New Orleans 9 Day Jazzy Jambalaya Self-Drive

Arrive in New Orleans, one of the most exotic cities in the world, famous for riverboats, jazz, Creole cuisine and a seemingly endless parade of festivals. On arrival, pick up your car and proceed to your hotel. The remainder of your evening is at leisure. Take this opportunity to enjoy dinner at one of New Orleans’ many famous Cajun or Creole restaurants. As one of the world’s most fascinating cities and the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans is alive with tradition and home to a truly unique melting pot of culture, food and music.
 

Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore New Orleans on your own. Take a walking tour of the Vieux Carre, popularly known as the French Quarter, 
a place of narrow streets, wonderful old buildings and beautiful courtyards. Visit Jackson Square, Royal Street, Bourbon Street and the many museums. Take a full day bayou and swamp tour or enjoy a riverboat cruise on the Mississippi. If you’re looking to explore a neighborhood with bohemian style and vibrant homes, stroll through the Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods near the French Quarter. The area is filled with hip shops, restaurants and bars, and Crescent Park has stunning views of the Mississippi River and downtown New Orleans.

Today, enjoy a drive through unique geography, sandwiched between Lake Pontchartrain and the mighty Mississippi River to the heart of the old South, Baton Rouge, where you’ll find eight majestic historic plantations and is also known as the South’s brightest hot spots! Visit one of the most beloved, largest plantation homes in the South, Nottoway Plantation and relive the fascinating history. Take a lunch break at downtown Main Street Market and do a little shopping while you’re there. After lunch, take a free guided tour of the “New” State Capitol, which is the largest state capitol building in the United States. You can also choose to visit the newly renovated outdoor museum, Rural Life Museum, and get a feel for living and working the plantation life. This evening, get a feel for the lively city that offers several free outdoor concerts in the Park such as Rock ‘n’ Rowe, Summer Beat Concert and Live After Five.

Continue your unforgettable journey by taking the Trace Parkway which evolved from an Indian trail into a post road and pioneer highway to Natchez, the oldest settlement in Mississippi. On your way to Natchez you can take a break in historic town St. Francisville and stop at one of the unique shops, historical homes, beautiful churches, or breathtaking parks. Getting closer to Natchez you may want to visit a plantation (Burn, Dunleith, Melrose, Monmouth or Longwood). Longwood is reputedly the largest octagonal house in the country.

Founded in 1716, makes Natchez the oldest city on the Mississippi. It is a charming river town which has been first inhabited by the Natchez Indians and French explorers who shared the land. Every year thousands of people come to Natchez for the pilgrimages that offer visits of the many Antebellum 
homes in the area. The gracious citizens open their homes, which have been lovingly restored, so that visitors can get a glimpse of the southern prosperous life. You can also visit Vicksburg National Military Park which commemorates the campaign, siege, and defense of Vicksburg in 1863. There are over 1,300 monuments, markers and plaques, a 16-mile tour road and a national cemetery, the nation’s largest burial site of Civil War Union soldiers and sailors with graves totaling over 17,000.

Vicksburg perfectly blends Southern culture and heritage with exciting modern-day attractions. Described as the “Key to the South” by Abraham Lincoln, this Southern town carries a history unlike any other Civil War city. Founded in 1811, Vicksburg grew as a vital river port city. Today, Vicksburg is a popular spot for tourists to learn about the battles of the city, taste the cuisine, visit the many museums, and pick out the perfect souvenir

Today explore picturesque small town Natchitoches, which has been part of French Louisiana in the early 18th century. Do not miss the opportunity to taste a regional delicacy and enjoy a piece of Natchitoches meat pie. Drive back south through Alexandria, Ville Platte and Opelousas to Lafayette, the heart of Cajun Country where the Acadians, or Cajuns, started arriving in 1765. Today these French-American’s are famous for their joie de vivre which is reflected in their lively dancing, music and spicy food. Upon arrival, you can enjoy a walking tour of downtown to discover landmark buildings, or take a short drive to Acadian Village overlooking the bayou and filled with authentically restored Cajun homes and churches.

A short drive from Lafayette takes you to New Iberia and Avery Island, the birthplace of Tabasco sauce. Other attractions include Jungle Garden, lush with tropical plants, and Bird City, a sanctuary filled with flurries of snow-white egrets. Continue to Morgan City, the “Shrimp Capital of the World,” and Houma, where you may want to take some time for an optional boat tour into the deep swamp and bayou to see alligators and other wildlife. Following the scenic route, and perhaps stopping at Terre Bonne or Southdown Plantation, you will arrive in New Orleans.

Return your car at the airport before your departure flight.