Going to Louisiana

[stuv65]

Not much Guzzi content, sorry....

My son is marrying a girl from Covington, Louisiana late summer/early autumn this year.  We'll be flying over from the UK for a 2 week stay so wondered if any of our Americian friends could recommend any places to visit, whether its worth hiring a bike or a car, etc.

thanks in advance
stuart

[oldbike54]

 Wait till early Fall if possible , Louisiana is very hot and humid in Summer .

 Yes , it is worth hiring a vehicle , the Lafayette area is fun , New Orleans has all of that jazz , Baton Rouge is interesting ...

 Give us a shout , we have several Guzzi riders in Louisiana , surely one of them will be willing to offer some guidance .

 Dusty

[davedel44]

Swamp Scooters Rally. Moto Guzzi/BWW
Lafayette LA
NOV 9, 10, 11. 2018

Heart of Cajun Country.  Southern Louisiana is a magical place.

swampscooters.net

[cloudbase]

Check out some of the old plantations along River Road between New Orleans and Baton Rouge.  If driving up the West Bank, do not breathe while passing through Donaldsonville.

[Sheepdog]

Stuart, I live in the Covington area. There are some great restaurants here on the north shore of Lake Ponchartrain and some great sites to see, too. New Orleans is only an hour's drive away and the allure of that city is well documented, but St Tammany Parish (which includes Covington) may provide a more laid back visit. The Honey Island Swamp Tour is fun as is the local wildlife park (lots of free-roaming African animals). The Annadele Plantation is a superb restaurant right in town and The Chimes is a fun bar and restaurant right next door (raw Louisiana oysters are only $5.50/dozen during happy hours). Both are along the Tchefuncte River. The Southern Hotel was recently re-opened in Old Covington after a comprehensive restoration and features a cool bar and restaurant and nicely appointed rooms. Del Porto is a very nice Northern Italian restaurant that is right across Boston Street from the hotel. There is a great deal more if you're willing to drive. If you should have questions on specific activities, just send me a note via PM.

I only live about seven miles out of Covington, so I'd like to offer my hospitality, as well. I know that weddings are a family time, but if you should have some time we have a pond full of fish eager to be caught, bicycles, motorcycles, and a semi-custom touring canoe. I'd enjoy meeting you and putting the face of a fellow Guzzisti with his name.

[old head]

I live between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.  some interesting environments if you have never been to a swamp area, gators, snakes,and the dreaded mosquito that totes small dogs and children away

It will be hot and very humid, bet on it.

Lots to see in New Orleans, and great food!!!

Covington is on the North shore of Lake Ponchartrain, cleaner and not near as crowded as New Orleans.  I would recommend a drive from New Orleans to Houma, Morgan City and up to Lafayette, stopping at the Avery Island outside of New Iberia.   However, if you come back through Baton Rouge on I10, try not to hit city between 2 and 7 pm, it is a nightmare of disastrous proportions with traffic.

Also Stennis Space center is a short drive east, and then jump down to the coast road and a nice drive to Biloxi for lunch and back.

Civil War Park in Vicksburg is a great place to hit also, its about 3 hours north of Baton Rouge.

Old Head

[Lannis]

Check out some of the old plantations along River Road between New Orleans and Baton Rouge.  If driving up the West Bank, do not breathe while passing through Donaldsonville.

Probably like Covington, Virginia, where there's a huge paper mill - stinks pretty bad, but smells like money to the folks who work and live there!

I see that there's a nitrogen/ammonia plant in Donaldsonville that employs 1000 people.   Any industry in a small Louisiana town that employs 1000 people can have the city hall delivered with a ribbon and bow wrapped around it - that's a big economic driver ....

Lannis

[SmithSwede]

If you want to do something completely different from New Orleans and the usual touristy stuff, there is a good leprosy museum in Carville, about 90 miles east of Covington. 

[Pmyers]

If you enjoy history I reccomeng driving up hwy 61 and touring the old civil war plantation homes in St Francisville,la and also Natchez,ms ....easy day trip out of NOLA.

[stuv65]

Thank you all for your quick reponses, info and invites  -  really nice of you :-)

Once we get dates confirmed (my son is waiting for his visa) I'll post/PM again.  Meantime I can see I have a lot of Googling to do.

Thanks again
stuart

[beetle]

Behind the Sun?

















..sorry, couldn't help myself...