The state of Louisiana contains multitudes. Many people think of Louisiana and default to New Orleans — the French Quarter and Mardi Gras, jazz halls and beignet cafes. But the state is home to a wealth of scenic cities, natural wonders, interesting experiences and delicious food to be found outside the Crescent City.
Whether you call it the Pelican State, the Bayou State or the Sportsman’s Paradise, your group will find plenty of places to explore and memories to cherish in these destinations throughout central and western Louisiana.
Lake Charles
Located in the southwest corner of the state, Lake Charles seasons its Cajun culture with a healthy measure of swagger courtesy of Texas, its neighbor to the west. In the early 19th century, the area around Lake Charles was known as No Man’s Land, serving as a haven for outlaws and ruffians. Today, the city still celebrates it unconventional spirit and quirky history.
Groups will want to explore the Imperial Calcasieu Museum to learn about the area’s rich history and admire the magnificent 375-year-old live oak tree — a survivor of countless hurricanes — on the grounds. Visitors can stroll through the Charpentier Historic District (French for “carpenter”), a 40-block district with whimsical turrets, intricate stained glass and distinctive Victorian-style architecture. Other cultural highlights include the DeQuincy Railroad Museum, rotating art exhibits at the Henning Cultural Center and the state’s largest Mardi Gras celebrations outside of New Orleans. For float-worthy finery, take the group to Mardi Gras World to find feathered and sequined souvenirs perfect for the next parade.
The St. Charles culinary scene is rich with Cajun staples like po’boy sandwiches, boiled crawfish and boudin, a savory spiced sausage made from pork and rice. The Southwest Louisiana Boudin Trail connects various mom-and-pop restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations and meat markets serving local delicacies. Two casino resorts offer golf and spas, along with Las Vegas-style entertainment and gambling excitement.
Outdoor enthusiasts can traverse the Creole Nature Trail. Often called Louisiana’s Outback, the trail gives visitors a chance to see alligators and hundreds of bird species. Adventure Point offers educational exhibits about the marshland, and Gator Chateau allows visitors to see rescued baby alligators.
Alexandria and Pineville
Located on opposite banks of the Red River, the “twin cities” of Alexandria and Pineville combine elements of both north and south to form a charming hub in the heart of central Louisiana. The Hotel Bentley is the gem of downtown Alexandria, and the 1908 landmark is famous for hosting President Eisenhower and General Patton while they directed massive military exercises in the region during the 1940s. The hotel still features its original marble columns and a massive, mirrored gallery anchoring the city’s riverfront.
Just a short drive away, the must-see Kent Plantation House is the oldest structure in central Louisiana and one of the oldest in the state. The raised French Creole cottage was built between 1796 and 1800 using native cypress and “bousillage,” a mixture of mud, moss and horsehair. The site includes a detached kitchen, a milk house and a sugar mill. Just across the river from Natchez, Frogmore is a cotton plantation from the early 1800s that is still a working operation today.
In Pineville, the Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site preserves the massive earthen walls built by Confederate forces. Visitors can walk along elevated boardwalks around the fort and look out over the water toward the spot where a Union naval fleet famously evaded capture.
The local arts scene is anchored by the Alexandria Museum of Art. Housed in a grand 1898 bank building, it holds a significant collection of Northern Folk Art. A few blocks away, the River Oaks Square Arts Center combines a restored Queen Anne Revival home with a modern annex to provide space for over 30 working artist studios. Visitors can walk through the galleries and watch resident artists work on pottery, paintings and textiles. For a change of pace, the nearby 600,000-acre Kisatchie National Forest is home to the Wild Azalea Trail. At 26.2 miles long, it is the longest hiking trail in Louisiana, cutting through a rugged landscape of longleaf pine hills and hardwood bottoms.
For a taste of safari in the South, Pineville’s drive-through Gone Wild Safari lets visitors enjoy giraffes, zebras, kangaroos and other animals from the comfort of their vehicles while the wildlife enjoys the freedom of open air. Bus safaris are available for groups.
explorealexandriapineville.com
Lafayette
The heart of French Louisiana always offers “lagniappe,” meaning a little something extra. The city of Lafayette and surrounding parishes are as culturally — and culinarily — rich as the gumbo served in the area’s countless restaurants. “Les Acadiens,” i.e. Cajuns, arrived from Nova Scotia in the mid-18th century after being exiled by the British. They joined the Creoles of French, Spanish, African, Afro-Caribbean and Indigenous ancestry who were already living in the Atchafalaya Basin, the nation’s largest wetland and swamp.
