Southern Louisiana
abounds with stately old plantations open for tours. Visitors get a glimpse of what life was like for the wealthy plantation owners and the men and women forced to work the fields. A variety of architectural styles are represented in Louisiana plantations, making a tour the perfect experience for the history buff. Most plantations offer tours year-round, and some even offer bed and breakfast accommodations for those people who would like to spend the night.
Instructions
1. Buy a map of Louisiana. Marking the locations of all of the Southern Louisiana plantations will help you develop your tour plan. You’ll also be able to better determine just how far apart each plantation is and can plan your route accordingly.
2. Discuss the physical requirements of plantation touring with everyone who will accompany you. Since plantation manor houses are historic buildings, there are no elevators and visitors must be capable of climbing stairs to the second level. Plantation grounds are often extensive and require much walking, although wheelchairs can usually be accommodated on the grounds.
3. Make a rental car reservation if you plan to visit many plantations during your trip. Since plantations are often located in the more rural areas, many are best reached by car.
4. Take your trip on a tour company bus. If you would prefer not to drive, several tour companies in New Orleans and surrounding areas offer plantation tours, with Oak Alley Plantation being the most frequently visited plantation. A listing of tour companies is included in the Resources section of this article.
5. Decide which plantations you would like visit. Perhaps you would like to visit plantations within a 50-mile radius of your hotel or plantations that feature a certain style of architecture. You’ll find a complete listing of plantations in the Resources section of this article.
6. Tour plantations featured in the movies. There are several plantations located throughout Louisiana that have been featured in movies. Destrehan Plantation was the setting for “Interview with the Vampire,” while “Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte" was filmed at Houmas House. “A Woman Called Moses” was filmed at Madewood Plantation.
7. Immerse yourself in the plantation experience by staying overnight. A number of plantations offer rooms in the main house or in outlying buildings. Nottoway, Ormond, Oak Alley, Madewood and Woodland Plantations are among the plantations offering bed and breakfast accommodations.
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