Ready, Set, Start Planning! It’s time to clock out and plan your Louisiana vacation

Does too much screen time have you daydreaming? It’s time for a change of scenery, so make plans for that long-awaited trip to Louisiana.

Let your hair down and indulge in a few unforgettable meals or tap your toe to a familiar beat you haven’t heard in a while.

Plan your road trip itinerary

Whether you visit Louisiana’s big cities or take the back roads to experience the charm of Louisiana’s quaint small towns, you’ll be welcomed with open arms. Dine at world-renowned restaurants or hole-in-the-wall eateries, shop for handmade trinkets by local artists and experience each city and town’s distinctive culture and hidden treasures. Learn about some of our most out-of-the-way places and learn why Louisiana is a Trip.

Make unforgettable memories at a Louisiana Festival

When you arrive, you will find there is always a reason to laissez les bons temps rouler (let the good times roll) in Louisiana! Our rich culture of music, food, heritage and more means we are always celebrating with a festival!

Mardi Gras is back this year and promises to be better than ever. Whether you’re craving the traditional mega-parades in New Orleans or Houma or a rural Courir de Mardi Gras complete with chicken chases, there’s plenty of celebrating to go around.

If a springtime trip is on your mind, check out the just-released 2022 New Orleans Jazz Fest lineup here! After two years of virtual events, this year’s Jazz Fest promises to be unparalelled.

Catch the Mudbug Madness Festival in Shreveport during the summer. Or set the plate for the Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival during early fall. Experience Cajun culture at the Festival International de Louisiane or Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival in the south.

Head to the capital city for Baton Rouge Blues Festival in the spring or Jambalaya Festival in the summer. Love strawberries? Attend the summertime Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival in Tangipahoa Parish.

Travel way down south in October for the famous Rougarou Fest in Houma, a legendary celebration! And in New Orleans, the good times don’t stop, as it hosts a variety of unique festivals most weekends.

It’s easy to make festival plans on vacation in Louisiana! Plan your trip around annual festivals, or check out what events are happening when you get here.

Pay a visit to a Louisiana State Museum

Immerse yourself in Louisiana’s arts and history at one of the nine state museums dotted across the state. From sports or Jazz to aviation or Mardi Gras – you’ll find a unique and fascinating exhibition for every topic of interest. Speaking of Mardi Gras, you won’t want to miss Rex: The 150th Anniversary of the School of Design at The Presbytére.  Get familiar before you drop in with these virtual gallery tours and experiences.

Stay awhile at a Louisiana State Park

Breathe in that fresh Louisiana air in the great outdoors. Get in on the action and participate in water sports, cast a line, view Louisiana’s wildlife, trek through hiking trails and more. Louisiana’s state parks are the perfect spot for outdoor recreation.

Stay overnight at any of our park cabins and wake up to the peace and quiet only pure nature can bring. Or even explore your camping options. Nine of our Louisiana State Parks now offer glamping; check out the details and book your tent here.

Indulge in the life-changing cuisine

We’d put money on you having the best meal of your life right here in Louisiana. From restaurants that have been serving up incredible meals for over 100 years to gas stations that have the best yam cake you’ll ever eat, Louisiana has no shortage of meals that will leave their mark in your memory.

If you’re looking for the full, cultural experience, challenge yourself to try each of these classic Louisiana dishes:

Then don’t forget, we’ve got our fair share of craft breweries, distilleries and even a few wineries!

Immerse yourself in your surroundings

See the Bayou State from the Red River in the North to the mouth of the Mississippi River down South. Get up close and personal with our unique landscape on a swamp tour when you airboat, kayak or cruise through the Bayou. And with year-round hunting, fishing, golf and countless other opportunities for outdoor recreation, it is easy to see why Louisiana’s nickname is “Sportsman’s Paradise.”

Plan For The Vacation You Deserve

Book your airfare today or map out the perfect road trip route. Then order your copy of the Louisiana Sunshine Magazine for more insider tips on where to go and what to see.