3 Spicy Side Trips to Take From New Orleans
When cooler temperatures finally kick in, the time is right to book travel to warmer climates. The American South makes a nice winter escape, and it's always fun to broaden your experiences along the Louisiana coast.
Almost every traveler knows New Orleans. It's a prime destination for incredible food, live music and luxe hotels, plus it has an easy-to-reach airport. But once you're seasoned with all that Crescent City know-how, consider sampling some spicy Cajun culture beyond the French Quarter. Here are three easy side trips from New Orleans where you can dive deeper into the sights, sounds and zesty flavors of southern Louisiana.
1. Spice It up in New Iberia
Drive about 2.5 hours west from New Orleans and you may catch a faint whiff of vinegar and pepper mash in the air. Welcome to New Iberia, home of the Tabasco Museum and plant on Avery Island, where you can at long last discover the origins of the world's most famous hot sauce.
Use your points-earning plastic to buy factory-tour tickets, join one of its new cooking classes and grab lunch at the casual, delicious café — and sample an array of Tabasco flavors, of course. Leave time for Tabasco's Jungle Gardens driving tour across 170 acres of Avery Island, where you'll see lush flora and native fauna, including the occasional alligator.
Afterward, head into town to see why New Iberia's central boulevard is newly accredited by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. You'll find the circa-1929 Evangeline Theater, 19th-century Victorian homes and a slew of indie boutiques. Fill up at Jane's Seafood, the town hotspot for boiled crawfish, crabs and shrimp, po'boys and other Cajun faves. Or try the unbelievable seafood gumbo at nearby Jefferson Island's Rip Van Winkle Gardens, where you can tour the property's landmarked 1870 mansion or spend the night in one of its cute cottages (rates start at $120 per night). If you're around on the first Saturday of the month, head over to the Delcambre Seafood and Farmers Market for fresh oysters right off the boat.
2. Get Down at a Honky-Tonk in St. Mary Parish
Louisiana is the only US state that uses the term "parish" instead of "county," and St. Mary Parish embodies the region's rich character. Less than a 90-minute drive from New Orleans is Morgan City, a compact town home to an emerging music scene, thanks to the Last Honky Tonk Music Series. Settle in at The Acadiana Bar and Grill for live shows and dancing in its newly expanded space. Stroll historic Front Street to climb the seawall for Atchafalaya River views and to visit the Rig Museum, as in oil rig — it's nicknamed "Mr. Charlie" and is the only authentic (albeit retired) oil rig open for public tours.
Just a 25-minute drive past the sugarcane fields is Franklin, the parish seat and home to the historic plantation house, Oaklawn Manor. Open for daily tours, the landmarked Greek Revival mansion is outfitted with its original decor and artwork, and sits on a shady estate along the banks of Bayou Teche. Head into downtown Franklin, founded in 1808, to see why its Main Street is on the National Register of Historic Places. For far older history, hit the Chitimacha Museum in neighboring Charenton to learn about the parish's first residents, a Native American tribe whose language was saved from extinction not long ago.
3. Make Mardi Gras Happen in Lake Charles
A bit farther west is Lake Charles, which is well worth the three-hour jaunt from New Orleans for a couple of big reasons, the first being its flamboyant Mardi Gras Museum. Located in a former school, it exhibits nearly 300 wildly embellished costumes from decades past and replicates the experience of standing on a Mardi Gras float — with free beads for souvenirs.
Lake Charles is also home to Leonard's Food Quarters, a Cajun-Creole eatery that makes some of the state's best boudin, the savory meat-and-rice sausage famous across Acadiana (the official name of French Louisiana). Wash it down at one of "Lake Chuck's" two local craft brewery pubs, Crying Eagle and Rikenjaks, a favorite beer brand resurrected after an eight-year brewing hiatus.
This being swamp country, top off your Cajun side trip with a bona fide Gulf Coast excursion down the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road. Join a Grosse Savanne Eco Tour for a real-deal boat ride across the marshes just outside Lake Charles. The gators may be out, along with birds, snakes and other "Louisiana Outback" wildlife — wholly different from the wildlife of Bourbon Street.
What are your favorite things to do along the Louisiana coast? Tell us about them, below.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
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Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.