking through Southern splendor at Houmas House
- • Finding rhythm and realness on Frenchmen Street
- • Riding history through the heart of New Orleans