Louisiana in January

For a fun place to stay while exploring Cajun country, try Betty's RV Park.

Check out Farr Park at LSU. No frills but a good location to visit plantations from. Lafayette is ground zero for Cajun culture. The food is hard to beat. New Orleans has several RV parks to choose from. One near the FrenchQuarter but more expensive.

Do a Google search for `Louisiana tourism' and read what the experts recommend.

Take the Natchez Trace Parkway through MS. Davis Lake Campground at mile marker 444 is 17 miles south of Tupelo. Stop near Port Gibson and visit Grand Gulf Military Park. Stop in Natchez MS. We stay across the river at River View Campground in Vidalia LA. While there see the Frogmore Cotton Plantation and Gin in Farriday LA. In Natchez, there is an information center that will give you lots more to see. Visit the cemetery and see the old Victorian homes. In New Orleans we like Bayou Segnette State Park. We take I-310 to US90 east to the state park and back out so we don't have to fight the narrow rough roads. Visit the World War II Museum in New Orleans. Also Visit the Tabasco Factory in Avery Island.

Double ditto on Lafayette/Abbeville. Also Opelousas for plantation hopping.
Great Cajun culture/food/fun in those areas and excellent for immersion in all things Cajun.

Stop in the town of Eunice, Lousiana's Prairie Cajun Capital. It's just northwest of Lafayette. Find some Zydeco music and learn to dance to it. It's easy and great entertainment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO4LeqIlMq4

Cowboy boots and hats are a plus. :C

Lamar-Dixon in Gonzales puts you slightly below Port Allen and the beginning of the plantation tours. Outlet malls and Cabela next to Lamar-Dixon. There is a small park in Convent that will put you almost in the middle of the plantation routes. Plantations are on both sides of the river.

If you stay in Gonzales go to Sammi's at corner of Jefferson and Hwy 61 at Praireiville. Excellent Muffaletas and seafood. Also Mike Anderson's at the hotel-sorry can't remember the name-on Burnside/Hwy 30 south of I-10. I love the stuffed shrimp with crab meat. Ralph and Kacoo's in Baton Rouge. I lived in Gonzales for 30 years and the food-especially seafood-is as good as you will find in N.O..

Check out RVParkreviews.com for others.

Natchez Trace is a great drive, where ever you can get on, and how ever far you can go. Palmetto Island SP, LA is a GREAT park!!! WE just returned from there a month ago and still think of it. Avery Island isn't that far and is the home of Tabasco Sauce. Worth while and interesting tour. From there we drove to Natchez, MS, but HAD to stop at Mammy's Cupboard along the way. Great food, quaint atmosphere, worth the see. The Trace isn't far from there.
Enjoy your trip and drive safe!

Charlie D. wrote:
Lamar-Dixon in Gonzales puts you slightly below Port Allen and the beginning of the plantation tours. Outlet malls and Cabela next to Lamar-Dixon. There is a small park in Convent that will put you almost in the middle of the plantation routes. Plantations are on both sides of the river.

If you stay in Gonzales go to Sammi's at corner of Jefferson and Hwy 61 at Praireiville. Excellent Muffaletas and seafood. Also Mike Anderson's at the hotel-sorry can't remember the name-on Burnside/Hwy 30 south of I-10. I love the stuffed shrimp with crab meat. Ralph and Kacoo's in Baton Rouge. I lived in Gonzales for 30 years and the food-especially seafood-is as good as you will find in N.O..

Check out RVParkreviews.com for others.

I thought Ralph and Kacoos went downhill? I've been away a long time.

OP: Do some general reading and fire away questions.

One tip is Louisiana food is very regional. Know what you need to eat in each location. Even sausage is regional. Andouie in New Orleans and smoked sausage in Acadiana (Lafayette Region).

New Orleans: seafood gumbo, shrimp or oyster poboy, mufaletta, red beans & rice. Any of these at mom and pops. I could give recomendation if you want.

Upscale NOLA: lots of options. Commander's Palace is one of the older famous upscale restaurants but many choices. Good lunch specials at some that I won't call cheap but are affordable.

Lafayette/Opelousas/Eunice: Chicken and sausage gumbo (what I grew up on 45 miles north of Lafayette), boudin (a true local favorite), crawfish (you might get boiled in Jan but it may be early in season; can't go wrong with crawfish etouffe)

Lot's of bird watching in Louisiana if that is your thing. Estuary near Lafayette.

Lot's of state parks. Fairview in Madisonville and Fontainbleu in Mandeville (15 miles apart on north shore of Lake Ponchartrain); Chicot State Park north of Lafayette but not sure it's a great January option.

Nottoway and Twelve Oaks are famous plantations.

I'm biased to South Louisiana but Natchitoches is a wonderful town in North Louisiana. Oldest settlement in the state. Quaint shops, nice riverfront, old fort, etc.

Oh my goodness - thank you all very much. Back to the computer now to research all of the tips you given me. You are so kind to take time to respond to my query! Merry Christmas.

If you get to Louisiana early enough they may still have the Christmas lights in Natchitoches. Incredible lights that light up the town and bayou. Get a meat pie at one of the local diners. The town is where they filmed Steel Magnolias a local brochure will direct you to the houses they used.