10 minute read
NEW ORLEANS
Laura: Louisiana's Creole Heritage Site
Discover intimate, first-hand accounts of four generations of one Louisiana Creole Family, both free and enslaved.
lauraplantation.com
Oak Alley Plantation
Come explore 28 historic acres and exhibits dedicated to preserving and interpreting its history.
oakalleyplantation.com
San Francisco Plantation
One of the most ornate houses of the Region, this National Landmark is a beauty and treasure as well as a popular wedding destination.
sanfranciscoplantation.org
St. Joseph Plantation
This working sugar plantation, owned and operated by the descendant, has been used in numerous films and tv shows.
stjosephplantation.com
Ormond Plantation
Home to the German Coast Farmer's Market, this beautiful home serves as a bed and breakfast, wedding venue and offers fine dining. Poche Plantation
Nestled amongst beautiful oaks, this house offers first class RV accommodations and cabins for lodging. Whitney Plantation
An exclusive focus on slavery, this plantation museum has exhibits, memorials, and sculptures.
Make adventure Your Destination.
neworleansswampcountry.com
A harmonious balance has been created between the swamp eco-system, wildlife, and locals who call Louisiana's River Parishes home.
Cajuns and Native Americans have respected and protected these lands for centuries, and they have continued to remain a cornerstone of our culture. Out here you will see alligators sun bathing and egrets perched on logs as you kayak or canoe Manchac Swamp. Guided swamp tours are led by ambassadors of our land and the lakes and marshes provide you with a fully immersive and eco-educational experience.
Seeking more adventure? Book a bowfishing trip or check out Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries at wlf.louisiana.gov for hunting and fishing seasons and gator hunting guidelines.
AIRBOAT For an exhilarating, fast paced swamp adventure, book a tour on an airboat where you will see the natural beauty our region has to offer.
PONTOON BOAT Enjoy plenty of photo opps with family and friends as you meander through the Manchac Swamps on one of our pontoon boat tours.
KAYAK Explore the ecosystems out here and truly immerse yourself in the heart of the River Parishes while hearing about the abundant wildlife on a guided kayak tour. TRAILS Visit the Manchac Greenway, manchacgreenway.org. Take your car, ride a bike, or take a leisurely stroll along one of these self-guided tours.
ZIPLINES Zip through the swamp as your local guides educate you on the ecology and wildlife of the swamp. Our course will consist of five ziplines, two suspension bridges, and a spiral tree staircase! View alligators, turtles, waterfowl, wild boar, whitetail deer, and more!
The four-day revolt of enslaved people in Louisiana’s River Parishes, also known as the German Coast uprising, was the largest insurrection of black slaves in American history. On January 8, 1811 a small group of about 15 people began an organized march towards New Orleans. Moving to the beat of drums and gathering participants from each plantation they passed, they eventually traveled dozens of miles and numbered in the hundreds.
The story begins at the 1811/Kid Ory Historic House, known at the time as Andry Plantation, where the originators of the revolution had done their planning and where the first participants began their fight for freedom. These very same grounds later served as the birthplace of pioneer jazz musician Edward “Kid” Ory. Visit the new museum to see the 1811 exhibit recreating what the house might have looked like on that infamous day and walk the grounds where the revolutionists once stood.
At Whitney Plantation visitors are fully immersed in history and gain a complete understanding of the struggles of plantation existence in the field, in the big house, and everywhere in between. Exhibits highlight the important factors that dictated daily life for enslaved families, first-hand accounts illustrate the bonds created and on-site memorials honor the legacies left behind. Historic Riverlands Christian Center picks up where plantations leave off. This structure was the first Catholic church built for African Americans in Louisiana. It houses the Soul River Musical Journey which shows the impact African Americans have had on American music from the days of slavery to modern times.
The trail ends at Destrehan Plantation, where the 1811 Slave Revolt Museum details an uprising that largely impacted the dynamic of the relationships between the enslaved and plantation owners.
A guided audio tour, featuring actor Wendell Pierce as Charles Deslondes, will detail how the revolutionaries swept through the area, leaving many residents to flee to Destrehan while some of the enslaved joined in the revolt.
