Author: Emily Gautreaux

Best Places for a Weekend Getaway in Louisiana

Louisiana is a great place to plan a weekend getaway, but knowing where to start when it comes to actually planning your trip can seem overwhelming. Should you visit Cajun Country, as everyone else seems to? Or maybe explore the deep southern routes in Plantation Country? But if you want to do outdoor activities, maybe it’d be best if you head north?

Planet Ware put together a list of the best top-rated weekend getaways you can take in Louisiana, complete with activities and attractions you’d enjoy. Here are a few of our favorites!

New Orleans

Naturally, New Orleans had to be in our top favorites! This city is one of the top vacations spots in Louisiana thanks to its neverending adventures and over 300 years of history, culture, and amazing food.

Hop on a streetcar and explore the French Quarter. You can choose from one of four streetcar lines, but the oldest is the Saint Charles Streetcar Line, which has been in operation for more than 150 years.

Once you’re in French Quarter, make sure to stop at the Vieux Carre, where you can explore Jackson Square and tour St. Louis Cathedral.

A few other adventures to add to your list include stopping at Café du Monde for their famous beignets and stopping at the French Market. The French Market is an open-air market that spans five blocks. It has specialty shops, a community flea market, home-cooked food, and music.

Plantation Country

If you prefer a quiet getaway, this is your stop. This region of Louisiana is about an hour outside New Orleans and is home to a multitude of sprawling plantations you can tour. It’s also the birthplace of Louisiana’s famous andouille, a staple in their Southern dishes.

A few of the more plantations to tour are the Houmas House Plantation and Gardens, the Laura Plantation, and the Oak Alley Plantation. The Ormond Plantation, Houmas House, and Oak Alley all offer dining and lodging if you’re looking for an extra special trip!

A few other activities you can do while in Plantation Country that doesn’t involve touring these historic homes are taking a kayak, pontoon, or airboat swamp tour and learning about local wildlife, the Cajuns, and the Native Americans that originally inhabited the area, spending an afternoon taking in the Louisiana culture, or going on a food tour of the Cajun cuisine made in Plantation Country.

Toledo Bend Reservoir Weekend Getaway 

If you’re a fan of the outdoors and want to make sure you have plenty of opportunities to be outside on this getaway, your best bet is Toledo Bend Reservoir in North Toledo Bend State Park. This reservoir is home to the largest man-made lake in the south and is known as one of the top fishing spots in Louisiana. You can even take a guided fishing trip on the lake.

Activities include hiking, biking, water sports, and year-round golf. You can rent kayaks, canoes, and flat-bottom boats from the park for day-to-day use. The reservoir is also a fantastic birding location, with over 900 acres to look for native and migrating species.

If you prefer to camp, the state park has campsites on site that range from premium sites to backcountry camping. Cabins are available that sleep up to 6 people and lodging for larger families is also available.

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7 Stress-Free Travel Tips from a Flight Attendant

Between making sure you make it through TSA in enough time to board your flight, managing the sheer boredom on a long flight, or trying to tune out the crying toddler a few rows behind you, traveling can be quite stressful. Travel + Leisure interviewed Lauren Guilfoyle, an Emirates flight attendant, to find out seven travel tips that will make your travel smooth sailing.

  1. Travel Tip-Download entertainment ahead of time 

You don’t want to be caught off guard if your airline provides movies you aren’t a huge fan of.

“Before heading to the airport, I like to download a few hours of shows, movies, and podcasts to take my mind off the airport chaos,” Guilfoyle said. “Emiratesactually allows passengers to create their in-flight playlist before heading onboard. All they have to do is log in to The Emirates App and create a playlist from Emirates’ 4,500 channels of movies, shows, podcasts, and music. Once onboard, simply sync the playlist to the seatback TV and enjoy hours of non-stop entertainment.”

Make sure to check your airline’s website before heading to the airport to see what entertainment options are available to you.

  1. Pack an Extra Charger

An extra charger is always a smart idea.

“What’s worse than losing luggage? A dead phone. I recommend packing a portable charger to avoid drained batteries or wandering through the airport searching for an outlet,” Guilfoyle said.

