Itinerary
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Sunday, 17 May 2020: Arrive New Orleans; Welcome Dinner (D)
Welcome to New Orleans! Schedule your arrival no later than 4:00pm and take local transportation to the hotel. Our tour begins at 5:30pm in the courtyard of our French Quarter hotel. After introductions, we will dine together at a local restaurant and get better acquainted. Overnight New Orleans - 2 nights
Monday, 18 May 2020: Beignets & Cafe Au Lait; Cooking Class; Free Time (B,L)
We begin the day with a traditional New Orleans breakfast, beignets and cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde. Then, we head to a cooking class to explore cooking some local cusine like gumbo, red beans and rice, pecan pie, and pralines. Afterwards, there is free time to explore the French Quarter on your own or maybe head over the Garden District. Your Tour Leader will have suggestions for you.
Tuesday, 19 May 2020: Depart New Orleans; Houmas House; Group Lunch; Travel to Lafayette; Group Dinner (B,L,D)
We leave New Orleans today, stopping at one of the most beautiful plantations and gardens in the South, Houmas House, in Darrow, La. Before lunch, there will be time to walk around the beautiful grounds, which has been called the “crown jewel” of the River Road. Tonight, we'll enjoy a group dinner. Overnight Lafayette - 3 nights
Wednesday, 20 May 2020: Jefferson Island Gardens; Tabasco Factory; Martin Accordions Factory (B,L)
We begin our morning on Jefferson Island. Jefferson Island is filled with diverse history, such as the tree where Jean Lafitte, the French pirate, buried his treasure. Some of the coins that were found in the tree are on display in the Joseph Jefferson Home, which we’ll tour this morning. The mansion, built in 1870 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a charming Victorian style mansion, with a fourth-story cupola. It stands as the centerpiece of the Gardens filled with magnificent plants and peacocks. After lunch in the mansion's cafe, we'll visit the Avery Island Tabasco Factory and see how Tabasco is produced, from the pepper greenhouse to the bottling plant. Music is an integral part of life in Acadiana, and the accordion is a traditional element. We’ll visit a local accordion factory, owned and operated by the same family, the Martins, for more than 30 years. We’ll not only see how they make their hand-crafted instruments but we’ll also hear some authentic Cajun music!
Thursday, 21 May 2020: Crawfish Farm; Alligator Rescue; Free Time (B,L)
Spring is crawfish harvest season in Louisiana! Today, we'll visit a working crawfish farm and learn all there is about Louisiana's #1 crustacean and the state's famous crawfish boils. Afterwards, we''l visit the local alligator rescue to see the gator orphans and learn how they are cared for. We'll return to Lafayette for free time. Your WTT Tour Leader will have ideas and suggestions for you, based on your interests.
Friday, 22 May 2020: Creole Village; Farewell Luncheon; Swamp Tour (B,L)
Leaving Lafayette, we’ll stop at a local folk life village. Opened in 1990, Vermilionville preserves the heritage of Native American, Creole, and Acadian people on a 23-acre site. In addition to restored original homes representing an early Acadian settlement, local artisans demonstrate a variety of essential crafts performed by the early settlers. In the afternoon, we'll venture by boat through a south Louisiana swamp. We’ll see moss draped cypress trees and perhaps egrets, herons, or even an alligator. We conclude our day near the New Orleans airport for convenience sake. Overnight New Orleans - 1 night
Saturday, 23 May 2020: Return Home from New Orleans (B)
Sadly, our time together has come to an end. Based on the departure time you provide WTT, your Tour Leader will organize travelers into small groups so you can ride-share to the airport if you wish.