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If you thought New Orleans was the only Bayou beauty full of European flair, you were mistaken!
The timeless streets of Louisiana’s oldest city are illuminated by its own vibrant ‘French Quarter’, with its color wheel facades, wrought iron balconies and old-fashioned inns for a glimpse into the past.
With fewer crowds and a quieter atmosphere, without the thumping nightclubs and impromptu jazz performances, this quaint town of 17,000 residents has all the charm of New Orleans’ most popular neighborhood, without the headaches.
Enjoy Cajun cuisine, comfortable lodgings and picturesque streets, all in a tight spot without the chaos or safety concerns of Bourbon Street, as New Orleans ranks sixth on the list latest report of the ‘Most Dangerous Places in the US’.
You can trade the city grind for the charm of a small town Natchitoches, an affordable escape with a name that is harder to spell than to pronounce (“nack-a-tish”).
The city ‘where history lives’
Natchitoches’ slogan is “Where History Lives,” and that’s true.
It was founded in 1714 (beating New Orleans by four years) and is the oldest city in Louisiana.
The original ‘French Quarter’, founded by French explorer Louis Juchereau de St. Denis, is located here.
There may not be such a thing as a time machine (yet), but a visit to Natchcitoches is as close as it gets for Louisiana.
Visitors can take note of the Natchitoches National Historic Landmark District free, so make sure your camera roll has enough room to capture all the French and Spanish Creole architecture.
While it’s easy to compare this historic city to Europe, it’s really a smaller New Orleans, a dupe in terms of what many tourists come to experience: stunning architecture, hearty Creole cuisine, and yes, even Mardi Gras!
Except in Natchitoches, things don’t get too out of hand; they are more of a cultural delight than a late-night rager.
More seasonally relevant, however, is that the city is almost a century old Christmas festival takes place now until January 6.
Delving deep into Natchotoche’s fascinating timeline may be the most informative experience History Museum of Northwest Louisianacovering the history of the Native Americans to modern times.
Ultimately, you’ll want to escape the French flair and head to Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site, an immaculate replica of the 1716 French fort that has received rave reviews, where one patron said, “All I can say is wow ! Very worthwhile. Only $4 per person and worth every cent.’
Go back in time: enjoy a pleasant stay in a historic inn
Despite the temptation to post selfies from a five-star resort in a ‘photos or not’ world, there’s nothing wrong with stepping back in time and enjoying a nice stay at an old-fashioned inn.
Just because there isn’t a swim-up bar or fluffy bathrobes and slippers doesn’t mean you won’t have an unforgettable trip.
In today’s information age, you can even enjoy the irony that something old is something new. Scattered throughout the city are a variety of historic inns and bed and breakfasts, all receiving positive praise.
These 5 historic inns/bed & breakfasts are postcard-worthy and have impressive Google ratings of 4.6 and above:
- Sweet Cane Inn
- Judge Porter House Bed & Breakfast
- Andrew Morris House Bed & Breakfast
- Queen Anne Bed & Breakfast
- Kerkstraat inn
You can also test your fate in the (allegedly) haunted Chateau Saint Denis Hotela conveniently located boutique hotel in the center.
But many bed and breakfasts are located in renovated, century-old homes and offer a comfortable stay and a unique, historic experience, with or without spooky ghost stories.
Fun fact: the popular ones movie Steel Magnolias was filmed in Natchitoches. You can stay in the Steel Magnolia House, where many of the iconic scenes were filmed.
Phenomenal Cajun cuisine (including an overlooked local favorite!)
We all know New Orleans is the mecca for Louisiana cuisine, but don’t sleep on the food scene here.
You can surprise your taste buds with many, if not all, of the same famous dishes, but there’s one local favorite that doesn’t get enough hype.
Despite being closer to the Texas mainland than the Gulf Coast, the seafood here is still phenomenal, but so is meat pies that locals and visitors rave about.
Known for their flaky crust and savory filling, you can’t have enough of these portable treats. Check out Lasyone’s Meat Pie restaurant for this local delicacy consisting of beef and pork.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
