Louisiana Travel Guide
In 1803, Louisiana was purchased by the Americans from the French ruled by Napoleon in for just 15 million dollars. The purchase was being negotiated by President Thomas Jefferson. The reason for all this chopping and changing was because of the region's importance for trade and security in the American mid-west; the mighty Mississippi River flows through Louisiana and access to the mouth is controlled by the city of New Orleans.
Louisiana if full of attractions for travelers of all types from party lovers to history buffs. New Orleans, especially at Mardi Gras, is not to be missed. Visit the French Quarter, listen to Jazz and take a boat ride on the Mississippi. South of Lafayette is Bayou Country, many different swamp tours are available and the opportunities for fishing are excellent. From the magnificence of the Kisatchie National Forest to the elegant moss-draped swamps of the Red River and from the fertile flatlands near the Mississippi to the lofty pine-covered hills in the west, diversity abounds throughout the region.
For travelers New Orleans is the first thing on the Cajun menu. This city is pretty different from any other in the US and is vibrant with life. The old French Quarter of the city is one of the most attractive places in the whole of the country. Lafayette and Lake Charles offer more attractions from the time of the Acadians.
The whole of the state is dotted with mansions dating back to the 19-th century or even further. Plantation Country - with Baton Rouge as its most important city - is packed with them. Just minutes from the New Orleans airport, you'll find Destrehan Plantation, built in 1787. Nearby is Ormond Plantation, the oldest French West Indies style Creole plantation on the river. Further upriver, the snow white ballroom at Nottoway, the South's largest plantation home, will take your breath away and there is a lot more.
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