Laissez les bon temps roulez. And the good times do roll in the southeastern parishes of the Creole State. I found out recently. Almost as easily as this famous Louisiana expression rolls off the tongue. And without missing a beat. Much like the flavorful spirits and soulful flavors that brought to life the varied communities, cultures, and histories of this deep south state. Having never ventured outside of Louisiana destinations that are easily accessible from I-10, driving through the state from Texas, I honestly wasn’t prepared for what was awaiting me in this three-day excursion.
If your only frame of reference for Louisiana are television shows and films, like me you may instinctively be thinking Bourbon Street, baguettes, and amazing Cajun food in New Orleans. Perhaps in Baton Rouge or even Lake Charles. My guess is St. Francisville, Hammond, Tangipahoa, Livingston, and Ascension might not yet be on your radar. If that is the case, keep reading. You will not be disappointed.
We begin our adventure in Baton Rouge. This fifth-largest city on the Mississippi River is also Louisiana’s state capital and home to the state’s largest parish, the East Baton Rouge Parish. For those wondering, a parish is essentially the same as a county in other states. Unfortunately, my arrival time was a bit delayed, and I did not get a chance to make our first stop at the West Baton Rouge Museum. Judging from everyone else’s excitement who did get to make this leg of the trip, this museum is not to be missed. Minutes away from downtown Baton Rouge, the West Baton Rouge Museum offers diverse rotating exhibits, kid-friendly events, French programs, and tours, as well as monthly musical jams, Historical Happy Hour, blacksmithing apprenticeships, art workshops, lectures, and more. Located on a six-acre campus directly across the river from the State Capitol, the West Baton Rouge Museum is also the only museum to trace the bittersweet history of sugar in Louisiana from the colonial period to the present day.
We caught up with our group at the local staple Drago’s Seafood Restaurant for a vast selection of fresh oysters, including their legendary charbroiled oysters, which are brushed with a combination of butter, herbs and garlic and sprinkled with a blend of Parmesan and Romano cheeses. The house chef and grandson of the original founder came out to personally greet us and to share the story of this successful family-run business. Drago’s was voted Best of 225’s Best Oysters in Baton Rouge, and on a busy day, I was told that their grills can churn out over 900 dozen charbroiled oysters. That’s a lot of flavorful oysters! And the sides are pretty great too. I did have my first taste of alligator on this stop. Spoiler alert. It tastes a lot like chicken.
The next morning, we were whisked away to St. Francisville, Louisiana, where we enjoyed breakfast and a tour of one of America’s most haunted homes. The Myrtles have been featured on television shows like Ghost Hunters and Netflix’s Files of the Unexplained. The owners joined us for coffee and complimentary breakfast pastries at the venue’s on-location eatery called Elta Coffee. The grounds were impressive with hospitality options for groups of every size – from weddings to a romantic getaway for two. You can rent a single room, a private cabin, or even stay in the actual haunted home if you dare. Some couples have even hosted their entire bridal parties and exchanged their nuptials at this secluded getaway tucked away behind the myrtle trees. The Myrtles recently introduced a new self-guided tour experience, and we were able to be among the first to try it out. You will want to try it for yourself when you visit.
Shortly after we took a trolley tour of historic St. Francisville all along the Mississippi River where we learned of this waterway’s significance to the local economy. Not before getting a glimpse at the luxurious St. Francisville Inn & Spa at the Inn, which is touted as the premier bed and breakfast located in the heart of downtown St. Francisville. Everywhere we went the people were friendly and eager to make us feel welcome. At the St. Francisville In & Spa at the Inn I was amazed at the level of thought put into every detail. From the enticing in-house bar and restaurant to the hand painted wallpaper lining much of the common areas in this space. It made me want to come back soon for a quick and relaxing getaway with the misses. She wants to go back to get some shopping in too.
Now when I say the food in Louisiana is amazing, I cannot say that without thinking about Morel’s Restaurant in New Roads, Louisiana along the False River. Chef Lauren Guidroz outdid herself with an enriching menu that left us all wanting to come back. I still think about the items on her menu to this day. We also were fortunate enough to be able to meet a lot of the locals in the area who had gathered to welcome us and tell us about their charming community. Set on beautiful False River, Morel’s Restaurant is built over the water to provide great views, traditional southern hospitality, and great food with a blend of inspirations and influences spanning from traditional southern cuisine and West Indies to Asian Fusion and New Orleans decadence and sophistication. Every day they have numerous local specialties that cannot be found on their typical menu.
Next, we got to experience the amazing Global Wildlife Center in Tangipahoa, which is one of the largest free-roaming wildlife preserves of its kind in the country! They are in Folsom, Louisiana and are home to over 3,500 exotics, endangered, and threatened animals from all over the world. The giraffes were my favorite and they were so friendly. We made a lot of great memories at this spot. And what came after was just as exceptional. Our tour bus drove us to Tickfaw River Village in the Livingston Parish where we were welcomed with a homemade and traditional Louisiana cookout featuring fresh seafood and a live cooking demonstration of Jambalaya. They also had live music with the LA Sunshine Band and dancing that we got to enjoy with more locals. The food was so good!
Our adventures culminated the next day at the historical and beautiful grounds of the Houmas House Mansion and Gardens in the Ascencion Parish. This was probably one of my favorite parts of our trip because of the beautiful 38 acres of Louisiana native landscape that make up this destination. We were able to stroll through the gardens to take a guided tour of the mansion which was owned by Great Sugar Barons on one of the largest sugarcane plantations. Before we left, we were also treated to a southern lunch in one of the meeting spaces. Houmas House has 3 restaurants on the property, 21 cottages, the Great River Road Museum, Turtle Bar, gift shop and the Sweet Spot Landing where river boat cruises dock. If you are looking for a wedding or corporate events destination, Houmas House might be a great spot to consider.
We saw and experienced so much during our time in Southeast Louisiana, and I have to acknowledge and thank our hosts for the amazing time that was had. I am hoping to return to all of these destinations once again very soon. If you have questions or want to share your own Louisiana experiences, please leave us a comment. We would love to continue exploring this great state!
