About a mile south of the current State Capitol built by Governor Huey Long, discover the castle-like Old State Capitol that served Louisiana from 1849 to 1932 (rebuilt in 1882 after two fires). Nicknamed “Old Cap,” the Neo-Gothic national landmark features a sweeping spiral staircase capped by a magnificent stained-glass dome. Free tours are available daily by request; while the $3 Ghost of the Castle Show lets visitors experience an immersive 4D presentation all about the capitol’s purported ghost-in-residence.

There's no better place to experience traditional Louisiana heritage than Vermilionville Historic Village. This living-history museum and folklife park invites visitors to learn about the lives of Native Americans, Acadians, Creoles, and people of African descent in the Attakapas region, all of whom dwelled here through the end of the 1800s. Across its 23 acres, take in the preserved landscape, restored original homes, costumed artisans, or take a bayou boat tour.

When locals in Terrebonne Parish hanker for char-grilled oysters or a seafood platter, they head to Boudreau & Thibodeau's Cajun Cookin’. Taking its name from a pair of fictional local characters (that just about every local knows), this down-home restaurant serves up classic dishes from gumbo and hushpuppies, to frog legs and boiled crawfish, to fried crabfingers and overstuffed po'boys. Bring your appetite.

Baby gators are much cuter than you might think. But you can find out for yourself at the Gator Chateau in Jennings, about 40 miles west of Lafayette. The Chateau is home to rescued, baby alligators, which are fostered until they’re released into their natural habitat. Stop by Monday through Saturday to hold a hatchling, watch a feeding, and learn all about how the region’s native gators grow and survive.

Founded in 1934, the Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site represents the area made famous in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s epic poem about ill-fated Acadian lovers Evangeline and Gabriel. Today, the site is home to landmarked 1815 plantation home Maison Olivier, a visitor center, and other farmstead structures on the banks of Bayou Teche.

Head to Alexandria in the heart of the state to delve deeper into Louisiana’s contemporary visual arts and fine crafts. River Oaks Square is a hub of artistic activity that’s home to 30 studios, two galleries, and a gift shop filled with handmade artworks and wares. From its perch on the Red River, the center’s main house is a historic landmark built in 1899, donated to the city by the Bolton Family in 1979 for use as a center for the arts. Visit today to view local artists exhibits, or hear live music. Our advice: Get your hands dirty in a ceramics workshop. 

Fresh on the scene since fall 2019, the Sazerac House is rolling out good spirits. From its restored, five-story building in the Warehouse Arts District, the “house” doubles as a museum showcasing the backstories of many favorite libations—naturally, led by lore behind the Sazerac cocktail, a New Orleans classic featuring Peychaud’s Bitters (created in the Crescent City in 1830 by Haitian immigrant Antoine Peychaud). Reserve your free museum tour today.

Some of the best beer in the state (scratch that, the world) can be found at Great Raft Brewing in Shreveport. The family-friendly craft brewery makes and packages all beer on site and features a tasting room with a rotating roster of beer (the Commotion APA is a favorite). The place feels a lot less like a brewery and more of a community gathering place with board games, cornhole, fun runs, and food trucks. Free tours are offered every Saturday afternoon.

From bustling railroad to busy biking-hiking trail, Tammany Trace is a is a 31-mile paved path linking Covington to Slidell, on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. The trace became the state's first rail-to-trail conversion in the 1990s, welcoming families, cyclists, rollerbladers, wheelchair users, and even horseback riders along the parallel equestrian trail. On the Tammany Trace you can traverse restored bridges, see wetland wildlife, and stop into cool attractions along the route. The Trace is so beloved it was inducted into the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame in 2017.

You may like bowling, dining, and live entertainment, but only Louisiana invites you to do them all at the same time. At the Louisiana institution known as Rock ‘n’ Bowl, locals find strikes and spares galore, along with zesty live music, shareable bites, and maybe a drink or two. Locals love Thursday zydeco nights, when the dance floor is nearly as busy as the full-size bowling alley.

Tucked among majestic, moss-draped live oaks outside Baton Rouge, the Myrtles Plantation will transport you to another era. Guided day tours and evening mystery tours invite visitors to absorb the mansion’s details, like hand-painted stained glass, ornamental ironwork, tapestries, chandelier, and gold-leafed furniture. Though Chloe or one of the other alleged plantation ghosts may be the real source of intrigue here. Overnight guests are welcome in one of the Myrtles B&B suites or cottages, and to dine in the on-site restaurant. 

The legend of Elvis Presley lives on at this historic venue, located on the boulevard named for the King himself. Shreveport Municipal Auditorium opened in 1929, and Elvis played here every Saturday night for $18. In fact, his last performance at the Louisiana Hayride is where the emcee coined “Elvis has left the building.” Since then, the venue has played host to some of the biggest names in American music including Hank Williams and Johnny Cash. These days the music still comes alive, along with Broadway musicals, plays, family shows, boxing, and more.

In the upper northeastern region of Louisiana, discover scenic Chemin-A-Haut State Park in the town of Bastrop. Situated on a bluff overlooking Bayou Bartholomew, the 500-acre park is a nature lover’s paradise with plenty of paddling trails, plus kayak and boat rentals and a paved hiking/biking path through its picnic areas. The park’s main attraction is a 1,000-year-old cypress nicknamed “The Castle” for its immensity—a whopping 20 feet in diameter, large enough to paddle inside its cavernous trunk.