Author: New Orleans Magazine Site Staff

Louisiana Island Adventure

It’s one of the most intriguing and a surreal experience that Mother Nature has to offer in Louisiana – plus, it’s a national treasure. The Chandeleur Islands, a 50-mile long chain of uninhabited barrier islands, are part of the second oldest national…

Houma: How Sweet She Is!

There’s no question you’ve entered some place special when you drive down south into Houma, which lies in the coastal parish of Terrebonne.  Its one-of-a-kind topography is riddled swamplands, bayous, and wetlands; hence its title “Louisiana’s Bayou Country” is apropos. …

The (Tunica) Hills are Alive

Louisiana is home to one of the most natural geological marvels around, especially unlike anything you would expect to find in our state. It’s a feast for the eyes and can be discovered deep within the Tunica Hills in West Feliciana…

Washington’s Treasure Trove

It’s easy to imagine the town of Washington, Louisiana in its heyday, when it was a bustling steamboat port transporting goods and cattle to New Orleans from Cajun Country via Bayou Courtableau. Most of the town is listed on the National…

Cajun Riviera

  For more than half-a-century, Holly Beach has been known as "the poor man’s paradise" – hence its longstanding nickname the ‘Cajun Riviera.'  Families who are part of those ‘generations past’ who’ve made memories here still call it the ‘Cajun Riviera’,…

Strawberry Fields

  Once you bite into a sweet, juicy Louisiana strawberry, and embrace the aroma permeating through the air, you’ll never forget it, and you’ll long for strawberry season to return.  Now is prime time to indulge in Louisiana-grown strawberries, which are…

Monroe’s Marvels

  Where else in the world can you drink a five-cent, ice-cold, old-fashioned bottled Coke while you ogle one-of-a-kind Coca-Cola artifacts; and oodles of rare bibles, and then take a stroll through a stunning botanical garden?   Well, you can…

Affair with Los Islenos

  You don’t have to travel overseas to experience the authentic culture of the Spanish Canary Islands. You can do just that right here in America, and even better, in the multi-cultural state of Louisiana.  Louisiana’s St. Bernard Parish is home…

Eagle Watch in the Pelican State

Admirers of the American bald eagle are flocking to the bayous and lakes in and around Morgan City to get an eyeful of this majestic bird in action This is the time of year the nation’s emblem bird is busy…

Mardi Gras Bound

  The Carnival season is in full swing in New Orleans, and now is the prime time to head to the Big Easy. The weekend before Mardi Gras is when parade-goers get to witness three of the most revered ‘super…

Port Fourchon, A Recreational Gateway

  It’s the southernmost point of Louisiana that’s reachable by automobile, a world unto itself: Port Fourchon. This massive coastal seaport, which sits at the mouth of Bayou Lafourche and the Gulf of Mexico, is somewhat reminiscent of a scene…

Magic of Marksville, Part II

  It’s been described as the Shangri-La for Native Americans, and could easily take credit for the state’s motto, “Sportsman’s Paradise.” Marksville, Louisiana, located in the center of the state, is a playground for outdoor lovers and promises an experience like no…

Magical Marksville, Part I

  Marksville, Louisiana oozes natural beauty. The city could easily take credit for the state’s motto: “Sportsman’s Paradise,” because of its astonishing playground for outdoor lovers. Couple that flora and fauna lure with its one-of-a-kind Louisiana history, and you can have an…

Louisiana’s Aurora Borealis

“It’s something to see at least once in your life.  You get goosebumps, and you’ll see some people with tears in their eyes because it is a sight to behold,” goes the soft Cajun accent of Elaine Bourgeois Brack.  The…

Christmas Cajun Style

  There’s something magical about walking through the winding pathways of an 1800s Acadian Village all aglow with more than half-a-million Christmas lights. In Lafayette, Louisiana, you can do just that at Noel Acadien au Village – a seemingly timeless place where…

The Winter Wonderland of Natchitoches

There are few who wouldn’t want to experience an award-winning Louisiana Christmas tradition, especially one that has drawn hundreds of thousands to the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase territory. If you have never experienced the Christmas season in…

Twin City Christmas

Make your way to the twin cities of Shreveport-Bossier this Christmas season for a truly one-of-a-kind, fun-filled and unforgettable experience for everyone. Among the myriad of Christmas festivities is the iconic Christmas in Roseland, a tradition in northwest Louisiana for…

Historic Hunter’s Retreat

Just as American pioneer Jim Bowie did, you, too, can take a boat ride to Giles Island. Only when he visited, back in 1827, the island was merely a wide sandbar in the middle of the Mississippi River. Today, hunters and wildlife enthusiasts…

Destination Gumbo

When a chill hits Louisiana’s thick, humid air, gumbo pots begin to simmer all across this culturally-rich state.  While the ingredients and the thickness may vary some from region to region, one thing remains: it’s traditional intrinseque magic that deeply ties all…

If Walls Could Talk

One of the most historic, colorful and story-filled sites in New Orleans can be found inside a hotel. Standing in the heart of the French Quarter, for nearly two centuries, is the iconic Orleans Ballroom, which is part of the…

STEP-BY-STEP

A post-operation infection from pediatric bone cancer cost New Orleanian Ford Sutter his right leg, but it hasn’t prevented him from moving on

River Parish Murder Mystery

It’s a ‘whodunnit’... only guests can solve. Iberville Parish is the site of a one-of-a-kind murder mystery dinner that, for the past five years, has intrigued and entertained visitors from all over the world.  Organizers of the Murder Mystery Dinner…

Mysterious Myrtles

On a lush ridge in St. Francisville, only three miles from the Mississippi River, stands what’s been called one of the most haunted houses in America.  Those seeking a thrill during this Halloween season are visiting the house in droves, all…