Louisiana Quick Facts

Uniquely Louisiana: New Orleans Mardi Gras
Must-See: Atchafalaya Basin, the largest swamp in the United States
Most Unusual: The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum
Highest Point: Driskill Mountain, 535 feet
Food to Try: Crawfish and Jambalaya

Louisiana Things to Do:

1 Take a swamp tour

2 Explore the French Quarter

3 Enjoy authentic Cajun music at the Cajun Music Hall of Fame and Museum

4 Take a tour of a working plantation

5 Experience a Mississippi Riverboat tour

6 Keep an eye out for pelicans and gators while exploring the great outdoors

Off the Beaten Path | Louisiana

Louisiana is a state filled with culture, history and amazing natural beauty. There are so many fascinating destinations and different things to do in this state. From Mardi Gras celebrations to swamp tours, visitors to Louisiana will never be short of interesting things to do and places to explore. Here are just a few notable destinations and adventures to enjoy in the great state of Louisiana.

Mardi Gras, New Orleans
New Orleans is know for the biggest and best Carnival/Marid Gras celebration in the entire United States. The Big Easy starts celebrating Carnival as early as Jan. 30 and continues the celebration right up to Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday. In New Orleans you will find a different parade each night, each with amazing floats, colorful costumes and lots of fun. Visitors to New Orleans can see the Mardi Gras Indians or watch the Zulu parade.

Old Ferry Landing, Port Allen
Located across the Mississippi River from Baton Rouge, Old Ferry Landing is an amazing spot to enjoy views of Baton Rouge. Baton Rouge is a very flat city and from across the Mississippi at Old Ferry Landing visitors can enjoy unimpeded views of Baton Rouge. In addition, head out to the beautiful walkway, the same spot where the ferries carrying cars across the Mississippi from Baton Rouge have landed for many years.

Nottoway Plantation, White Castle
One of Louisiana's best historical treasures are the old plantation homes. The Nottoway Plantation was designed by Henry Howard for the John Hampton Randolph family. Visitors can take guided tours of the home, the grounds and the museum. The Nottoway Plantation, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was completed in 1859. Visitors can see the amazing number of rooms, staircases, windows and much more. One of the most notable features of the home is its semi-circular white ballroom.

Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve
This amazing park has six sites, each of which features a different aspect of Louisiana's rich culture and history. For visitors looking to explore the outdoors, the Barataria Preserve in Marrero is a great destination, where visitors can have outdoor adventures in an amazing wetland. The Chalmette Battlefield is an interesting spot where visitors can learn about the 1812 Battle of New Orleans, and in January visitors can watch the reenactments. Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve also has four visitor centers in different locations, including the French Quarter Visitor Center in New Orleans, the Acadian Cultural Center in Lafayette, the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center in Eunice and the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux. Each visitor center highlights a different cultural and historical aspect of Louisiana.

Atchafalaya Basin Swamp Tour
Visitors to Louisiana should be sure to take a swamp tour of the Atchafalaya Basin near Lafayette. The Atchafalaya River is the largest river swamp in North America. There are many swamp tour companies that offer a great opportunity to explore this unique environment. During a tour visitors can lean about the cypress trees and many other types of indigenous plant life. Tours are also a great way to learn about the native wildlife, including alligators. The Atchafalaya River is located in the heart of Cajun Country, so visitors on swamp tours will have the opportunity to learn about the local culture.

French Market, New Orleans
For visitors wanting to combine culture and shopping, the French Market in New Orleans is the ideal destination. The market stretches for six blocks on the river side of the Lower French Quarter. It is home to over twenty retail shops, as well as performance venues, restaurants, a flea market and a farmers market. The French Market started as a Native American trading post and is now the oldest public market in the United States (it has been in the same spot since 1791). As visitors explore the market they can enjoy a wide range of food at the Farmers Market, the public art, walkways and even historical monuments.

