Savor Louisiana

What is it that attracts us to Louisiana and the Cajun Country? Is it the feeling that at times you’re in a Caribbean city? Is it the haunting beauty of the live oaks and Spanish moss, and the majestic old plantations? Is it the Acadian culture from the Maritimes of Eastern Canada that formed the roots of “Cajun” in old Louisiana? Or is it the cuisine, the music, and the festivals that attract us? Maybe it’s all these things combined. Whatever it is, let the magic of Louisiana call to you. What a great place to be this fall!

Wednesday, November 6th – Whether it is north, south, east or west, autumn is one of the best times to jump on a motor coach and explore this country. This morning we’ll head south to Knoxville, Tennessee, enjoying the scenery and the camaraderie along the way. (D)

Thursday, November 7th – This morning we continue our journey south, stopping in Huntsville, Alabama in the afternoon to visit the US Space and Rocket Center. An affiliate of the Smithsonian, it has the largest collections of rockets and space memorabilia on display anywhere in the world. You’ll have the opportunity to see a mock-up of two space station laboratory segments, including the space station’s Destiny module. You’ll quickly understand the real-life constraints of living and working in space. Then we’ll continue on our way, stopping in Tuscaloosa, Alabama for the night. (B, D)

Friday, November 8th – What a treat we are in for today! Our first stop will be in Laurel, Mississippi, the official filming location for Home Town on HGTV, starring Laurel’s own Erin and Ben Napier. We’ll be joined by a local step-on guide who will tell us the history of the town and take us by many of the hometown remodels as well as other historic places. Afterwards you’ll have time to explore the tiny downtown shops seen on the television show plus eat lunch. Then it’s on to another adventure as we travel to Natchez, Mississippi to visit Choctaw Hall. Built in 1836, the architecture, furnishings, porcelain, family silver, and the staircase that spirals from the rear hall to the cupola on the fourth floor are absolutely beautiful. Couple that with dinner at the Hall plus stories from one of the owners, David Garner, and you have the perfect recipe for an evening you will never forget! After an entertaining evening, we will check into our hotel. And for those who love to “play” there is a hotel shuttle that can take you to Magnolia Bluffs Casino perched above the Mississippi River. (B, D)

Saturday, November 9th – When many people think “Cajun,” they think “bayou,” but today we’ll be in the “prairie” capital of “Cajun” Louisiana: Eunice. Named for the town founder’s beloved wife, the week starts here on Saturday morning, with hot boudin sausage, coffee, and the open Cajun jam session at Savoy Music Center. It’s a 40-year-old tradition started by local accordion-maker and internationally renowned musician, Marc Savoy, where old hands play alongside up-and-comers. It would also make sense that Eunice would house the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center which tells the story of how Louisiana’s prairies developed a distinctive cultural mix of Cajun, Creole, and cowboy. It’s quite an interesting place and you might even learn a few Cajun words along the way. “Laissez les bons temps rouler!” is Cajun French for: “Let the good times roll.” You’ll hear this all across the southern part of Louisiana where we will be traveling, and it’s one of the rules that they live by. And so, we will let the good times roll as we continue our adventure, stopping in New Iberia to tour Konriko Rice Mill, the oldest operating rice mill. From learning about their products and how they are made to learning how the mill works, the culture of the area, and tasting some of their products, it’s a great tour and will make for an enjoyable ending to a great day! (B, D)

Sunday, November 10th – This morning our adventure takes us to Avery Island where you’ll learn how Tabasco® hot sauce is made, all the way from seed to sauce. You’ll also learn about the history of the company and visit their pepper warehouse as well as their country store. After lunch we’ll drive deeper into bayou country to a little place known as Luling, Louisiana. We’ll climb aboard airboats and enjoy a thrilling ride through the bayou where alligators abound, facts come to life, and excitement is just around the corner. We’ll also keep an eye out for egrets as they fish and fly, turtles plop, and wild boar root. And you thought Bourbon Street was going to be wild! After this memorable experience, it’s only a short drive to New Orleans, our home for three nights. After checking into our beautiful hotel in the French Quarter, we will walk to Palm Court Jazz Cafe for a delicious meal and great music . . . some New Orleans jazz. (B, D)

