Day One
Spend your day in downtown Baton Rouge! Start with a tour of Louisiana’s Old State Capitol, where you’ll travel through the state’s storied political history. Don’t forget to look up at the beautiful gothic staircase and stained glass ceiling! Then head over to Louisiana’s current State Capitol, a magnificent 34-story art deco-style structure standing proud as the nation’s tallest capitol building.
Old State Capitol
Get a birds-eye view of the entire city and mighty Mississippi River from the 27th floor observation deck. Next, you’ll stroll across the intricate Capitol gardens for a chance to experience true Louisiana at the Capitol Park Museum – a Louisiana State Museum. Here you can step onto a real Mardi Gras float, discover the difference between Cajun and Creole, feast your eyes upon a massive shrimp boat and lose yourself in Louisiana music and historical multimedia presentations.
Current State Capitol
Before your next stop, grab lunch at the Main Street Market where choices include down-home Southern cooking, Chinese and Sushi, Crepes, Greek and Lebanese, healthy sandwiches, salads and jambalaya – a Louisiana favorite. Pick up authentic Louisiana spices, pecan items and souvenirs while there!
Old Governor’s Mansion
After lunch, head to the Old Governor’s Mansion, a White House replica, which was once home to legendary Governor Huey P. Long. For your last stop downtown, choose between the USS Kidd, Louisiana Art & Science Museum or the LSU Museum of Art.
Wrap up your day in the capital city at a posh restaurant downtown. Located on the bottom level of The Shaw Center, the Capital City Grill is an American eatery with a classic grill menu including South Louisiana seafood entrees and all-American favorites. After dinner, follow the lively sounds to be found on nearby Third Street.
Day Two
Start your day by heading to the hills of St. Francisville, Louisiana’s English countryside. Take a hike in the Tunica Hills to explore and see plants you won’t see anywhere else in the world!
St.Francisville, Lousiana
Kayak into Cat Island National Wildlife refuge or play 18 holes of golf. Stroll through gardens and step back in history while visiting one of the many plantation homes, and museums.
Walk through shops, galleries, historic churches, cemeteries – all downtown. Don’t forget to stop for a bite to eat – po boys to white linen table cloths.
Magnolia Mound Plantation
Drive back to Baton Rouge for your next stop at Magnolia Mound Plantation. During your tour of this 1790s French Creole house, get a true taste of South Louisiana flavor with an open-hearth cooking demonstration. Next, head across the Mississippi River Bridge to the West Baton Rouge Museum. See how sugar was produced from sugar cane and learn about the history of a sugar plantation.
Nottoway Plantation
After that, visit Nottoway, the largest remaining antebellum mansion in the South. Taka a tour of the beautifully landscaped grounds, the elegant home and the historic White Ballroom. Top off your visit with dinner at Nottoway’s Mansion Restaurant, tucked away in the historic home and serving local favorites featuring classic southern cuisine.
Day Three
Begin the day at Louisiana State University’s Rural Life Museum. Get a feel for working plantation life through an abundance of artifacts and tools from the plantation era. The facility also features more than twenty 19th Century buildings, including slave cabins, an overseer’s house, a blacksmith’s shop and more. Travel back in time and experience the lifestyles and life-ways of Louisiana’s people.
Houmas House Plantation
Houmas House Plantation
Next, head to Houmas House Plantation, once known as the “Sugar Palace”. Before your tour, break for a delicious lunch at Café Burnside. When you’re done eating, a guide in antebellum dress will escort you through the beautifully landscaped gardens and in to the big house full of period antiques and artwork. While food is undoubtedly our favorite pastime, shopping is a close second.
Major shopping centers, pedestrian shops, quaint antique stores and a factory outlet mall make the decision on where to shop a challenge. First, visit the Mall of Louisiana where you’ll find over 175 stores, delicious food stops and a magical carousel. Enjoy Perkins Rowe or Towne Center at Cedar Lodge for open-air boutique shopping and strolling. Finally, make your way to Tanger Outlet for your favorite brands. From boutique hotels, such as Hotel Indigo, the Southern Elegance of the Stockade Bed and Breakfast, to the major brands you love like Hyatt Place, you’ll rest easy in Baton Rouge.
NOTE: We would like to thank for the support of our attendance to IPW 2017 to the US Embassy in Bucharest, US Commercial Service.
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