Day trips and weekend getaways
MAXIMIZE YOUR SUMMER FUN WITH MINI VACATIONS just a short drive away.
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Slow Down & Savor the Day with a Luxe Escape to W. Feliciana Parish
LOCATED LESS THAN an hour from Baton Rouge, North Commerce in St. Francisville is the kind of off-the-radar escape you didn’t know you needed. No parking nightmares or big-city chaos – just fresh air, friendly faces, fine food, craft cocktails and high-quality retail therapy tucked into a walkable stretch of Southern elegance.
The North Commerce development is a hidden gem of rural redevelopment and revitalization in a once downtrodden section of downtown St. Francisville, blending historic character with a modern boutique experience. It’s perfect for day-trippers, romantic weekenders, or low-key bachelorettes who’d rather sip a cocktail than navigate a crowd.
Start your morning at Deyo, a standout men’s shop offering hard-to-find brands like Peter Millar, Tom Beckbe, and Faherty – with a complimentary bourbon pour to boot. Next door, Barlow stocks a vibrant lineup of women’s styles, including Queen of Sparkles and Oliphant.
The Corbel’s curated antique finds and custom furniture round out a stylish shopping loop before you recharge with a martini or a glass of Veuve Clicquot at the cozy, high-end cocktail bar Proud Mary’s. Add a blowout or gloss at Trends Hair Salon for a dash of self-care, then stretch out on the green with a good book or sink into the luxury bed linens in the exquisitely appointed rooms of the newly opened Hotel Toussaint, right across the street from the landmark St. Francisville Inn.
End your evening with wood-fired fare at Big River Pizza Company and toast a getaway that feels worlds away from Baton Rouge – but is just down the road.
The Green Space (left) is the hub of all businesses located in North Commerce, surrounded by shops, restaurants and luxury accommodations, including fine furniture at The Corbel (top); Big River Pizza Company (center left); the women’s clothing boutique Barlow (center right); and the Hotel Toussaint (bottom).
61 Years of Fine Dining and Family
IF THE WALLS of Mary Mahoney’s Old French House could talk, they’d welcome you home. The former Brunet-Fourchy House, built in the 1830s, was converted into a family-owned restaurant in 1964, survived Hurricane Katrina’s storm surge in 2005, and stands proudly and elegantly to this day as a Biloxi culinary landmark.
Founded by Mary Mahoney and her brother Andrew Cvitanovich – cousins of the iconic New Orleans restaurant family that founded Drago’s –the business has remained under continuous family ownership for three generations. Even front-line employees who are no relation to the original owners are treated like family, with private dining rooms named after beloved longtime servers.
Located across from the Beau Rivage and Hard Rock casinos, Mary Mahoney’s has served three presidents (Ronald Reagan, H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter), and been written into three John Grisham novels. Whether you’re a convention-goer, gambler, foodie or history buff, you’re treated like an old family friend — with white tablecloths, seasoned staff, and stories that span centuries.
Where Southern Elegance Meets Crescent City Cool in Style
NEW ORLEANS’ HOT SUMMER brings on a few cool things, the city feels quieter, more personal, and a world of luxurious getaways opens up to Louisiana residents who want to avoid the peak season crowds.
The Windsor Court is the perfect case in point. Just steps from the French Quarter — but blissfully tucked away from Bourbon Street bustle — this fivestar riverfront oasis has been an icon of refinement in the heart of New Orleans since its opening during the 1984 World’s Fair.
A member of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts Legend Collection, The Windsor Court blends British elegance with Southern soul. Inside, guests discover over $12 million in museum-quality art, elegantly appointed suites with skyline or river views, a world-class spa, and one of the city’s most celebrated restaurants, The Grill Room. There’s also plenty of lighter-hearted summer fun for the whole family, like rooftop poolside movie nights the third Friday of every month, a Mad Hatter-themed tea at Le Salon, and more.
Whether it’s a romantic wine dinner, a summer family retreat, or a spontaneous self-indulgence, The Windsor Court is a world-class escape from reality an hour’s drive from Baton Rouge. For the serious staycationer, there’s no better blend of high style and heartfelt service anywhere in the South.
A Taste of Natchez
THINK “NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI” and you think of historic architecture, riverfront strolls, antique shopping, Southern hospitality and – admit it – Hallmark Channel Christmas movies.
But for one weekend every July, Natchez is famous for three more things: culinary delights, fine wines and craft beers. The Natchez Food & Wine Festival annually transforms Mississippi’s oldest river town into a Southern foodways landmark that attracts foodies and fest-goers from across the Gulf South to savor regional dishes, wine pairings and Southern suds from more than 30 chefs, vintners and brewers.