  1. Travel Tip-Try to exercise or at least stretch before departure

“Long haul flights can mean fatigue, grogginess, and poor blood circulation,” she said. “If possible, try to exercise before a flight.” If you don’t have time you could always try doing a few pushups in the air too.

  1. Leave earlier than you think you need to

Missing a flight is probably the worst thing that could happen when you’re traveling. Make sure to leave with more than enough time to make it through security and bag check. Plus, you’ll have plenty of time to grab a coffee pre-flight, which is always a win.

“Time is a major stress factor for travelers. Do what you can to get ahead — whether it’s packing the day before, leaving your office early, or getting a head start on traffic,” Guilfoyle explained. “If you’re traveling with other people, don’t be afraid to tell them to show up earlier than you plan on leaving to give yourselves a cushion.”

  1. Make some time for yourself

“In between the chaos of a crowded airport during the holidays, be sure to take some time for yourself,” Guilfoyle astutely noted. “Whether it’s meditation, putting on a facemask or treating yourself to a nice dinner, give yourself time to take a breath and recalibrate your emotions.”

  1. Dress for Comfort

Comfort is key! Who wants to be traveling in jeans and dress shoes when you could be wearing leggings or sweats?

“Over the years, I’ve come to realize how important it is to dress for comfort when traveling. I recommend wearing comfortable shoes for rushing through the airport or walking to and from your car, wear layers to prepare for any temperature, and making sure your outfit is one you can relax in for a 16-plus hour flight,” she said. “When you’re rushing to catch a flight, the last thing you want to worry about is a broken heel or itchy top.”

  1. Big Travel Tip-Catch up on sleep

A long plane ride is the perfect place to catch up on some sleep!

“My top recommendation? Snag noise-cancelling headphones and flip up your ‘do not disturb’ sign to make sure your zzz’s are uninterrupted.”

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10 Fast Dinners To Escape a Post-Holiday Food Rut

Right after the holidays, it’s easy to get stuck in a food rut. Sometimes, the kitchen is the last place you want to be, especially after spending what felt like days slaving over the stove.  Luckily, The Kitchn compiled a list of light and fresh dinners that require minimal effort but still make your tastebuds happy. These fast dinners will be great for family and friends, but still allow you to enjoy spending time with them as well.

This all-in-one dinner includes tender broccoli, spicy chicken sausage, and orzo pasta in one skillet to create a deliciously satisfying dinner with little work. Perfect for those nights where you need to whip something up quick. Throw everything in one pan, cook, and dinner is done for you.

These easy to make pork chops are simmered in a chunky salsa on your stovetop and deliver the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and tangy. Served over a bed of summer squash, you can choose from an arrangement of salsa – spice it up, cool it down, or even choose something a little fruity for a twist.

This easy weeknight dinner only takes about a half-hour to make, so be ready to fall in love. You’ll find deep flavors of roasted broccoli and extra-sharp cheddar cheese, pureed into a blend of deliciousness.

This Taco Tuesday reboot is the perfect addition to those dreary winter days. Filled with shredded chicken, hearty black beans, and a smoked, spicy broth, this is a recipe you’ll keep on hand well into spring.

This is a dish perfect for Thanksgiving fans. In it, you’ll find all the flavors of your favorite day – caramelized onions, roasted butternut squash, hearty kale, toasted pecans, and sweet golden raisins, topped with a roasted garlic-sherry vinaigrette. You can serve this dish warm or at room temperature.

This salad is a vegetarian’s dream! This main dish uses chickpeas as it’s protein, then add in a variety of crunchy veggies, fresh cilantro, and a spiced honey-garlic dressing, and you have a vibrant veggie salad that will have everyone going for seconds.

Rice bowls are the perfect go-to when you have a busy schedule and an empty belly, and this rice bowl is no exception. A remake of the ever-loved pork and broccoli take-out, this recipe will make you fall in love. You’ll find tender pork, garlicky broccoli, and a savory, creamy peanut sauce in this recipe.

This noodle bowl is as delicious as it sounds! The crunch from the baked shrimp and perfectly ripe avocado combine perfectly, and the caesar dressing is classed up with lemon juice and zest, creating the ultimate noodle bowl you’ll be craving all week.

