What to see, what to do Louisiana?

In both urban and regional centres, points of interest are usually open year-round, although in rare cases some close in winter (November to March). Opening hours are often Tuesday through Saturday or Sunday, but are more limited in smaller communities. Plantations, natural sites, gardens, animal parks and so on generally have a seven-day schedule. However, some historic sites are only open by reservation. And on holidays, points of interest may be closed (e.g., Thanksgiving and Christmas) or have limited hours (e.g., Memorial Day and Labor Day).

Reservations are rarely required, except for special workshops and activities at museums and galleries, guided tours, Mississippi River cruises and bayou tours. Some points of interest also offer on-site accommodations, often experiential (e.g., plantations and nature preserves). In this case, it is strongly recommended to book your package in advance.

It usually costs between US$5 and US$30 for adult admission. Discounts are almost always offered to children, students and seniors, or even free admission. Many points of interest are also completely free, although some require a voluntary contribution. In New Orleans, passes combining various museums and attractions allow you to save a lot of money (Go City New Orleans and New Orleans Sightseeing Pass), as long as you are there for at least 2-3 days.

Many festivals and events take place each year in Louisiana, with themes as varied as rodeo, zydeco, crawfish, visual arts or LGBTQ pride2. Among the main and most famous are Mardi Gras New Orleans, which is one of the most important carnivals in the world, the International Festival of Louisiana in Lafayette, renowned for its world music shows and festive atmosphere, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which attracts the greatest singers and musicians of jazz and related styles. You should also not miss the various food festivals dedicated to the state's specialties (Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival, Cajun Music & Food Festival in Lake Charles, Gonzales Jambalaya Festival, Louisiana Gumbo Festival in Chackbay, etc.).

All kinds of guided tours are offered in Louisiana, from traditional bus tours of the city to steamboat excursions on the Mississippi River or airboat tours of the bayous and swamps. Themes for all tastes are also part of the offer: craft brewery tours, gourmet stops in an emerging neighborhood, discovery of jazz history or black heritage and culture, "haunted" tours of the French Quarter or New Orleans cemeteries, historical plantation tours with characters in period clothing, etc.

About the plantation route.

Swamp tours, a must. The Mississippi River, nicknamed "the father of rivers", floods South Louisiana and feeds its bayous and swamps. Swamp tours are the best way to explore the swamps and discover its incredible flora and fauna. Here the alligator reigns. From the tiny offspring protected by possessive mothers to the vigilantly guarding mastodons, you can meet this fascinating animal in its habitat and better understand its way of life. A unique opportunity to drift through forests of cypress, the emblematic tree of Louisiana. More or less covered with Spanish moss, sheltering golden eagles' nests on their tops or raccoons' cabins at their feet, refuges of numerous birds or small mammals, they create surprising landscapes. Guided tours can be like lectures on this unique ecosystem.

Whether on a guided tour or in a museum, smoking is prohibited. For outdoor points of interest, such as interpretive sites and historic sites, smoking areas are sometimes provided. Some non-smoking outdoor sites also require abstaining from smoking in the immediate area (usually a few meters), such as Lafayette Square in New Orleans.

If you are taking a paid tour in New Orleans, make sure your guide is certified and has a city permit (which must be visible at all times while on duty and renewed every two years). Guides must pass an exam on the history and culture of the city and obtain a minimum score of 70%. This ensures the quality and truthfulness of the information given during the tours.