Riverboat Cruise on the Mississippi
One enjoyable way to spend a day in Louisiana is to take a cruise on the Mississippi. There are a variety of options to choose from and many start in New Orleans. Visitors will find themselves on a classic steam boat or paddle boat, cruising the magnificent Mississippi, enjoying views of the city and harbor. For an even greater adventure, there are day-long cruises that pair a half day trip to local plantations with swamp tours or afternoon riverboat jazz cruises. For the visitors with more time, there are week long Mississippi River Cruises that travel from New Orleans to Memphis.

Fun & Funky Things to Do | Louisiana

Louisiana is an amazing state, with culture and history and much more. Here are a few of the fun and funky things you will find during your time in Louisiana. These are great options for those visitors looking for destinations that are funky and a lot of fun.

New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum
New Orleans is known for its unique culture. One place to learn about one aspect of the culture is at the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum. The Voodoo Museum celebrates and educates all of its visitors about voodoo and its history and culture.

New Orleans Botanical Gardens
These gardens are a great example of public gardens built as a Works Progress Administration project. The New Orleans Botanical Garden has an amazing variety of plants, and a variety of gardens, with different themes and more.

Bonnie and Clyde Ambush Museum, Gibsland
This museum commemorates the history of the famous outlaw couple. Visitors to the museum will have the chance to experience the time and place where Bonnie and Clyde met their fate. Each may there is also a Bonnie and Clyde Festival of Gibsland, which is a great event to enjoy reenactments, music, food and more.

Chapel of the Madonna, Point Pleasant
The Chapel of the Madonna is said to be the smallest church in the world. The tiny 8 ft by 8 ft church is a great place to see one of Louisiana's funky attractions, while also seeing a beautiful little piece of Louisiana history.

Swamp Tours
Throughout Louisiana there are many options for swamp tours. These tours can be by air boat or other type of boat. Louisiana visitors have a chance to see some of the most unique animals and ecosystems of Louisiana. The alligators living in the swamps are a special bonus during a Swamp Tour.

Maine Quick Facts

Things to Do in Maine

Uniquely Maine: Quoddy Head State Park, the location of the northeastern most point of the United States
Must See: Acadia National Park
Most Unusual: The Desert of Maine
Highest Point: Katahdin, 5,267 feet
Food to Try: Maine lobster and blueberries

What to Do in Maine:

1 Take a lobster boat tour

2 Drive the carriage roads in Acadia National Park

3 Visit a Maine Lighthouse

4 Explore Maine's largest salt marsh at the Scarborough Marsh Nature Center

5 Go whale watching

6 Enjoy some skiing at Sugerloaf

Off The Beaten Path | Maine

Maine is filled with drama. Visitors will find amazing cliffs and coastline, beautiful towns with plenty of culture and fun, lighthouses, and much more. The state has many opportunities to enjoy its unique natural features at Acadia National Park and at its many state parks. Here are a few great ideas for all visitors to Maine.

The Marginal Way, Ogunquit

Visitors to Maine should take this scenic coastal walk. This mile and a quarter paved path stretches between Perkins Cove to Ogunquit Beach. The Marginal Way winds along the rocky shores and cliffs of the Maine coastline, this stretch of coastline happens to be a particularly beautiful part of the Maine coast. Visitors will find shopping at either end of the path. The path can be fairly crowded during the summer, however, it is equally beautiful during the fall, winter and spring.

Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor is located on the east side of Mount Desert Island, and it is the largest community on Mount Desert Island. Visitors will also find that Bar Harbor is surrounded by Acadia National Park. Bar Harbor has granite cliffs, amazing fall foliage and great opportunities for whale watching. The community has museums, music festivals, family activities including a zoo, an oceanarium and even a lumberjack show. Visitors will find amazing mansions converted into inns. The Abbe Museum is a great location to learn about the Native AMericans from the region.

Desert of Maine

The Desert of Maine is located near Freeport. It was created by the path of a glacier as it passed through the area 11,000 years ago. The Desert is forty acres of exposed glacial silt. Once the Desert was the farm land of the Tuttle family. The Desert was discovered in 1797, after years of land clearing and soil erosion. Eventually, the exposed Desert took over the entire farm. Visitors to the Desert of Maine will now find a gift shop, museums and tours.

