Michael SatterfieldLouisiana is by far one of my favorite states to visit. It has a rich history, a unique culture, and some amazing roads that don’t see a lot of traffic. For this trip, powered by Shell V-Power Nitro +, we head to Baton Rouge, where we will follow the Mississippi River towards New Orleans before heading to the San Bernardo Byway.
Louisiana Road Trip: Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, the Louisiana state capital, is home to everything you would expect to find in the Pelican State: riverboat gambling, great food, and lots of vibrant nightlife. It is also home to some amazing museums, and one of my personal favorites is the USS Kidd Veterans Museum. It is the only Fletcher-class Destroyer that retains its World War II configuration and is the best-preserved destroyer from the era. If you have a group, you can even book an overnight stay on the historic ship.
Moving south along the river, we enter the River Parishes, home to some of the most iconic plantation houses, including Oak Alley Plantation, which has been the backdrop for many films and stories set along the Mississippi River. The Nottoway and San Francisco Plantations are excellent architectural properties, but no tour is complete without a visit to the Whitney Plantation. The Whitney Plantation educates the public about the history of slavery and its legacies, and it is a powerful and moving experience.
The next stop is New Orleans, and we are staying in the French Quarter. If you have a chance to go during the week, take an extra day to enjoy the area when it is a little bit quieter. Breakfast in a corner cafe or on a balcony overlooking the beautiful streets below. I recommend the Bourbon Orleans Hotel in the heart of the French Quarter, but another great choice is the Andrew Jackson Hotel, which is a historic townhouse with a classic New Orleans vibe.
Obviously, you need to eat at Café Du Monde, but you have to book at Brennan’s for dinner. A staple since the mid-1940s, the uniquely New Orleans Creole menu pulls from Spanish and French roots with modern twists. The menu is seasonal, but if the dry-aged lacquered duck is on the menu, give it a try.
After beignets, we jumped back in the Dodge and headed south outside of the city towards the San Bernardo Byway, a road that takes us past the floodgates and out to an area that is more water than land. The road snakes its way along a chain of islands, offering amazing views and a look into a very different way of life. As we make our way to the end of the road on the island of Delacroix, we see a fishing boat that’s crashed on the shore, men offloading the day’s catch, and locals returning to their homes perched 20 feet above the ground to avoid the seasonal flooding.
