*** PHOTO Trip Journal aboard Carnival's CONQUEST (Sept. 2012, Caribbean) ***

[daliflor]

 

 

 

 

 

 

The new driver taking us to the plantations was a fantastic individual!

 

He loves New Orleans and he knew every movie that was ever made in the area!

 

In addition, he was very knowledgeable about various statistics involving Louisiana

and pretty much all the local flora, fauna or architecture!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take the top two most popular and most visited historic attractions in Louisiana and locate them

in the heart of New Orleans Plantation Country, less than an hour away from the French Quarter.

 

 

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Louisiana Plantation tours are very popular for those of us visiting New Orleans (pre or post-cruise).

 

There are many Louisiana Plantations and a number of them are within easy driving distance of New Orleans.

 

The elaborate plantation homes line the banks of the Mississippi River along the River Road.

 

They were once the mainstays of the Southern way of life.

 

Many of those plantations are now open to the public and offer windows into the by gone past of the Old South.

 

If you are interested in Old South history or architecture, a visit to these magnificent plantation homes is a must!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RazorbackBelle08]

I went on the same itenerary last February-March and it made me fall in love with Cozumel so much that now I'm going to explore Coz all on my own for 5 nights in April for my 30th birthday. I can't wait.

 

Makes me miss the Conquest. Thanks for the photos!

[daliflor]

I went on the same itenerary last February-March and it made me fall in love with Cozumel so much that now I'm going to explore Coz all on my own for 5 nights in April for my 30th birthday. I can't wait.

 

Makes me miss the Conquest.

 

Thanks for the photos!

 

You're very welcome!

 

And Happy Birthday! I know you'll have a blast, ma belle!

[daliflor]

Since we opted for the Combo Tour, we had a choice of plantation and

we decided for the Oak Alley Plantation.

 

 

 

 

However, some other passengers in our van were choosing the LAURA Plantation,

so our first stop was there to drop them off!

 

 

 

 

Laura Plantation is west of New Orleans, about 50 miles from the French Quarter,

on the west bank of the Mississippi River.

 

(located at 2247 River Road - Vacherie, LA 70090)

 

 

 

 

Laura Plantation - best know for the "Best History Tour" and its slave quarters

 

 

 

 

Here, on the banks of the Mississippi River, in the middle of New Orleans Plantation Country,

at one historic farm, surrounded by fields of sugar cane,

we found the difference that exemplifies Creole Louisiana!

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

Since our friends visited LAURA Plantation earlier that day (as part of their Combo Tour split over 2 days),

below are some images that they took during their own plantation tour:

 

 

 

 

The admission (included on our combo tour fare) covers the following:

- A guided tour based on Laura Locoul's Memories of the Old Plantation Home.

 

- A guided tour of the newly restored Big House, its raised basement and galleries,

men's and women's parlors, service rooms and common rooms.

 

- A guided tour of the 200-year-old sugar plantation homestead with a visit into the 3 gardens:

Jardin Français, the kitchen potager & BananaLand grove.

 

- A guided tour inside one of the slave cabins, built in 1840, where the ancient west-African tales of

Compair Lapin, better known in English as "Br'er Rabbit," were recorded.

 

On the grounds are 12 buildings on the National Register,

including animal barns, overseers' cottages and the 1829 Maison de Reprise.

 

- Free parking and entrance to the Laura Plantation Store.

 

 

 

 

 

Insider's TIPS for this plantation tour:

 

* Photography is allowed inside and out.

(Video-photography is not allowed)

 

* Cell phones must be muted for the duration of the tour.

 

* Laura is a smoke-free attraction.

(Cigarettes, cigars and pipe smoking are not permitted on-site)

 

* Allow at least 60-90 minutes for your visit

(including time for restrooms, refreshments and the Laura Plantation Store)

 

* This plantation tour is partly an outdoor experience so, dress for the weather with comfortable shoes.

 

 

 

 

The guided tour is based upon 5,000 pages of documents related to this plantation discovered in the Archives Nationales

in Paris, with the major stories coming from Laura Locoul Gore's own Memories of the Old Plantation Home.

 

 

 

(M&E's pictures)

[daliflor]

 

 

The guided tour starts with a visit through the Maison Principale, built in 1805,

 

into its raised basement and galleries, and into men's and women's chambers & offices,

service rooms and common rooms.

 

 

 

 

Even though you will see Laura's family heirlooms and their Creole furnishings,

this portion of the tour spotlights the charmed but tragic lives of the plantation's inhabitants.

 

Visitors are introduced to age-old Creole traditions and mores and to the skilled workmanship of enslaved artisans.

 

 

 

 

After touring the Maison Principale, the visit moves onto the grounds, surrounded by sugarcane fields

and 12 buildings on the National Register, winding into the plantation gardens:

 

the formal Jardin Français, the kitchen garden and Laura's new BananaLand.

 

 

 

 

This part of the tour places visitors at the exact locations where

stories recalling the sobering events of human slavery happened.

 

 

 

(M&E's pictures)

[daliflor]

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tour @ LAURA Plantation concludes in one of the 1840s slave cabins where sugarcane workers lived until 1977

and where the ancient west-African folktales of Compair Lapin were recorded.

(better known as the legendary rascal Br'er Rabbit)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(M&E's pictures)

[daliflor]

 

 

The grounds of the LAURA Plantation are beautiful as

huge Cyprus trees seem to frame and hug the historic buildings.

 

 

 

(M&E's pictures)

[daliflor]

Now back on the road (again)!

 

 

 

 

We are heading to our last stop of the day: the visit of Oak Alley Plantation!

 

 

 

 

Louisiana’s two different cultures come to life with tours focusing on Anglo and Creole owners,

antebellum grandeur and rustic daily life.

 

 

 

St. Joseph Plantation, a Creole Plantation, is west of New Orleans, about 50 miles from the French Quarter,

on the west bank of the Mississippi River.

 

 

 

 

Many tours here, we were told, are guided by family members themselves.

 

 

 

 

Lovingly restored by volunteers consisting of family members and friends;

this plantation is just one way we have preserved the local heritage as well as the family.

 

 

Edited February 14, 2013 by daliflor

[daliflor]

 

 

Getting closer and closer to our final destination:

 

 

 

 

And then VOILA! (speachless)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[daliflor]

The driver had to stop the van for a moment so we can take in the BEAUTY of this fenomenal place...

 

 

 

 

Oak Alley is best know for its 20 gigantic Oak Trees from the river road to the house.

 

 

 

 

We were mesmerized and could hardly wait to get to the parking lot around the corner!

 

 

 

 

Oak Alley Plantation is west of New Orleans, about 55 miles from the French Quarter,

on the west bank of the Mississippi River.

 

(located at 3645 River Road - Vacherie, LA 70090)

 

 

 

 

The beautiful Oak Alley Plantation dates back to the 1840s!

 

 

 

 

We HAVE finally ARRIVED! The highlight of the trip - Louisiana's OAK ALLEY Plantation!

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

After the driver dropped us by the entrance's gates, we had about 25 minutes or so to explore the area.

 

(before the the formal plantation tour started)

 

 

 

 

There’s so much to see and do along the Mississippi River in New Orleans Plantation Country!

 

 

 

 

This area abounds in colonial history, ancient traditions, river commerce, rich cuisine,

music, folklore, the vestiges of human servitude and untamed swampy wilderness.

 

 

 

 

In addition to the mansion, at Oak Alley there is a restaurant, a cafe/Ice Cream Parlor,

a gift shop and a bed and breakfast on the grounds.

 

 

[daliflor]

 

After the driver dropped us by the entrance's gates, we had about 25 minutes or so to explore the area.

 

(before the start of the formal plantation tour)

 

 

 

There’s so much to see and do along the Mississippi River in New Orleans Plantation Country!

 

 

 

This area abounds in colonial history, ancient traditions, river commerce, rich cuisine,

music, folklore, the vestiges of human servitude and untamed swampy wilderness.

 

 

 

In addition to the mansion, at Oak Alley there is a restaurant, a cafe/Ice Cream Parlor,

a gift shop and a bed and breakfast on the grounds.

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

 

Time to pick-up some original, local souvenirs @ Oak Alley Plantation Store!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I mention how delicious the Pecan Pie is here @ the Oak Alley? Mmmm, soo good!

 

[daliflor]

 

 

Time to taste one of the local ABITA beers (i.e. strawberry flavor)!

 

 

 

 

Located on the Mississippi River, Oak Alley Plantation has been called the "Grande Dame of the Great River Road".

 

The plantation home is situated in the most spectacular setting of any plantation in the South.

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

 

Oak Alley Plantation and its Restaurant & Inn tastefully

blend the advantages of modern day services with the charm of authentic Old South surroundings.

 

 

 

 

[trubadur]

 

VOILA! (speachless)

 

 

 

 

WOW! Look how small those people appear next to the giant trees! Like a canoe next to a cruise ship, LOL

[daliflor]

 

 

Take a long look over the land!

 

Don't you wish you could call Oak Alley home? : - ))

 

 

 

 

Heading to the "Big House" on Tuesday afternoon... beautiful weather!

 

 

 

 

Located on the Mississippi River, Oak Alley Plantation has

been called the "Grande Dame of the Great River Road".

 

 

 

 

 

 

This sugar kettle is used as a water garden now:

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

 

 

 

"We have baby oaks in back," the guide said.

 

"Those are only 150 years old."

 

 

 

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

 

Open every day

except New Year's Day, Mardi Gras Tuesday,

Christmas Day, and Thanksgiving Day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oak Alley Plantation is

one of the most picturesque historical sites in the area!

 

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

 

Most tourists are familiar with plantation homes in Louisiana and other southern states

that are constructed in the familiar Greek revival style

with their signature massive Greek columns gracing the front façade

or even surrounding the entire structure.

 

 

 

 

The largest and most striking of these Greek revival plantations is

Oak Alley in Vacherie, Louisiana.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oak Alley Plantation and one of its famous

antebellum-dressed tour guides!

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

Touring the Oak Alley Plantation Mansion on a Tuesday afternoon (October 2, 2012)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The present mansion was built by George Swainy between 1837 and 1839 for Jacques Telesphore Roman.

 

Roman's father-in-law, Joseph Pilie, was an architect and probably designed the house.

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

Leading from the river to the front of the plantation home is the driveway flanked by

two rows of huge live oaks creating perhaps the grandest entrance of any plantation in the South.

 

 

 

 

The Oak Alley Mansion has high ceilings, large windows, a symmetrical facade

and interior plan, and a second-floor gallery for viewing the surroundings.

 

 

 

 

 

Taking another peek at the beautiful oak trees! : - ))