Groups can learn about Cajun history and culture at LARC’s Acadian Village, a folk life museum that provides a glimpse into Acadian life in the 19th century. The village features restored homes and offers guided tours and artisan demonstrations. Vermilionville Living History Museum and Folklife Park allows visitors to explore a historic village along the banks of Bayou Vermilion, see historically costumed artisans, and take lessons in dancing, cooking and other crafts.
The Acadian saga was immortalized by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his poem “Evangeline,” and many local landmarks and businesses bear the name of his heartbroken heroine. Tragic exile aside, Cajuns exude “joie de vivre,” and groups will have a hard time finding a time when there is not a festival, celebration or street party. The (zydeco) music never stops, and groups should not skip the opportunity to kick up their heels at classic dance halls like La Poussiere and Blue Moon Saloon.
A National Bureau of Economic Research study recently declared Lafayette “America’s Happiest City,” and, in addition to the thriving economy, close-knit community and great schools, at least some of that happiness is because of the amazing food. Louisiana produces 90% of America’s crawfish, and visitors will find “mud bugs” on the menu in many forms, from creamy étouffée to deep-fried and dunked in remoulade or boiled and dumped on a newspaper-covered picnic table. Spice lovers will want to visit Avery Island, home of Tabasco Pepper Sauce, where they can take a factory tour, stock up on limited-edition sauces and souvenirs, and explore the lush, wildlife-filled surroundings.
North of Lafayette, Cajun food aficionados will find a range of culinary delights, from spice blends at Targil Seasoning & Butcher Supplies in Opelousas to hard-to-find smoked meats, like tasso ham and ponce sausage, at Teet’s Food Store in Ville Platte and fresh hot cracklins at The Superette in Eunice. In the town of Washington, 80% of the buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. For much of the 1800s, the town was the largest inland port between New Orleans and St. Louis.
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Natchitoches
Fun to visit, fun to say: “Nak-a-tish” exemplifies authentic Louisiana. The original French colony and the oldest city in the Louisiana Purchase, Natchitoches predates New Orleans and retains a distinct French Colonial charm. The 33-block National Historic Landmark District is the heart of town, where brick-paved Front Street runs along the banks of Cane River Lake and wrought-iron balconies shade storefronts with architectural styles that range from Italianate to Queen Anne.
For a deeper look at the region’s frontier roots, visitors will want to tour the nearby Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site, which features a replica fort on the spot where the French established a post in 1714. The Cane River Creole National Historical Park preserves sites like Oakland and Magnolia plantations. Nearby, Melrose Plantation tells the story of Marie Therese Coincoin, a freed slave who became a wealthy business owner.
Fans of Southern-flavored romcoms won’t want to miss the Steel Magnolia House. Just like in the movie, the city’s six-week Christmas celebration features more than 300,000 lights on display every night.
No visit would be complete without trying the famous Natchitoches meat pie. Similar to an empanada, this savory, deep-fried pastry shell is stuffed with a seasoned blend of beef, pork and the “Holy Trinity” of Cajun and Creole cuisine — onion, bell pepper and celery — a recipe that has been honored as an official state food of Louisiana.
Shreveport
Shreveport is the lively hub of the Ark-La-Tex region, and the city’s most iconic landmark is its municipal auditorium. A 1920s art deco masterpiece, it hosted a weekly radio program that launched the careers of Hank Williams and Elvis Presley. With neon-lit riverboats and well-preserved history, Shreveport provides visitors a rich mix of modern entertainment and midcentury nostalgia.
The R.W. Norton Art Gallery houses a world-class collection of American and European art within 40 acres of botanical gardens. Visitors can walk through azalea-lined paths to view thousands of works, including Western sculptures by legendary artist Frederic Remington. The American Rose Center features 118 acres with more than 20,000 rosebushes.
The city’s riverfront energy is concentrated in the Red River District. Tucked beneath the Texas Street Bridge, this pedestrian area features 19th-century-style architecture and acts as a gateway to the riverbank. It’s home to the Northwest Louisiana Walk of Stars, which honors famous residents like NFL legend Terry Bradshaw and actor Jared Leto.
For a deeper look at Shreveport’s heritage, the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum features 22 intricate beeswax dioramas. These scale models portray historical events and slices of Louisiana life in the early 20th century, such as scenes of workers laboring in rice fields and on oil derricks.
