LOUISIANA

Music, magnolias, seafood, and spices create the distinctive ambiance and aroma of Louisiana. Plantations of the past produced the wealthiest men in early American history, who left behind extraordinary mansions that symbolize both the prosperity and injustices of the region. New Orleans has held its famous Mardi Gras parades since 1838 and hosts an annual Jazz & Heritage Festival that attracts all comers. Louisiana’s capital of Baton Rouge is located on the Mississippi river. Both cities—and, indeed, much of the state—evoke the culture left behind by early French explorers.