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When you make a list of all the unique things Louisiana has to offer visitors, you quickly see the long-lasting influences of our French, Spanish and African ancestry. A past preserved today through our architecture, music, food - and through our celebration of life. It is not an accident that Louisiana lives by the phrase, "laissez les bon temps rouler." Let yourself get lost in the traditions passed down generation to generation! Come visit Louisiana during Mardi Gras when costumed riders parade and magnificent balls are thrown from Lake Charles to Houma and beyond. Peek back across the centuries, as you walk under lavish ironwork and through the lush courtyard gardens of a meticulously-restored French Quarter hotel. Touch history with a stroll and a tour of a plantation where the ways of the past are recreated. Let nature's mysteries astound and amaze with a boat ride through a cypress studded bayou. Here, in Louisiana, magic, myth and lore come alive every day.
With year 'round hunting, fishing, golf and more, it is easy to see why the state's nickname happens to be "Sportsman's Paradise." Sure, that's a lot to live up to. But with thousands of hiking and biking trails, nearly 20 State Parks, and one of the largest game preserves in the United States, Louisiana is the ultimate playground for all outdoorsmen. The vast expanse of coastal wetlands and countless birding trails make this state a habitat for many rare and endangered species and a natural paradise for bird watchers as well. Come step in to the wild! It has been said that the best place to find yourself is outdoors in Louisiana.
Eating in Louisiana is a delicious culinary adventure. Spanning centuries, the food is culture here. Whether you're having pork boudin in Lafayette, savory meat pies in Natchitoches, Oysters Rockefeller in the French Quarter - or a modern culinary classic crafted from a James Beard award-winning chef - you are sampling the rich mix of Louisiana's heritage. Come on down! Taste the wonder that is Louisiana. Explore the Louisiana Culinary Trails to discover the rich cuisine of the Gumbo State and the spice of life that makes Louisiana a food destination not to be missed.
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A heady confluence of the haughty European and the boisterous third-world, New Orleans is often referred to as the northernmost Caribbean city. Precious architecture stands alongside careening overloaded trucks, sumptuous delicacies tickle palates while the glamour in parts of the city amazes your eyes. Here you can never be in a hurry, and anytime you step outside, you should be ready for a meandering conversation with a total stranger. New Orleans' vibrant, old-school panache lends a certain dignity to otherwise debauched activities. Revelers throw strings of beads from cast-iron balconies in appreciation of beautiful strangers passing below. The sonorous echoes of unbelievably sweet jazz, funky brass, R&B and blues beat from unexpected corners, and dancing becomes a reaction, not a choice. Meanwhile succulent restaurant aromas recall a history infused with African, Spanish, Italian, and Caribbean cultural influences.
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