TRAVEL

Louisiana Overview

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The ELsong Gardens at the Biedenharn Museum & Gardens in Monroe. Courtesy of the Louisiana Office of Tourism
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Carriage rides are a good way to enjoy the Spanish-French architecture in New Orleans’ French Quarter. Courtesy of the Louisiana Office of Tourism
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Café du Monde in New Orleans’ French Quarter is a local hotspot known for its French-style beignets and café au lait. Courtesy of the Louisiana Office of Tourism
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High on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River stands Louisiana's Old State Capitol. The Gothic architectural treasure, located in Baton Rouge, is 150 years old. Courtesy of the Louisiana Office of Tourism
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The Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie is now a historic bed and breakfast. Courtesy of the Louisiana Office of Tourism
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The Global Wildlife Center in Folsom is home to more than 3,000 exotic and endangered animals. Courtesy of the Louisiana Office of Tourism
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The Black Bayou at sunset. Courtesy of the Louisiana Office of Tourism

Over millennia, the Mississippi River carried layers of sediment downstream to form a vast delta, with swamps, bayous and natural levees. Much of this region became Louisiana, home to a unique American culture. There, Spanish, French and African-American food, music and language combined to create a distinctive way of life.

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