Anyone who knows me understands my passion for planning. As soon as I found out we were moving to Louisiana I wanted to 1. Look at a map to find out where Louisiana was and 2. Hit the bookstore for some research on what to do and where to go (tip: the bookstore is limited, the internet is not… I quickly reminded myself what decade we live in).
As someone who was raised in Alaska, I know that the best activities aren’t published on the internet and usually you need a local guide to experience them. We won’t truly understand what Louisiana has to offer until we arrive and convince some of the locals to share their secrets. So until then, here is my Louisiana Bucket List (of someone who has never been):
MARDI GRAS
This one is is obvious, I know. But when it’s considered a ‘holiday’, I can’t pass it up.
LSU FOOTBALL GAME
I’ve learned that college football is like a religion in the South, so what better way to get aquatinted than to attend a game at Tiger Stadium — Geaux Tigers! See, I’ve done my research.
Seven days a year, Tiger Stadium becomes the fifth largest city in the state of Louisiana as over 100,000 fans pack the cathedral of college football to watch the Tigers play.
Tiger Stadium would become the second largest city in Alaska during these days. By about three times.
OAK ALLEY PLANTATION
Built in 1837 by Jacques Telesphore Roman of Grenoble, France, this beauty was named for the quarter-mile entrance canopy of 300-year-old oak trees.
Oak Alley was the home of a famous slave gardener named Antoine who in 1846 developed a variety of pecans that could be cracked with your bare hands. Pecans are still grown in the area today and visitors can even get a taste of pecan pralines at the plantation.
More about the Grande Dame and other plantations.
DUCK DYNASTY
My family’s guilty pleasure — we’ve spent some quality time binge-watching this show and I couldn’t be happier about it. Two places I’d like to visit for my Duck Dynasty tour:
- Duck Commander Warehouse: I’m hoping to see a beard but I’ll settle for the World’s Largest Duck Call.
- Haskell’s Donuts: Uncle Si put away 32 donuts to win a new camper here. Enough said.
CRAWFISH BOIL
A symbol of the Cajun culture, crawfish are celebrated in Louisiana like salmon are in Alaska. There are multiple festivals around Louisiana celebrating the state’s official crustacean and let’s be real, I’ll take any excuse to have a party.
