New Orleans, Plantations & The Bayou

Day 1 – Welcome to New Orleans! (Sunday, March 21)

Optional transfers from our departure points will have us at LAX early this morning for a scheduled nonstop flight arriving at the New Orleans International Airport this afternoon. Those guests making their own flight arrangements can request the group’s flight schedule (subject to change) to coordinate a flight arrival time that would allow them to be included on the complimentary transfer to the hotel. Upon arrival, we’ll board a deluxe motorcoach for a short transfer to our upscale, AAA Four Diamond hotel in the heart of New Orleans’ Central Business District. At Kimpton Hotel Fontenot you’re just an easy stroll from the French Quarter, the Riverwalk, and Arts District—giving you front-row access to the Crescent City without the late-night noise! The hotel pairs warm Southern hospitality with an aesthetic that is polished, playful, and distinctly New Orleans, offering serene, contemporary rooms that provide the perfect retreat from the city’s lively energy. Unpack once and settle in for a five-night stay at this full-service boutique hotel that offers a nightly hosted wine hour. This evening we’ll enjoy an included dinner at a locals’ favorite. (Dinner)

Day 2 – New Orleans (Monday, March 22)

Enjoy an included made-to-order breakfast each morning at the hotel’s restaurant, King Brasserie. We’ll then join a local guide for a leisurely, guided French Quarter walking tour. Sights along the way will include Bourbon Street, Pirate’s Alley and Jackson Square, where the iconic statue of Andrew Jackson is framed by the majestic St. Louis Cathedral. At the New Orleans School of Cooking, we’ll discover the secrets behind classic famous Creole and Cajun cuisine before savoring the results over an included lunch. Later, we’ll visit Café Du Monde—the French Market coffee stand established in 1862—for warm, powdered-sugar beignets and café au lait. We’ll return to the hotel early this afternoon, leaving the rest of the day at leisure to explore at your own pace. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 3 – New Orleans (Tuesday, March 23)

This morning we’ll join a local guide for a driving tour through New Orleans’ famed Garden District, home to one of America’s best-preserved collections of Greek Revival, Italianate and Queen Anne Victorian mansions. Traveling along grand St. Charles Avenue, we’ll follow the historic St. Charles streetcar line past Tulane University, Loyola University, and lush Audubon Park. We’ll visit one of the city’s historic above-ground cemeteries, renowned for its elaborate stone tombs and often called a “City of the Dead.” Following time at leisure for lunch on your own, we’ll embark on a memorable two-hour Mississippi River Jazz Cruise aboard an authentic paddlewheel steamboat. Relax to the live sounds of traditional jazz trio and informative live narration as we take in panoramic skyline views from the “Big Muddy.” Return to the hotel in the late afternoon with the evening at leisure. (Breakfast)

Day 4 – New Orleans (Wednesday, March 24)

This morning we’ll visit Longue Vue House and Gardens, a magnificent National Historic Landmark featuring a grand Classical Revival mansion set amidst eight acres of exquisitely landscaped gardens. A docent-led tour of the home and gardens reveals the refined elegance and lifestyle of wealthy Americans during the 1930’s and 1940’s. This afternoon, we’ll explore The National WWII Museum, designated by Congress as America’s official museum of the war. This world-renowned institution brings history to life through moving personal accounts, rare artifacts, and immersive interactive exhibits. Later, we’ll visit The Sazerac House to discover how New Orleans’ legendary 1850s cocktail became woven into the city’s rich cultural tapestry. Enjoy the evening at leisure. (Breakfast)

Day 5 – Louisiana's Plantation Country (Thursday, March 25)

This morning we’ll travel to Louisiana’s Plantation Country, where the Antebellum south comes to life in the plantations that line the Mississippi River. We’ll visit Laura Plantation: Louisiana’s Creole Heritage Site, a sugar estate run for generations by formidable Creole women. A docent-guided tour offers a fascinating look into Louisiana’s French-speaking sugar dynasty through its brightly colored 1805 manor house and surviving 1840s quarters, sharing an unvarnished, deeply personal narrative of the enslaved families who lived and labored here. Continuing down the Great River Road, we arrive at Oak Alley Plantation, a National Historic Site renowned as the “Grande Dame of the River Road.” Here, an iconic quarter-mile canopy of 300-year-old live oaks forms a magnificent avenue leading to the Greek Revival mansion. After an included lunch on the estate grounds, we’ll tour the stately home to explore life before and after the Civil War, enslavement, and Reconstruction. We’ll return to New Orleans in the late afternoon and enjoy an included dinner at a locals’ favorite. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6 – New Orleans, Louisiana Bayou, Journey Home (Friday, March 26)

This morning, we’ll go behind the scenes of America’s most famous celebration with a guided tour of Mardi Gras World. More than a museum, this working studio and vibrant fantasy factory lets you discover the traditions of Carnival while wandering through a maze of colossal floats, elaborate costumes, and iconic props. Later, savor an included Creole-style lunch at The Court of Two Sisters, a legendary French Quarter favorite. This afternoon, embark on a narrated swamp cruise guided by a native Cajun captain. Glide through moss-draped bayous and narrow channels to spot native wildlife, including alligators, turtles, snowy egrets, and blue herons. Late this afternoon, we’ll arrive at the airport for a scheduled nonstop flight arriving in Los Angeles tonight. Those guests making their own flight arrangements can request the group’s flight schedule (subject to change) to coordinate a flight departure time that would allow them to be included on the complimentary transfer to the airport. Back in L.A., those guests with pre-arranged transfers will be returned to their respective destinations. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Guests on this tour should be in good health and comfortable walking reasonable distances. Due to the historic, narrow streets of the French Quarter, motorcoach access is restricted, requiring guests to walk 3–4 short blocks between drop-off points and specific venues. Additionally, the French Quarter walking tour covers approximately 1/4 mile over 90 minutes at a leisurely pace.

While we make every effort to operate our tours as outlined in the itinerary, we ask for your patience, understanding and flexibility and to retain a sense of adventure while traveling with us. Situations may arise that necessitate changes to the itinerary. Should we need to adjust the itinerary either prior to or while on tour, these changes will be communicated to you and only done when absolutely necessary.