A Travel Guide to Louisiana
Louisiana is located Deep South within the United States on the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico shared with its neighbours of Texas on the west and Mississippi on the east. It is capped to the north by Arkansas. Its capital is Baton Rouge which lies in the most populated parish (Louisiana name for county).
The capital is a great place to prep up on the cultural delights of the state which are ever present in their styles of music from Cajun, Zydeco and Swamp Blues represented in South Louisiana and more American traditional Country and Rock in North Louisiana at its celebrated hometown of Shreveport. These musical roots can be discovered and enjoyed at Baton Rouge’s celebrated Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Besides reaching the wildlife of our musical soul in Louisiana we can also enjoy the wildlife at Baton Rouge Zoo and those more local at the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Centre. For a pleasant dip nearing the end of the day there is the Blue Bayou Water Park which is ideal for all.
Though the capital is a source of inspiration to begin the cultural roots of the state, the major international airport is based in the festival city of the world and so named after one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. New Orleans may not lie in the biggest parish but it does have a larger population than the capital. It only lies within a one and a half hour journey of Baton Rouge along a lakeside view which runs through a couple of wildlife management areas.
The Mardi Gras City is abundant with its own attractions too and you can obtain a Power Pass enabling you to take full advantage of them at a reduced cost. Such great venues you can visit are Audubon Zoo, the Cajun Pride Swamp Tours including Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World which features some of the most outrageous costumes worn for this famous festivity. You can also enjoy a steamboat cruise reliving some of the colonial south.
The southern parts of Louisiana have Acadian routes – those who travelled south from French Canada during the Seven Years War, from which the term Cajun derives from. The French influence is highly significant in the tribute to President Andrew Jackson of a purpose built square overlooked by the Parisian style buildings including the Cathedral of Saint Louis dedicated to the sainted King Louis IX of France.
As we travel further north in Louisiana the music and culture changes to traditional styles enjoyed throughout much of North America with a heavy leaning towards Country and a rich heritage of Rock success of visiting notables such as Rick Derringer, Elvis Presley and Rod Stewart enjoying centre stage at Shreveport Municipal Auditorium alongside native replacement guitarist Danny Johnson from Steppenwolf.
There is a wide variety of self catering vacation rentals in Louisiana ranging from condos in New Orleans to beachfront houses.