The saucier the better, they say. This salmon dish features a fresh tomato-based sauce, garlic, balsamic, and fresh thyme. Whatever of the sauce is leftover is used to the couscous the salmon is served over.

This soup is a perfect switch up for your classic chicken noodle soup. This Thai-inspired soup keeps all the traditional elements but adds those Thai flavors we love and adore.

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Five Unusual Things to do in New Orleans

In Louisiana, New Orleans is the place to go to experience a city that truly captures the essence of Louisiana’s culture and history. You’ll find jazz music at the corner of every street, epic gumbo festivals, tons of museums, haunted cemeteries, and of course, Mardi Gras.

But not everyone wants to check out the usual spots, or maybe they aren’t a fan of the crowds that usually populate local favorites. Thanks to Louisiana Travel, here is a list of unusual things to do in New Orleans.

Located in one of New Orleans’ oldest neighborhoods, you’ll find an arrangement of artist shacks and tiny homes, all built with recycled materials. If you go inside one of these shacks, you’ll find an assortment of handmade musical instruments built into the building themselves.

Their website states “The Music Box Village is a place where play, imagination, experimentation, collaboration, community and hard work come together as a whimsical village of artist-made interactive “musical houses.” Each installation is inspired by the unique musical and architectural culture of our home city of New Orleans, and represents a collaborative process between artists based here and abroad. Our one-of-a-kind art site hosts intensive artist residencies, performances, panels, and welcomes visitors for exploration and play.”

Established in 1772, this shop is named for Pierre Lafitte, a blacksmith and a brother of Jean Lafitte, a pirate, and hero of the Battle of New Orleans. The brothers used their shop to plan their many exploits. In the 1940s, the shop became a popular cafe with local artists.

Their website claims Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop to be “a gumbo of truth and French, Spanish, African, Cajun and American embellishments.”

So make sure to stop by and soak up some history when you’re in the French Quarter.

Have you ever been curious about Voodoo and its roots? If so, make sure to stop by this museum!

At the Historic Voodoo Museum, you will learn about the real history of Voodoo and experience Voodoo related artifacts and objects. The museum was founded in 1972 as a designated place for all things Voodoo to live. They claim they took “all the mysteries, the secrets, the history, and the folklores of rituals, zombies, of gris-gris, of Voodoo Queens and all that jazz, and put it all in one place at the heart of the New Orleans French Quarter.”

This warehouse-converted-art gallery features 35,000 feet of gallery space and is home to the up-and-coming artist Brandan “Bmike” Odums. Contrary to tradtional canvases, Odums paints powerful and hopeful murals on exterior and interior walls.

“Studio Be features “Ephemeral Eternal,” his first solo exhibition that includes over a dozen original murals, several room-sized installations, and reconstructed murals salvaged from #ProjectBe before the Florida Housing Development’s demolition in 2014. The studio is open to the public 4 days a week, and welcomes hundreds of visitors from near and far weekly.”

Located in the historic Tremé neighborhood, this museum is the only one of its kind in the world. Dedicated to the contributions of the city’s African Americans to New Orleans culture, the museum has become a collection of priceless artifacts from Mardi Gras Indians and jazz funerals, and has archived images of more than 500 related cultural events.

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New Grant Assists Early Childhood Education Centers

On December 23, 2019, the Louisiana Department of Education announced it won a competitive federal Preschool Development Grant worth more than $11 million each year, for three years. The grant will start in 2020 and is going to be used to create more than 600 new seats at early learning sites for low-income children, from birth to age 3. It will also be used to improve the quality of programming in early childhood education and build the capacity of local communities to meet the needs of their youngest learners.

Since 2014, Louisiana has won two versions of this grant, bringing in a total of $40.3 million, not including this funding.

“Since Act 3 of 2012, Louisiana has positively transformed its early childhood education system, boosting it to No.8 in the nation,” said State Superintendent John White, citing a ranking by the Bipartisan Policy Center.“We are proud this hard work has again been recognized by the federal government in the form of funding support. This new grant award marks an important step toward solving the state’s crisis of access, particularly among children birth to age 3, who are most in need.”

“However, significant barriers remain for thousands of working families in need of quality care and education for their children. We must continue to work together to find solutions and close this gap.” White added.

