The Best of the Bayou: Weekend Road Trip Itinerary in Louisiana

May 25, 2024

Louisiana is nestled deep in the American Deep South, where hurricanes are part of life and food is life. Discover the best of the Bayou State with this 2-day road trip itinerary, from the Atchafalaya Basin and Baton Rouge along the River Road to New Orleans.

Day 1

Morning: Baton Rouge & Atchafalaya Basin

Start and endpoint for this weekend road trip is Baton Rouge. As the capital of the state, it house the Louisiana State Capitol. Take the elevator to the Observation Deck on the 27th floor for great views of Baton Rouge and beyond. You can also visit the Old State Capitol, which houses a museum on the history of Louisiana.

Located just half an hour west of Baton Rouge is the Atchafalaya Basin, the largest river swamp in the US. You can fly between the beautiful cypress trees with an airboat tour from McGee’s. The 90-minute tours leave several times a day from the Atchafalaya Basin Landing.

Afternoon: Louisiana River Road & Oak Alley Plantation

Follow the scenic Louisiana River Road all the way from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. It is the final stretch of the Great River Road, which runs along the Mississippi River from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. The segment in Louisiana is one of the most scenic, as it is dotted with historic plantations. A visit to the stately Oak Alley Plantation transports you back in time to the antebellum South.

A tour of the house shows the grandiose lifestyle of the plantation owners. From the second floor balcony, you can admire the 200-year-old oaks after which the plantation was named. Besides the beautiful grounds, Oak Alley is famous for a boozy sweet treat: mint juleps are sold all day long in a stand behind the house. A shot of bourbon a day keeps the mosquitos away.

But behind the mansion and mint juleps hides a dark page in American history. The once thriving plantations in the South were built on the back of millions of slaves. Oak Alley turned several rebuilt slave quarters into an open-air museum, showing the stark contrast between the lives of the plantation owners and their slaves. Further down the River Road, the Whitney Plantation focuses on the story of slavery instead of the life of the plantation owners.

Evening: New Orleans Cocktail Crawl

The city of New Orleans is over 300 years old, mixing heritage from France, Spain, the Caribbean and the USA. A fun way to honor New Orleans’ legacy is a cocktail crawl. The city is very proud of its cocktail history, as proven by the annual Tales of the Cocktail convention. You can go on a cocktail history tour with Doctor Gumbo, or embark on a self-guided crawl with this list of quintessential New Orleans cocktails.

Brunch Cocktails

Bloody Mary @ Stanley Restaurant: The best Bloody Mary in New Orleans, with a great view of Jackson Square.

Mimosas @ The Country Club: On summer weekends, the place to be is Bywater’s Country Club. Escape the heat with a day pass to this tropical oasis.

Pre-dinner Cocktails

Pimm’s Cup @ Napolean House: This 200-year old French Quarter house is said to be the birthplace of the Pimm’s cup.

French 75 @ Arnaud’s & Grasshopper @ Tujague’s: Two classic New Orleans cocktails are the French 75 and the Grasshopper. Most traditional restaurants have these on the menu, but they originated in Arnaud’s and Tujague’s respectively.

Night Caps

Sazerac @ The Sazerac Hotel: The Sazerac is said to be one of the first cocktails ever invented and was designated official cocktail of New Orleans. Because of this legacy it makes the list, all its bitterness aside.

Vieux Carré @ Carrousel Bar: The Carrousel’s signature cocktail will make your head spin faster than the rotating bar does.

Party Drinks

Hurricane @ Pat O’ Brien: Kick off your night on Bourbon Street with a classic Hurricane, incredibly sweet yet surprisingly strong.

Hand Grenade @ Tropical Isle: No party on Bourbon Street is complete without a Hand Grenade from Tropical Isle.

Fish Bowl @ Faix Deaux Deaux: The best choice for hours of cocktail fun without refills is the fish bowl from Faix Deaux Deaux on Bourbon Street, as it lasts well into the night.

Day 2

Morning: Breakfast at Café du Monde & Swamp Tour

Sunday mornings in New Orleans ask for coffee and beignets from Café Du Monde. If you don’t want to spend half the morning standing in line, opt for the shorter to-go line. The beautiful Jackson Square across the street makes for a great outdoor breakfast spot. You can pair the beignets with a delicious Bloody Mary from Stanley Restaurant.

After breakfast, cross Lake Pontchartrain to the Honey Island Cypress Swamp. Southern Louisiana is largely made up swamp land, a type of wetlands that houses diverse wildlife. Honey Island Swamp Tours goes deep into the swamp, on a small boat that brings you up close with alligators, turtles, and raccoons.

Afternoon: Abita Springs

The Abita Brew Pub is located in the charming town of Abita Springs. On the menu are the beers of Louisiana’s Abita Brewing Company, accompanied by local classics like fried pickles, boudin balls and po’ boys. The cosy patio comes with views of the Tammany Trace trailhead, a 31-mile hike-and-bike trail along a former railroad. On Sundays, the Abita Springs Art and Farmers Market is held in Trailhead Park, right next to the brewpub.

Evening: Classic Creole Dinner in the French Quarter

If you’re looking for an elegant dining experience, New Orleans is the right place. The city houses the Grand Dames of creole cuisine, which originated in the cultural melting pot that made up the city centuries ago. French Quarter restaurants like Antoine’s, Broussard’s and Arnaud’s and the Garden District’s Commander’s Place have been serving up creole classics in style since the 19th century. Explore Louisiana’s culinary history with these ten signature dishes and drinks.