Monday, November 11th – We’ll start the day with a most unusual tour. We’ll visit the historic home of a prominent architect, James Gallier, Jr. The tour highlights 19th century mourning customs in New Orleans that were practiced by Catholic Creoles. It also explains how death affected the family members living in the house. The customs, the time period, and the diseases all add to this informative historical tour. Afterwards we will enjoy lunch and time to shop in one of the most exciting places in the city: the French Quarter. You’ll quickly notice a Caribbean flair when you arrive. The music, the sights . . . oh, you are in for a treat! Of course, you can’t stop in the French Quarter without tasting a beignet and café au lait! Yum!!! In the afternoon we’ll visit St Joseph’s Plantation, one of the few fully intact sugar cane plantations in the parish. A working Creole sugar plantation, November is the time of year when the cane is harvested so hopefully we’ll see this taking place. The highpoint will be a tour of the manor house, complete with authentic stories about early plantation life given by an actual descendant of the family. How unique is that?! We’ll end the day with dinner at the Court of Two Sisters, a legendary restaurant in New Orleans. I just don’t think it can get much more exciting! (D)

Tuesday, November 12th – Louisiana is just packed with a variety of exciting places to visit and things to do, and so today we will visit Mardi Gras World for Mardi Gras is a huge part of New Orleans. On this guided tour you’ll learn about the history and customs of Mardi Gras as you go through enormous warehouses filled with floats and parade props plus enjoy a slice of the famous King Cake. It’s a fun tour! After lunch, we’ll take a narrated driving tour of the city where we’ll learn about the history of the early city.

• See Basin Street and hear about Storyville: the infamous red-light district of New Orleans where Dixieland Jazz got its start.
• Travel down Bayou St. John where original plantation homes remain today.
• Walk with our guide through one of New Orleans’ famous cemeteries and hear the story of their unique above ground burial.
• Hear about Hurricane Katrina and see some of the damage that remains to this day.
• Ride through the City of the Dead and see the magnificent tomb that cost $83,000 at the time of its completion.
• And so much more.

Dinner tonight will be at the New Orleans School of Cooking. You’ll be able to sit back and watch the chefs cook classic Creole and Cajun meals with a pinch of history, tall tales, and recipe tools of the trade. What a great way to end the evening with fun, food, and folklore of Louisiana. (D)

Wednesday, November 13th – This morning we say goodbye to Louisiana and begin our journey home, but the fun will not have slowed down for we will be stopping in Mobile, Alabama – known as the birthplace of Mardi Gras. The Mobile Carnival Museum immerses you in the rich history and traditions of carnival but instead of focusing on the floats as we saw in New Orleans, we will focus on the intricate designs and artistry of the majestic crowns, scepters, and robes of the monarchs. It’s pomp and pageantry of past coronations at its best. Then, we will continue our way north, stopping in LaGrange, Georgia for the night. (B, D)

Thursday, November 14th – Rise and shine for we are off on another adventure today. This morning, we will stop at Gibbs Gardens in Ball Ground, Georgia. It is well worth the stop for it is 300+ acres of artistically landscaped gardens surrounded by a majestic forest, spring-fed ponds, streams, waterfalls, and bridge crossings. From the Japanese Maples to encore azaleas and fall wildflowers, Gibbs Gardens is a spectacular place to relax and take in the beauty of nature in November. A world class garden that is featured on PBS, you will surely enjoy this stop. Then we’re back on the road again, stopping in Helen, Georgia to explore the streets of this charming Bavarian style village in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The building style of the downtown shops and restaurants will make you think you’re actually in an Alpine village in Germany. Time to explore this unique town and a wonderful dinner will be a great way to end our day. (B, D)

Friday, November 5tt – Today we continue on our way home with so many wonderful memories to savor and share from this adventure to Louisiana and Cajun Country. (B, L)

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