See Louisiana - an un-official / insiders guide to a Southern paradise

Independent guides to Louisiana tourist destinations, attractions, B&Bs, hotels, lodging. Thousands of links and insider tips. We'll tell you about the good, the bad and the ugly

Louisiana Plantations Links to Louisiana historic homes and plantations for tourists who travel.
New Orleans insider tourist tips to New Orleans.
	The Cottage Plantation A b&b in St. Francisville.
		Destrehan Plantation Site of “Interview with the Vampire" movie scenes. The plantation is better then the movie.
	Frogmore Cotton Plantation & Gins An 1800-acre working cotton plantation, located in Frogmore, LA...just 20 minutes west of Natchez, MS.
		Houmas House 40136 Hwy. 942, Darrow, LA 70725-2302. Greek Revival mansion was begun in 1805 and completed in 1828. The original house, which is to the rear of the Big House, was built by Alexander Latil in 1775(1840). It is surrounded by lush romantic gardens. Tour by guides in antebellum dress. Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte starring Bette Davis was filmed here. (504) 473-7841, New Orleans (504) 522-2262. [We liked this one when we visited it.]
	La Branche Plantation A roadside wonderland! In St. Rose on the River Road, and features the grave of Hitler's horse - Nordlicht. They also have a gift shop and where you can (in their words) take with you a little "Southern Tradition". They also claim to have the largest pecan tree in the state of Louisiana and Zachery Taylor's bathtub.
	Laura: A Creole Plantation 2247 LA Hwy. 18 (The Great River Road), Vacherie, LA 70090. (225) 265-7690, (504) 488-8709. Home of Br'er Rabbit and the "tar baby." Built 1805; 12 bldgs. on Nat'l Reg., slave quarters. Memoirs of Laura tells true-life stories of owners, slaves, women and children. In Vacherie, built in 1805 and restored to same period. [This is one of favorite plantations although it doesn't have the big white columns.] NOTE: A fire destroyed much of the main house in 2004, however the plantation's out buildings and the story of the rebuilding process still makes for a great tour.
	Loyd Hall Plantation B&B - Six charming and private, one of a kind bed and breakfast accommodations.
	Kent Plantation 3601 Bayou Rapides Rd., Alexandria, LA 71303. Classic raised Creole cottage built in 1796, with outbuildings and sugar mill. Open daily; bus parking, group discounts. (318) 487-5998.
		Madewood Where they filmed "A Woman Called Moses" in Napoleonville. It is a Greek Revival home and perhaps the classiest plantation in Louisiana. This home is owned by the people who own Dixie Art Supply in New Orleans; they have supported the arts in New Orleans for ages .
	Magnolia Mound
	Melrose Plantation Folk artist, Clementine Hunter's "home;" also the home of the "African House." There are a lot of Hunter's paintings on display. We visited the house in the summer of 1999. The tour guides were not good. Visitors walk in the rooms (they are not roped off). A boring 20 minute video with awful sound is shown. The tour guide acknowledged the sound was bad and her only solution was to turn the window a/c off; which was not a good alternative since it was a very hot Louisiana summer day. If you are in the area, you may look into the Bayou Pierre Alligator Farm.
	The Myrtles Plantation 7747 Hwy. 61, St. Francisville, LA 70775. (504) 635-6277.Full service restaurant. Historical tours daily. Mystery tours. Also famous for being a "Haunted B&B"; in St. Francisville. [My in-laws spent an uneventful night there. Was this a good thing or a bad thing? They did say that they would go back again.]
		Nottoway P.O. Box 160, White Castle, LA 70788. Blend of Greek Revival & Italian architecture, built in 1859. (225) 545-2730. Scarlett O'Hara fashioned her dress from drapes very similar to those seen hanging in the Randolph study. [When we were there (1997?) one of the heirs to the place, a very old lady, sold gum in the basement - we doubled our pleasure.]
		Oak Alley Plantation 3645 Hwy. 18 (River Rd.), Vacherie, LA 70090. Between New Orleans & Baton Rouge on Mississippi River. National Historic Landmark, c.1839. Famous 1/4-mile alley of 300-yr.-old live oak trees. . (225) 265-2151, (800) 44-ALLEY. [We took a picture (although we were not supposed to) of the room that had a ghost. And guess what - there was a strange white image in a mirror in the photograph. People who have seen the photo believe it is a ghost, some think that it was the camera's flash.] [This is a classic looking plantation and there are a lot of photo opportunities. Makes you want to go home and plant an alley of your own live oaks. If you don't have the room, how about an alley of Ghia Pets?]
	Ormond Plantation The oldest French West Indies style plantation on the Mississippi River
	Poche Plantation This B&B has been beautifully restored to its original splendor. Built in the late 1800s it was the last of the great Mississippi River plantations.
	Rosedown Plantation and Gardens in St. Francisville. They have perhaps the world's best slogan: "Where only happy hours are counted." Did some one say "Happy Hour?"
		St. Joseph Plantation 3535 Highway 18, Vacherie, LA 70090. The 1830 St. Joseph Plantation recently was restored is open for tours 7 days a week. This Raised Creole style home predates nearby plantations constructed in Greek Revival style. The home stands on brick columns 8 feet tall to protect from flooding. (225) 265-4078
		San Francisco Plantation We like this one in Garyville. Why the name "San Francisco?" No reason. Built in 1856, it is the most distinctive and claims to be the only authentically restored plantation on the River Road. Featuring five hand painted ceilings, faux marbling, wood graining throughout and antique furnishings by Mallard and John Henry Belter.