LOUISIANA from A to Z

Travel America, Jan, 2001 by Angela Wibking

Jazzland Theme Park. Kids of all ages will enjoy the 140-acre Jazzland Theme Park, which opened in New Orleans in May 2000. The park features 31 exciting rides, plus plenty of live jazz music and Cajun and Creole cuisine.

Kenner. Looking for big-city fun without the big-city prices? Try staying in Kenner, just a few minutes from downtown New Orleans. The town has plenty of attractions of its own, too, including the NFL New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame, the Toy Train Museum, and the Treasure Chest Casino. Lake Charles. Only a short drive from the Texas border, Lake Charles combines the free spirit of the American West with the soul of the Cajun South. Drive the 180-mile Creole Nature Trail National Scenic Byway and spot alligators, exotic birds, and other wildlife indigenous to the marshlands here. You'll find gaming fun at Isle of Capri Casino and Players Island Casino in Lake Charles and at Grand Casino Coushatta in nearby Kinder.

Morgan City. If Lafayette is the center of Cajun Country, then Morgan City is the unofficial capital of the Cajun Coast, the area that lies along the Atchafalaya River and the Gulf of Mexico southwest of New Orleans. The town is home to one of the state's top festivals, the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival, held every Labor Day weekend. You can also walk aboard a real offshore drilling rig, nicknamed "Mr. Charlie," which was retired from active service in 1986 and now serves as the International Petroleum Museum.

New Orleans. Famous for its nightlife and restaurants, New Orleans has long been considered an adult destination. In recent years, though, family-oriented attractions have broadened the city's appeal. Visit the Aquarium of the Americas and marvel at the tiger sharks and sea turtles. Catch a film at the IMAX Theater adjacent to the aquarium and then head uptown to the Audubon Zoo, with its white alligators, Komodo dragons, and more. Visit Blain Kern's Mardi Gras World, where all those elaborate Mardi Gras floats are made and stored.

Opelousas. Another spicy stop in Cajun Country is the little town of Opelousas, where you can take a free tour of Tony Chachere's Creole Foods factory and then stock up at the company store on a wide variety of foods and spice mixes that will add a real kick to your home cooking.

Pralines. Louisiana is famous for its pralines, that sweet confection made mostly of pecans and sugar. The best praline recipes, though, include a little bit of milk, which gives the candy patties a creamy texture and cuts the sweetness just a bit.

Queens of the Mississippi. Whether you hop aboard the Cajun Queen or the Creole Queen for a quick lunch or dinner cruise or take a longer cruise of several nights on the Delta Queen, riverboats offer a unique way of experiencing New Orleans and the Mississippi River. All three riverboats dock at New Orleans' downtown Riverwalk area.

Rip Van Winkle Gardens. Wake up to the beauty of Rip Van Winkle Gardens, part of the New Iberia estate of actor Joseph Jefferson, who was famous for playing Rip Van Winkle on stage in New York and around the country in the late 1800s. Today you can tour the home, dine at Cafe Jefferson, and even stay at the bed-and-breakfast inn on the property.