Watch our Online Travel Show about this tour and earn a $100 credit for your next booking with Holiday Vacations.
Cajun Country Agriculture
Culture & Cuisine
Greenwood Gator Farm
Great Gatsby-style Speakeasy, The Tunnel
Houmas House Estate & Gardens
Jazz & Zydeco Music
Embark on a captivating journey through Louisiana's rich agricultural heritage and become immersed in Cajun culture while learning about sugarcane fields, crawfish farms, and swamp life. Fly into Baton Rouge for enriching visits to the LSU Center for River Studies, Capitol Park Museum, and LSU Rural Life Museum. Indulge in two phenomenal dinner experiences – regional cuisine in a Roaring Twenties-themed speakeasy beneath our hotel and at White Oak Estate with recipes curated by the renowned Chef John Folse. From visiting West Baton Rouge Museum to an airboat excursion through the untamed beauty of the Atchafalaya Basin, each moment in this charming city is filled with inspiring agricultural wonders. Venturing into Lafayette, uncover the secrets of TABASCO® sauce on Avery Island, savor the flavors of the South during a crawfish boil dinner and get up-close to alligators at Greenwood Gator Farm. On the way to New Orleans, step back in time at Houmas House Estate and Gardens, then settle in for three remarkable nights in the French Quarter. Witness firsthand how to prepare regional dishes at the New Orleans School of Cooking, watch a moving 4-D film at the National WWII Museum, and experience Southern hospitality during a Jazz Brunch at Court of Two Sisters. Plus, there is plenty of time at leisure for independent adventures in the “Big Easy!”
Trip overview may vary by departure.
Highlights
Vermillionville Living History Museum & Folklife Park
See the traditions of the region’s Acadian, Creole, and Native American communities come alive at this 23-acre immersive museum along the banks of the Bayou Vermilion. Enjoy a fascinating cotton program that details the crop’s historical significance, visit restored 18th- and 19th-century homes, interact with costumed artisans demonstrating timeless crafting techniques, explore the beautiful grounds, and listen to live Cajun and Zydeco music. The hands-on activities, storytelling, and dancing bring the vibrant folklife of Louisiana to life!
Agricultural Adventures
Discover Louisiana's agricultural heart, starting in Baton Rouge with highlights like the LSU Center for River Studies, Capitol Park Museum, and LSU Rural Life Museum, where the state’s rich heritage comes alive. Enjoy a guided hayride through the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens and visit Baton Roots Community Farm to see sustainable farming in action. Learn about sugarcane cultivation at the West Baton Rouge Museum, then continue to Lafayette for a traditional crawfish boil and a farm tour. On Avery Island, explore the making of world-famous TABASCO® hot sauce and savor fresh products at Conrad Rice Mill, America’s oldest working rice mill, on a journey celebrating the flavors and traditions of Louisiana’s vibrant agriculture.
New Orleans School of Cooking
Sit back and enjoy learning the basics of Louisiana cooking! Watch a skilled chef prepare authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine while learning about the dynamic history and tall tales of New Orleans. Sample a variety of colorful and distinct dishes, complemented by local beer or Southern sweet tea, and take a recipe card to impress your friends with these delicious delights back home.
Atchafalaya Basin Airboat Swamp Tour
Climb aboard a covered airboat for a thrilling ride through America’s largest freshwater swamp, the Atchafalaya Basin. Glide past ancient cypress trees draped in Spanish moss, and keep an eye out for wildlife like alligators, turtles, and wading birds in their natural habitat. As we journey into Louisiana’s untamed wilderness, our expert captain details the swamp’s unique ecosystem, history, and cultural significance.
- Day 1: Fly to LouisianaUpon arriving in Baton Rouge, we check in to Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center for a two-night stay. Nestled along the banks of the Mississippi, our hotel features an outdoor pool that overlooks the river and downtown area as well as a Great Gatsby-style speakeasy, The Tunnel. Go beneath the historic hotel and travel back in time to the Roaring Twenties during tonight’s elegant Welcome Social Hour, where we get to know fellow travelers over complimentary wine and Louisiana charcuterie.
