Louisiana

Couple canoeing alongside cypress trees on Lake Martin

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Quintessential New Orleans architecture on Royal Street in the French Quarter

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Cruising on the Atchafalaya Basin with McGee's Louisiana Swamp & Airboat Tours in Henderson

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Riding the St. Charles Streetcar Line in New Orleans

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Making music at the Blue Moon Saloon

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Brass musicians playing during the Krewe of Cork Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans

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Oak Alley Plantation, a historic estate in Vacherie

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Dancing to live music near Jackson Square in New Orleans' French Quarter

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An American alligator, one of the state's most iconic animals

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A spread of Cajun dishes and a cold beer at the Acadian Superette in Lafayette

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Major Airports:

Louis Armstrong/New Orleans (MSY)

Baton Rouge (BTR)

Shreveport (SHV)
Nicknames:

The Pelican State, The Bayou State, Sportsman's Paradise

See Louisiana your way, from bayous to Big Easy thrills

Louisiana is a place like no other. For centuries, a variety of cultures have called Louisiana home and contributed to the state’s deep and colorful history. French, Spanish, German, Italian, African and Indigenous American cultures have storied legacies in Louisiana – resulting in unique flavors, legendary music and lasting traditions. Add in the state’s inspiring landscapes and native wildlife, and you’ll find that Louisiana has something to offer every traveler. Come for smiles – not souvenirs – and prepare to dive headfirst into rich culture, because Louisiana isn’t for spectators, it’s for participants.

Louisiana Is A Trip

Only In Louisiana

Ready for a road trip? From brass to bayous, po’ boys to pralines, and jazz to jambalaya, there’s a lot to experience in Louisiana. Get your fill of bustling cities, quaint small towns and everything in between along the state’s culinary trails and scenic byways. This is a place where strangers become friends on every step of your journey, and you'll find no better place to experience this Southern hospitality than in the state's colorful small towns. Explore the historic neighborhoods of Natchitoches, Louisiana's oldest city, then tour the charming hamlet of St. Francisville, whose moss-draped streets have made appearances in several films. You'll find plenty of can’t-miss spots in cozy towns statewide.

For a taste of the big city, stop by New Orleans. Famously known as the Big Easy, this cultural hub is full of history and flair: beignets, ghost stories, Creole cuisine and live jazz music await you. Head to the Lafayette area, also known as Cajun Country, and take to the dance floor at local dance halls. Let loose to Zydeco music and get a taste of Cajun cooking once you’ve worked up an appetite.

For outdoors enthusiasts, the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area is an ideal spot for a swamp tour adventure. Local guides are waiting to share their insights into this fascinating region. There’s no better way to explore the mysterious and beautiful Atchafalaya Basin than to get up close and personal with the local wildlife. For a different kind of excitement, enjoy chic nightlife and first-rate casinos in Lake Charles down south and Shreveport up north.

Endless Reasons to Celebrate

This is a state that knows how to throw a good party. The most anticipated event of the year, the world-famous Mardi Gras is only one of the many excuses to celebrate. Only in Louisiana are there more than 400 fairs and festivals throughout the year dedicated to the state’s history, culture and favorite things like music and local delicacies. Every festival in Louisiana is as original as the community that organizes it, and each festival is sure to be full of good food, good music and good times.

Louisiana Is A Trip

Fun Fact

Bartender putting the finishing touches on a cocktail at The Sazerac House in New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is the birthplace of multiple cocktails. Try America's first cocktail – the Sazerac – at The Roosevelt, a Vieux Carré at the spinning Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone, a French 75 at Arnaud's or a Grasshopper at Tujague's.

Tossing beads from the Krewe of Gemini float during a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, Louisiana

Mardi Gras is more than one day in one city – it is a season celebrated statewide, and every corner of Louisiana celebrates in its own way – from boat parades and pet parades to chicken chasing to pink flamingos. You won’t find any two Mardi Gras celebrations that are alike.

An Elvis statue commemorates The King’s days on a radio show broadcasted from Shreveport Municipal Auditorium

The ascension of Elvis Presley’s musical career began at the Louisiana Hayride, a recurring radio-broadcast concert series at Shreveport, Louisiana’s downtown municipal auditorium in 1954.

Must see places

Flags hanging from the balconies in the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans French Quarter

You came, you saw, you mardi gras’d: There’s no visiting Louisiana without a trip to the iconic community that acts as the crossroads for so many cultures and traditions. Explore this National Historic District’s unbeatable food scene, museums, music and notorious thoroughfare, Bourbon Street.

Creole Nature Trail All-American Road

Consider this 290-kilometer path through the marshlands and coastline of Louisiana a drive right into the heart of Cajun culture. You’ll encounter gators, beaches, crabbing, fishermen, wildflowers and plenty of chances to sample the seafood along this scenic path.

Avery Island

This small salt dome island in Iberia Parish is home to TABASCO, where you can take a tour and sample the products and then explore the lovely environment. Visit Jungle Gardens to take in the serenity of the island as well as its wildlife.

Atchafalaya National Heritage Area

The basin here is the USA’s largest river swamp, home to hardwoods, bayous, backwater lakes and teeming with swamp wildlife (including crawfish). Don’t miss a tour of the water heritage trail in this spectacular environment; it tells the richly complex story of the water, land and people of the area.

The Historic Broussard House at Vermilionville in Lafayette, Louisiana

Denny Culbert

Vermilionville Living History & Folk Life Park

In Lafayette, this folk life park illustrates Acadian, American Indian and Creole culture of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Highlights include 19 attractions, seven restored homes, costumed guides and local artisans.

Oak Alley Plantation

You may recognize Oak Alley Plantation as a filming location for movies like Interview with the Vampire and Primary Colors. Gain an understanding of this Vacherie landmark’s history on a guided tour of the Big House and surrounding grounds, where exhibits and galleries tell the stories of enslaved men, women and children who once lived there.

Stately Jackson Square in New Orleans, Louisiana

St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square

The USA’s oldest Catholic cathedral in continual use presides over Jackson Square. Tours of the historic landmark are self-guided, and you’ll want to follow up with a stop at the Catholic Cultural Heritage Center and at the Old Ursuline Convent Museum. Afterwards, explore Jackson Square, the iconic French Quarter park bursting with character.

Preservation Hall

There’s no better place to catch classic New Orleans live jazz than here, where they’ve been keeping the tradition alive since 1961. Get tickets for a show any night; past performances have even included rock, country and hip-hop styles.

Poverty Point

See the 22-meter tall mound, concentric half-circles and other earth works, built by hand 3,400 years ago by American Indians. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is in Pioneer.

Louisiana State Museum

Five of the nine museums in the statewide system are in the French Quarter: Cabildo, Presbytere, 1850 House, Madame John’s Legacy and New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint. Visit one or all.