Your Favorite Weekend Getaway Destination
Visit our Weekends Away page for more on Mississippi and Louisiana vacations, including Natchez vacations.
THE WINNERS
St. Francisville, La
(Read our expanded feature article on St. Francisville with favorites from a local's perspective.)
“I was there for a wedding... all the beautiful plantations just make you feel as if you have stepped back in time. One of Louisiana's most wonderful places.” -Lindsay Turner, Baton Rouge
“It is beautiful due to the lush deep banked sandy creeks and hardwood forests. Lake Rosemound gives the illusion you are in the mountains of Tennessee or upstate New York.” -Amanda Gaye Landry, St. Francisville
“Nearly every weekend the state historic sites have living history demonstrations and these are authentic pictures of life in the early days. Tourists these days want hands-on realistic presentations, not just looking at old furniture, and we especially appreciate the way our state sites do this in the year when we came very close to losing them due to budget cuts. These are treasures we must not lose.” -Anne Butler, St. Francisville
“So many homes to see plus beautiful gardens. Oakley is my favorite of all. I love the West Indies style.” -Liz Juneau, Alexandria
“We rode bikes with the Baton Rouge Bike club and discovered the hills outside of St. Francisville. We love the small, cozy community of Lake Rosemound. Though small, it is lovely and so peaceful there.” -Karen Sirman, Baton Rouge
New Orleans, La
(Read our expanded feature article on New Orleans with favorites from a local's perspective.)
“Just within the last year or two I finally experienced the New Orleans that the locals know...the Quarter is great but for me it gets a bit stale at times. Last year my family and I went to spend the day in the city eating at smaller hole in the wall restaurants and doing things we've never done before. We drove through some of the neighborhood communities and visited a few local shops and it finally hit me as to why so many folks LOVE the city and don't want to live anywhere else. We had so much fun we are about to go back for another day-trip to find some more delicious food and other places off the beaten track.” -Robert Wilson, Baton Rouge, La
“Visited the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the D-Day Museum, walked the Quarter, shopped, shopped and ate, ate, ate! We feel like we have been really far away to a totally unique setting.” -Pam Stroup, Lafayette, La
“You can visit New Orleans hundreds of times and always see something new. It's intimate, yet varied.” -Debra Holloway, Jackson, La
“I'll never finish eating at all the great restaurants (especially all that have opened since Katrina), plus I've fallen in love with the beauty of the Garden District again.” -Susan Davis, St. Francisville
“I ate bugs at the Insectarium that even my children wouldn't eat. I scored major Mom-is-cool points that day.” -Whitney Vann, Baton Rouge
“We go at least once a month and stay at the Hotel Monteleone. We just love New Orleans. Our favorite city in the world. We love walking in the French Market and Quarter, tasting and buying local items. It makes us feel connected to our heritage.” -Gina Chiasson, Thibodaux
Natchez, Ms
(Read our expanded feature article on Natchez, featuring children in the hands of the Natchez Pilgrimage matriarchy.)
“We spent time browsing the antique shops, eating fabulous fudge, walking along the river front, and sipping margaritas and munching on Mexican food at Fat Mama's Tamales.” -Tonja Normand, St. Francisville
“The architecture there is FABULOUS, and cultural events abound. The pilgrimage is always fun... But the readings in the graveyard this past Halloween were the BEST!!” -J.M. Wallyn, Baton Rouge
“We stayed at a lovely Bed and Breakfast with friendly and very attentive innkeepers in the historic downtown district within strolling distance of everything! We did a lot of shopping at independent merchant stores and galleries who know what true customer service and hospitality is all about. I would move there in a heartbeat.” -Daniel Ruiz, Gray, La
“The [Natchez] Blues Festival—small but way cool ... and we do the Spring Pilgrimage almost every year. Now they know how to do a Pilgrimage. It's just so Southern!” -Anita Young, St. Amant
“Angels on the Bluff tour of their amazing cemetery, annual event, love the historic Eola Hotel downtown & their Pig Out Inn barbeque joint.” -Merna Schneider, LaPlace
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