For discounts along the trail download the mobile pass at explore.lariverparishes.com America's First Freedom March
The1811SlaveRevolt.com
Audio Tour Narrated by Wendell Pierce
Visit The1811SlaveRevolt.com to see the interactive map.
AndouilleTrail.com
Real Flavor Out Here, the Andouille Capital of the World.
Andouille (an·dou·ille | Ään-ˈdü-ē) was born here in the River Parishes as our French and German culinary heritages combined. Be careful to not call this delicacy sausage - because of the coarseness of the ground pork, it’s not considered sausage by locals. It's simply andouille.
Out here, andouille makers put their own unique stamp on seasonings, mixing them with the meat, then smoking it using a variety of woods such as pecan, oak, or the pit master’s secret combination. This ensures the finished product is as distinct as the smalltown smokehouse in which it is made.
All along the Andouille Trail, local makers and purveyors offer andouille on its own, in recipes handed down through the ages, and in more modern interpretations. Sliced andouille is a key ingredient in traditional Cajun/Creole dishes such as gumbo and jambalaya but you'll find it on everything from sandwiches to pizza.
Every October since 1972, the importance of andouille to our region has been celebrated at the annual Andouille Festival in LaPlace, featuring live entertainment, carnival rides, and, of course, many offerings of andouille.
SPUDDY'S CAJUN COOKING EXPERIENCE
Learn the art of making andouille, gumbo, & jambalaya. Visit www.cajuncookingexperience.com to book your Cajun Cooking Experience. Visit AndouilleTrail.com to see the interactive map.
Passport to Flavor!
Get your FREE mobile pass to the Andouille Trail, filled with deals and discounts to local purveyors. After visiting five stops along the trail, you can receive one of our Andouille Trail branded wooden spoons. We hope to see you along the Andouille Trail soon!
WAYS TO ENJOY ANDOUILLE ON THE TRAIL
BUY IT MAKE IT TASTE IT EAT IT SHIP IT
The early Cajun settlers to Louisiana's River Parishes brought with them many traditions that still stand today. In Bonfire Country, the holiday season begins in early December with the Festival of the Bonfires and ends on Christmas Eve with the Lighting of the Bonfires. Out here, Christmas lights look a little different and we celebrate the holiday season in our own unique way.
Each December for three days and nights, Festival of the Bonfires visitors will enjoy Gumbo cook offs, the Tour De St. James Bike Ride Competition, live local entertainment, and a beautiful fireworks display every night after the sun sets. In the weeks leading up to the holiday season, locals spend time with their families and friends building massive wooden structures all along the Mississippi River levee, some as high as 20-feet tall. At midnight on Christmas Eve, these bonfires are set ablaze all at once to light a path for Papa Noel, the Cajun Santa Claus, to bring gifts to the children.
Experience the holidays in Louisiana's River Parishes where we say “laissez les bon temps bruler” or “let the good times burn!”
PERIQUE TOBACCO
Dig deep into the rich soil of St. James Parish, home to one of the rarest blends of tobacco in the world.
Perique (pe·rique | \pəˈ rēk) has a humble beginning – the tobacco starts out as seeds so small that one thimbleful will plant nearly one full acre. These seedlings are planted in mid-March and grow for three months and once mature, produce leaves more than 18-inches long which are harvested in June. Harvesting perique is back-breaking work, done by hand using cane knives during one of the hottest months of the year. Leaves are hung on wires in open air barns before being placed in oak whiskey barrels to age for four months.
Perique is a labor of love, as the farmers are required to pay a copious amount of attention to the details of the fermenting to achieve the rare flavor. Every six weeks, the barrels containing the leaves are opened, the liquid is drained off and the leaves are turned so that they continue to ferment. The result is a flavor that fans define as spicy, earthy and rich. Perique is most commonly used as a blending tobacco due to it's pungent characteristics.
Agricultural research reveals that perique is able to thrive best here due to breaks in river levees throughout the years which has pumped rich sediment into the soil.
Pick up a perique cigar at Matherne's Supermarket on LA-3125 in Paulina.
EXCURSIONS IN THE RIVER PARISHES
On the pages that follow, explore Louisiana's River Parishes. For more travel stories, itineraries, and videos, go to LARiverParishes.com