- Day 2: Baton RougeEvery morning of our trip begins with a delicious, included breakfast. Our first visit is to the LSU Center for River Studies to marvel at exhibits and a topographically correct 3-D map of the Mississippi River Delta spanning the size of a basketball court. We then become immersed in the culture, history, and economy of the Bayou State at Capitol Park Museum. Dive into the legacy of the charismatic yet controversial governor-turned-state senator Huey Long, feel the magic of Mardi Gras, learn about local ecology, and view a 48-foot wooden shrimp trawler as well as a rare Civil War submarine. This afternoon, indulge in lunch at LSU Rural Life Museum with time to get a glimpse into the 18th and 19th-century working class in the historic buildings and Exhibit Barn. Next door, take a guided hayride of the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens for beautiful sights of specialty gardens. Later, we return to the hotel to freshen up before tonight’s Welcome Dinner at the opulent White Oak Estate featuring recipes by celebrity Chef John Folse.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 3: Airboat Swamp TourThis morning, we visit Baton Roots to meet the philanthropic people behind this sustainable community farm and hear about the Walls Project to improve local physical, social, and economic conditions. Our enriching visits continue at West Baton Rouge Museum, where we learn about processing sugarcane from field to factory. Later, take an exciting airboat swamp tour of the Atchafalaya Basin to discover Louisiana’s incredible natural beauty as we glide through the cypress forest and watch for wildlife. We continue our journey to Lafayette and settle into our accommodations with an evening at leisure.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
- Day 4: Crawfish CultureOur day starts with a visit to Vermilionville Living History Museum and Folklife Park. Encounter the 18th century as we learn about cotton production, discover local cultures, interact with costumed artisans, and more. Later, we tour a crawfish pond and facility before indulging in a quintessential crawfish boil dinner at Gator Chateau, home to baby alligators. During our time here, revel in the opportunity to hold a baby alligator during a fun meet and greet!
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 5: Spice & RiceToday, we visit Avery Island to explore the only TABASCO® pepper sauce farming and production site in the world. Next, a short drive brings us to New Iberia to tour the oldest operational rice mill in the United States: Conrad Rice Mill. Learn about the variety of products they create and delight your taste buds with samples in the gift shop. Afterwards, savor an included lunch in Lafayette before returning to the hotel for leisure time. Tonight, we have dinner at Randol's Cajun Seafood Restaurant in Breaux Bridge, featuring live Zydeco music and dancing.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 6: Alligator FarmOur morning kicks off with a tour of Greenwood Gator Farm to explore the swamp life of Louisiana and alligator farming, plus we get a chance to come face to face with the reptiles! Next, feel the spirit of yesteryear during our stop at the historic Houmas House Estate and Gardens in Darrow. We savor traditional Louisiana cuisine, crafted with locally grown produce for a farm-to-table experience. Then, enjoy a tour of the early 1800s Greek-revival mansion and stroll through exquisitely landscaped gardens. Later, our journey continues to New Orleans, where accommodations in the renowned French Quarter await.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
- Day 7: New OrleansWe discover “The Big Easy” today, starting with Vue Orleans. Take in 360° views from the city’s only indoor and outdoor observation deck, hear how locals fought for Civil Rights, see how the Mississippi shaped the city in the panoramic theatre, and have fun with interactive exhibits. The afternoon is yours to pursue personal interests; grab lunch at the French Market and taste a world-famous beignet, stroll down Bourbon Street, or relax at the hotel. Tonight, we regroup for an incredible dinner experience at the New Orleans School of Cooking. Feel the nostalgia of the French Quarter as a chef skilled in Cajun and Creole cuisine teaches us about the area’s famous cooking style in a renovated warehouse, then enjoy a variety of colorful and distinct dishes.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 8: WWII Museum & Jazz BrunchAfter breakfast at the hotel, we explore the National WWII Museum to better understand the American experience and stories behind the war. View a variety of detailed exhibits, then attend a showing of Beyond All Boundaries, a 4-D cinematic journey. Next, we celebrate our adventure with an all-you-can-eat Farewell Jazz Brunch at the world-renowned Court of Two Sisters with lively sounds of a talented jazz trio. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy the renowned French Quarter!
Meals Included: Breakfast
- Day 9: Fly HomeWe return home with unforgettable memories of our Southern agricultural getaway.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Apr 1-9, 2025
$5,599
per person
$4,699
per person
Dec 27, 2024
Tour Director:
LAST MINUTE TRAVEL DEAL: SAVE $200 per person on this departure.
What's Included
All Accommodations
- 2 nights at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center
- 3 nights at Homewood Suites by Hilton Lafayette
- 3 nights at Bienville House, New Orleans (French Quarter)
Attractions & Highlights
- LSU Center for River Studies
- Capitol Park Museum
- LSU Rural Life Museum
- LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens guided hayride
- Baton Roots Community Farm
- Sugarcane program at West Baton Rouge Museum
- Atchafalaya Basin airboat swamp tour
- Cotton program at Vermillionville Living History Museum & Folklife Park
- Crawfish farm & facility tour
- Conrad Rice Mill tour with tastings
- Avery Island TABASCO® self-guided tour
- Greenwood Gator Farm tour
- Houmas House Estate & Gardens guided tour
- Vue Orleans observation deck
- New Orleans School of Cooking class
- National WWII Museum & 4-D film Beyond All Boundaries
- Time at leisure in New Orleans
17 Excellent Meals
- Welcome Social Hour at Baton Rouge’s historic speakeasy, The Tunnel, feat. wine & Louisiana charcuterie
- Daily breakfast
- Welcome Dinner at White Oak Estate & Gardens feat. recipes by celebrity chef John Folse
- Crawfish boil dinner at Gator Chateau
- Dinner at Randol's Cajun Seafood Restaurant feat. live Zydeco music & dancing
- Farewell Jazz Brunch at Court of Two Sisters
Learn more about what's included with the Holiday Advantage.
Birmingham - Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport