Fall in Love with Louisiana’s River Parishes

Louisiana’s River Parishes are perfectly situated between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Our Creole and Cajun heritages fused together have created a distinct southern culture and present a collection of gems, extending along the east and west banks of the Mississippi River. #OutHere, roots go deeper, like the depths of the river, whose waters are filled with stories waiting to be told. Narratives about the plantation life are interesting and infinite, and the creation of food, like Andouille, has a mixture of local carious versions. Tales about the bayous and swamps in Lake Des Allemands are distinct and diverse, and the formation of Perique Tobacco and sugar cane have their own unique stories.

The Alligator Festival - Visit the annual Alligator Festival at the Westbank Bridge Park in St. Charles Parish, every last full weekend in September. The Alligator Festival is hosted by the Rotary Club of St. Charles Parish to fundraise for college scholarships awarded to local youth. Enjoy live alligators, 10 bands, carnival rides, Cajun cuisine, craft booths, and more. You won't want to say "see you later alligator" to this one-of-a-kind festival!

Destrehan Plantation: Destrehan Plantation, the Gateway to the River Parishes, located less than 25 minutes from New Orleans and 10 minutes from the New Orleans International Airport. The site is handicap accessible and offers guided tours, 1811 Slave Revolt and Freedmen's Bureau Exhibits, Daily Demonstration, Lodging, and a Mule Barn Event Venue.

Zip NOLA: Zip NOLA is the New Orleans area’s FIRST & ONLY swamp zipline! Zip NOLA is nestled in the historic town of Frenier, along lake Ponchartrain and boasts a state of the art facility, equipped with the most advanced zipline technology to provide the safest ride possible. Traverse the canopies of New Orleans' iconic moss-covered cypress trees in the most unique fashion! Receive both thrill and education as your local guides educate you on the ecology and wildlife of the swamp, as well as the rich history, voodoo queen, and folklore of Frenier! Our tour is 1 hour and 30 minutes long, consisting of 5 ziplines, 2 suspension bridges, and a spiral tree staircase! View alligators, turtles, waterfowl, wild boar, whitetail deer, and more!

1811 Kid Ory Historic House: One of the oldest structures in St. John the Baptist parish, the 1811/Kid Ory Historic House figures in two noteworthy moments in American history: The 1811 rebellion of enslaved people and the dawn of jazz. The first blood of the rebellion was drawn in the house and pioneering jazz bandleader, composer, trombonist, and recording artist Edward “Kid” Ory was born in the quarters there in 1886. Both stories come alive in exhibits that include antique, homemade instruments, interpretive story panels, period maps, working antique phonographs, interactive displays of music and video, and Ory’s century-old trombone. The rebellion was a desperate gamble for freedom which ended in a slaughter. Kid Ory’s tale is one of a pioneering artist who arose from the fields of that same plantation to help define an emerging art form. We strive to tell both stories with the accuracy, sensitivity, and nuance they demand.

Learn more at www.LARiverParishes.com