This grant will allow Louisiana to:

  • In the first year, create at least 600 new seats in child care centers for children birth to age 3. Programs that provide infant care, meet teacher certification requirements, have achieved minimum quality rating scores will be prioritized. These seats will be offered as fully funded and additional seats may be added over the three years.
  • Double the number of Ready Start Network pilots. Currently, there are 13 pilots statewide. These locally-led pilot programs, which were created in response to2018 legislation, are responsible for increasing access to high-quality early childhood education in their communities. They are critical to sustainably solving Louisiana’s seat crisis for children birth through age 3.
  • Fund community-based guides to assist families. These Early Childhood Education Guides were created to recruit and support families to apple for child care assistance, as well as build a community level waiting list of eligible children for seats.
  • Strengthen relationships with family child care home providers. Expanding on a pilot already in place, Louisiana will establish and strengthen regional networks of family child care home providers. They will also measure the quality of these operations and offer support for improvement efforts.

Among other key initiatives outlined.

“Louisiana was one of just 20 states across the country to win this Preschool Development Grant. That was not by chance,” said Tony Davis, member of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. “I applaud the efforts of the Department to win this award for our state, and I look forward to following the important initiatives this funding will support over the coming years.”

“This exciting news should serve as momentum for early childhood providers, advocates, and lawmakers to continue their progress,” she said. “While this funding is a positive step, more can–and must–be done for our children. Louisiana currently serves nearly all 4-year-old children, but only serves 7 percent of in-need children birth to age 2 and 33 percent of in-need children age 3.” said Dr. Libbie Sonnier-Neto, the executive director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children.

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Tulane University Provides Hands-On Experiences For The Visually Impaired

Tulane University Geologist, Nicole Gasparini and her undergraduate and graduate students brought visually impaired students from Louisiana Lighthouse a learning experience of a lifetime. Part of a $230,600 National Science Foundation Grant, Gasparini and her students were awarded, the goal is to study how soil is produced in different environments.

In the project proposal, Gasparini included service-learning, which is an academic requirement for all Tulane students. The idea was to help create a unique learning experience for special needs children so they could experience different types of soil and typography.

“The depth of soil is likely closely linked to the soil production rate and how rivers erode,” she said. “How rivers and soils interact has practical consequences for river infrastructure and human impacts on landscapes such as deforestation or forest fires.”

The first service-learning class, where students apply classroom knowledge to assist community organizations or address societal problems, was spent working with young visually impaired students and encouraging them to feel and touch models of volcanoes, waves, and other natural phenomena. The activities included whipped cream, wet sand, and play dough.

Alongside Gaspirini, four of her students at Tulane University participated in this exciting project; George Pratt, Kristina Leggas, Jenni Riggen, and Haily MacDonald.

“The students were worried about being able to hold the attention of the kids,” said Gasparini. “But the kids absolutely loved the experience.”

“This was my first experience teaching in a classroom setting, but I really enjoyed teaching the kids and also learning from them.” said Tulane senior George Pratt

The project included 3-D printing at the Scot Ackerman Makerspace at Tulane in order to create synthetic landscapes so the children could experience simulated volcanoes, tsunamis, and earthquakes.

One of the projects, lead by Kristina Leggas, centered around surface waves. She created this experience by incorporating sand and water to create a wave tank, and then invited the children to feel the different materials so they could understand how waves move over different types of soils and surfaces.

“I just had to use different prompts and focus on the sensation of touch instead sight,” said Leggas, a junior majoring in environmental science. “Watching them get excited about science made it all worth it.”

The volcano activity, led by George Pratt, a senior majoring in geology and anthropology, encouraged the young students to examine volcanic rock samples and prompted a conversation about how they were formed. He also made a model of a volcano for the kids by using stacked laser-cut plywood. Then, he taught them how lava flows by having them mold homemade play dough along the sides.

“If there was one thing that was challenging, it was conveying information in a way that visually impaired kids could understand. But they asked a lot of questions, and I could tell they were having a good time.”

Gaspirini spearheaded the earthquake activity by utilizing graham crackers and Cool Whip. In a tweet following their service based learning class, Gaspirini tweeted “’I almost started crying when one of the kids said, ‘I wish I could stay here all day.’”

Overall, the project was a massive success.

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