Itinerary

Day 1Fri. NEW ORLEANS

Enjoy the Southern charm of New Orleans

Enjoy time at leisure to relax or to do some independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand this evening to answer any questions.

Day 2Sat. NEW ORLEANS–LAFAYETTE

Surrounded by swamps and marshes, Avery Island is a mysteriously beautiful place inhabited by exotic plant and animal species from around the world. It’s also the home of world-famous TABASCO® Sauce. Tour the VISITOR CENTER and learn how peppers are grown, harvested, and turned into sauce. Visit the Tabasco Country Store, then enjoy a visit to VERMILLIONVILLE situated on the banks of the Bayou. This Cajun/Creole heritage and Folklife Park recreates life in the Acadiana area between 1765 and 1890. Overnight in the heart of Cajun Country, Lafayette.

SPECIAL EVENT: If you have selected to travel on the April 23 departure you will be in Lafayette during the Festival International de Louisiane. You may choose to independently join the event and enjoy historic downtown Lafayette as it is transformed into an entertainment complex featuring music, food, and street musicians.

If you have selected to travel on the October 8 departure you will be in Lafayette during the Festivals Acadiens et Créoles. You may choose to independently join the event and celebrate the rhythm of Cajun and Creole life in the heart of French Louisiana.

Day 3Sun. LAFAYETTE

This morning, board your boat for a CRUISE through the winding, swampy waterways of the Atchafalaya Basin. If you are lucky, you might spot alligators basking on the banks. On to St. Martinville to see the famous oak tree of Longfellow’s poem, “Evangeline.” Time on your own for lunch and independent sightseeing. This evening, consider a visit to the world-famous honky-tonk, Blue Moon Saloon. Sit back to enjoy the atmosphere and live music.

Day 4Mon. LAFAYETTE–LAKE CHARLES

Embark on a journey along the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road through one of our nation’s last great wildernesses—a lush realm of fertile prairies, delicate marshes, and abundant wildlife. Explore Louisiana’s Outback, a living testament to South Louisiana’s natural beauty and unique cultural heritage, a natural haven vital to our entire nation’s ecosystem. Maybe enjoy dining at one of Louisiana’s award-winning restaurants, listen to local musicians, or try your luck in one of the many casinos.

Day 5Tue. LAKE CHARLES–NATCHITOCHES–SHREVEPORT

Step back in time, see the sights, and hear the history of the oldest settlement in Louisiana—by TROLLEY. Experience this historic town, the Creole architecture, and historic homes. Afterward, time on your own for additional sightseeing and shopping. An orientation tour of Shreveport gives you a true feel for the history of Louisiana’s “other side.” Your Tour Director will have suggestions for dining and sightseeing.

Day 6Wed. SHREVEPORT

This morning, embark on a guided tour of SHREVEPORT’S MUNICIPAL MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM. Stand on the stage where Elvis performed and have your photo taken. Sit awhile and imagine some of the other great notables to stand on stage—from James Brown, the “Godfather of Soul,” and Little Stevie Wonder to Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, B.B. King, Hank Williams Sr., and many more. Step outside and explore the mighty Red River on the hour-long Spirit of the Red River cruise adventure. Learn about the city’s history and natural wildlife as you drift down the Red River on this GUIDED BOAT TOUR. Your afternoon and evening are at leisure to enjoy the Louisiana Boardwalk and experience the largest outlet shopping, dining, and entertainment destination in Louisiana.

Day 7Thu. SHREVEPORT–FERRIDAY–NATCHEZ

Before crossing into Mississippi, visit the FROGMORE COTTON PLANTATION and tour an 1800-acre modern-day working cotton plantation. Your guided tour takes you on a journey of the South. After refreshments in the plantation store, an included visit to the DELTA MUSIC MUSEUM focuses on the history, music, and culture of the Louisiana-Mississippi Delta region. During your visit, learn about local entertainers Jerry Lee Lewis, Aaron Neville, and Conway Twitty, evangelist Jimmy Swaggart, and blues trombonist Pee Wee Whittaker. Natchez adorns the banks of the mighty Mississippi with her magnificent antebellum homes and fascinating history.

Day 8Fri. NATCHEZ–BATON ROUGE–NEW ORLEANS

Natchez is noted among America’s historic cities for its wealth of architecturally and historically significant antebellum structures. This morning’s city sightseeing includes an inside visit to a historic ANTEBELLUM HOME. Continue your journey to Baton Rouge, representing the best of Louisiana’s vibrant culture. Upon arrival, enjoy an orientation tour showing the Governor’s Mansion and State Capitol. This afternoon a guided tour of OAK ALLEY PLANTATION. The “Grande Dame of the Great River Road,” built in 1839, is famous for its 28 evenly spaced oak trees believed to be at least 100 years older than the house. Afterward, enjoy the well-manicured grounds at leisure. Tonight, join the optional dinner cruise and savor the beauty of the New Orleans skyline aboard the authentic Steamboat Natchez.

SPECIAL EVENT: If you have selected to travel on the April 16 or April 23 departures you will be in New Orleans for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. You may choose to independently join the event and enjoy great music and classic New Orleans staples like Creole, Cajun, and international cuisine.

Day 9Sat. NEW ORLEANS

The morning is dedicated to the sights and sounds of this Old World city. First, visit the French Quarter

Stroll the lively streets of the French Quarter in New Orleans

, including St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square. Next, learn about the city’s unique burial customs at an above-ground cemetery followed by a leisurely drive down historic St. Charles Avenue to enjoy its stately mansions and clanging streetcars. Continue to Café Du Monde for delectable beignets, then visit MARDI GRAS WORLD, a tribute with the largest costume display in the South. It is a world of wonder with towering figures of fantasy, animated mega-floats, colors, lights, music, and plenty of joie de vivre. It’s all here in one magical place, where you can peek behind the curtain and see Mardi Gras in the making.

Day 10Sun. NEW ORLEANS

The day is free to experience more of this charming city. For shoppers, Canal Street and the French Quarter offer an extensive array of unique stores and designer boutiques. Your Tour Director will suggest several optional excursions, including a swamp boat ride through the bayous, as well as advice on the best places to dine out and go shopping.

Days 11-12Mon. & Tues. NEW ORLEANS

Two full days at leisure. Roam through the centuries-old French Quarter or take a carriage ride while listening to tales of voodoo queens and pirates. History enthusiasts can roam through sprawling Victorian mansions and celebrated museums, catching a glimpse of life the way it used to be in the Old South.

Day 13Wed. NEW ORLEANS

The trip ends today with guests departing on individual schedules. Airport transfers are provided to New Orleans International Airport.