The Friday, July 25 opening night showcase event, “Tastings Along the River,” turns the Natchez Convention Center into a five-star restaurant featuring bluff-top twilight views of the river just a block away. Saturday events include mixology classes, a wine and cheese tasting, “Invitation to the Natchez Table” dinners in historic mansions and a “Food is Art” dinner at Conde Contemporary Art Gallery. Baton Rouge daytrippers who make the lessthan-two-hour drive through the Mississippi River Valley will be greeted by a familiar face: LSU alum, cookbook author and Food Network guest chef Jay Ducote is the opening night master of ceremonies.
Wind down in style in the tranquil Mississippi countryside
SET ON A LOVINGLY restored 62-acre dairy farm in Tylertown, Miss., Windmill Trails is an urban hideaway that is perfect for creating new outdoor adventures or quietly resting, relaxing and reconnecting with your Southern roots. With horses grazing in open pastures and feathered friends alighting on birdhouses hung from centuries-old oaks, this rural retreat feels like stepping into a slower, sweeter version of time.
Chip and Joanna Gaines have nothing on the two farmhouse chic rentals renovated by Anna and Wilfred Barry, the Baton Rouge couple that owns and operates the property. The Barn Loft is the larger of the two, housed in a century-old livestock barn with reclaimed wood and rustic-modern charm. The Dairy Cottage is quainter but offers the same stylish finishes, full kitchen and serene views of the countryside as its larger neighbor.
Step outside to find wide skies, walking trails, cloud gazing spots, birdwatching nooks, and a signature oak tree draped in ferns. Long-term plans include tiny homes, orchards, gardens, a small market and grill and home-cooking classes — perfect for guests seeking both serenity and community. Whatever your heart desires, Windmill Trails offers an opportunity to breathe deeper, wander slower, and linger just a little longer.
WORTH THE DRIVE
PORTOFINO I S LANDRESORT
DISCERNING TRAVELERS from around the world seek out the incomparable white sands and emerald waters of the Gulf Coast. Capital Region residents need drive less than three hours to experience this natural beauty courtesy of Pensacola Beach’s Portofino Island Resort. Tucked between the Gulf of Mexico and Santa Rosa Sound, Portofino’s Mediterranean-style luxury condominium towers are Florida Panhandle perfection, with panoramic water views, family-friendly amenities and all the sun-soaked vibes your summer soul needs. Paddleboard, parasail or lounge poolside — Portofino is equally memorable as a family tradition or a spur-of-the-moment barefoot escape.
PortofinoIsland.com
AN EXCURSION to District Mercantile in downtown St. Francisville is equal parts retail therapy and time travel. Onnie and Charlie Perdue’s lovingly restored 1890s general store blends nostalgic charm with modernday finds — boutique clothing, antique treasures, vintage candy, SFLA souvenirs and more. Like the one-stop shops of old, it entices locals and tourists alike to linger and connect over free coffee, on front-porch rocking chairs, with kids playing cards around a handcrafted table. The vibe is more town hall than souvenir shop, but Onnie takes pride in the Mercantile’s eclectic inventory that, she says, “truly offers something for everyone.” Add it to your St. Francisville itinerary, stay for a spell, and slow-roll your daytrip back in time.
GARDEN DIS T RICTHOTEL
TUCKED INTO New Orleans’ Lower Garden District, The Garden District Hotel blends boutique charm with resort-style relaxation. This freshly reimagined 47-room retreat features one of the city’s largest saltwater pools— complete with whimsical fountains, towering palms, and the city’s only swim-up bar. Loft suites are perfect for group getaways, and weekend yoga sessions by the pool welcome guests and locals alike. It’s a stylish sanctuary just beyond the French Quarter buzz, where hospitality is heartfelt and the vibe is effortlessly cool. Come for the cocktails, stay for the calm.
GDHNola.com
BRIGHT, BEACHY, and unapologetically feminine, Zavros’s boutique in Orange Beach blends coastal charm with a girly-girl aesthetic — ruffles, florals, embroidery, and plenty of pink. Located right on Beach Road next door to the Rouses, it’s tailor-made for a shopping break after fun in the sun, or a road trip pit-stop en route to (or from) the Florida panhandle. Mother-daughter entrepreneurs Dixie and Nora share a sharp eye for classy, color-splashed fashions that appeal to strong, confident Southern women of all ages. From sun dresses to skorts, denim to lace, one-pieces to sets, Zavros’s offers a fresh take on surfside style that is anything but basic.
Zavros.com.co
