Sunbelt Getaways - southern United States

Travel America, Nov, 2000 by Barbara Gibbs Ostmann

Texas isn't the only state with Gulf frontage--look to Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida for more coastal attractions.

When you mention Louisiana, New Orleans immediately comes to mind, followed by Mardi Gras. Those in the know also quickly think of Cajun and Creole cooking, hot jazz, the French Quarter, and much more.

If you can tear yourself away from the "Big Easy," you'll find even more to love about Louisiana in Baton Rouge and Lafayette. Baton Rouge boasts the largest concentration of plantation homes in the South, many of which offer B&B accommodations. Lafayette is in the heart of Cajun Country and prides itself on its Acadian heritage and zydeco music. Lafayette also boasts a family-friendly Mardi Gras celebration. Nearby Avery Island is the home of Tabasco, that world-famous hot sauce.

One of the best ways to visit Louisiana and neighboring states is by boat--steamboat or river barge, to be exact. Delta Queen Steamboat Company steam paddlewheelers ply the Mississippi and scenic rivers through the American Heartland and the Old South. Many cruises have a theme, such as jazz, Big Band, or Civil War.

RiverBarge Excursions Lines offers the first floating river barge vacation accommodations in the United States. The R/B River Explorer is comprised of two interlocked barges powered by a towboat, which pushes the barges. The vessel explores seven different regions, including the Mississippi, Cumberland, and Ohio rivers.

Plantation houses, antebellum mansions, and the romance of the Old South are part of the charm of Mississippi. In Natchez, the oldest permanent settlement on the Mississippi River, more than 500 buildings are on the National Register. A hike along the nearby Natchez Trace brings the early days of our country vividly to life as you imagine foot after foot tramping down the earth along this key trail. At the National Military Park in Vicksburg, relive the 47-day siege of the city once known as the "Gibraltar of the Confederacy." Vicksburg is also where Coca-Cola was first bottled in 1894.

Follow Highway 90, also called the "Hospitality Highway," along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Take your choice of laid-back resort activities or fast-paced casino action. In picturesque Bay St. Louis, enjoy a tour of the bayous, marshes, and bay area. In Biloxi, tour Beauvoir, the last home of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy. In Gulfport, tour the old Fort Massachusetts, or take a tour of the Gulf Coast Winery and sample the fruit of the vine. In Pascagoula, don't miss the Old Spanish Fort and Museum, the oldest edifice west of the Atlantic Coast.

In Alabama, be sure to visit the Mobile Bay area, which abounds with attractions, nature preserves, beaches, and lots of history. A stop at the beautiful Bellingrath Gardens in Theodore is a must anytime of year. Did you know that Mobile celebrated Mardi Gras long before New Orleans? You can learn all about it at the Museum of the City of Mobile--or better yet, be there at Mardi Gras time. For a boat ride on the wild side, take a swamp tour on the bayou near Mobile.