Victoria Mansion

Located in Portland, Victoria Mansion, also known as the Morse-Libby House is a must see historical destination. Victoria Mansion is a stunning example of pre-Civil War era American architecture. Ruggles Sylvester Morse had the house built sometime between 1858 and 1860. The Mansion was designed by Henry Austin, and the interiors were designed by Gustave Herter. Visitors to Victoria Mansion will discover that this Italian style villa is a truly amazing example of American architecture and design. As visitors tour the mansion they can admire the amazing interiors which remain in excellent condition.

Acadia National Park, Maine

Located on the stunning coast of Maine, Acadia National Park has the special distinction of being the first National Park east of the Mississippi. Within this park you will find enough activities and sights to fill your entire vacation. For those that love car trips, the 27 miles of Park Loop Road offer plenty of views and sights. You can hike on Cadillac Mountain, which is the tallest mountain on the eastern coast of the country. The park also offers great access to its fascinating history at the Islesford Historical Museum on Cranberry Island.

Maine Lighthouses

The state of Maine is also known as the "Lighthouse State," there are 65 lighthouses still standing along the coast of Maine. Maine has more coastal lighthouses than any other state in the United States. Visitors to Maine should be sure to visit one of Maine's lighthouses. There are about ten lighthouses that have museums, and twenty of the lighthouses have grounds that are open for visitation. Some of the parks are located in local and state parks. Visitors to the state could stop in and visit the Burnt Island Light, near Boothbay Harbor, which has a great tour. Pemaquid Point Lighthouse is rented to visitors on a weekly basis. Visitors can also take boat tours that provide stunning vistas of many of the most beautiful lighthouses.

Lobster Boat Tour

Lovers of lobster should be sure to take a Lobster Boat tour to learn about the industry that brings Lobster to plates across the nation. Tours of lobster boats include the opportunity to learn about lobster, as well as viewing lobster pots and maybe even the chance to haul in a lobster trap. Another bonus of a lobster boat tour is the chance to see the coast of Maine from the ocean. After a long day on a lobster boat, visitors can treat themselves to a fresh lobster dinner.

Maine | Fun & Funky Things to Do

Maine is a state filled with fun destinations for visitors. For those travelers looking for something a little different, possibly a little wacky, here are a few very interesting destinations that Maine has to offer. All of these destinations are fun and have something excellent to offer visitors.

The World's Largest Revolving and Rotating Globe, Yarmouth

Visitors to Yarmouth have the opportunity to see the World's Largest Revolving and Rotating Globe, also known as Eartha. The globe is 41 feet in diameter. Visitors can see this replica of what earth looks like from space. Eartha also replicates the movement of the earth in its glass atrium.

Paul Bunyan Statue, Bangor

Bangor claims to be the birthplace of Paul Bunyan. To mark this important distinction Bangor has a statue of Paul Bunyan that stands over 30 feet. Visitors to Bangor can learn about the connection to the character while viewing the gigantic statue.

The Oceanarium, Bar Harbor

This Bar Harbor attraction is a great place to learn about the ecology and environment of this region of Maine. Visitors can stop at the Maine Lobster Museum, take a Marsh Tour or explore the Lobster Hatchery. Maine's visitors have a unique opportunity to explore and learn about the local ecology at this family friendly destination.

Old Fort Western, Augusta

Old Fort Western is a National Historic Landmark. Fort Western was built in 1754, and at the time was a fort, store and house. Now Old Fort Western is the oldest surviving wooden fort. Visitors to the for can learn all about the history and cultures of the region during the late 1700's.

Quoddy Head State Park, Lubec

Visitors to Quoddy Head State Park will be visiting the most eastern part of the United States. In addition to the distinction of being the easternmost point of the United States the park also has hiking trails, forests, amazing views, bogs and the West Quoddy Head Light lighthouse tower.

Maryland Quick Facts

Uniquely Maryland: The first railroad station was built by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company in Baltimore
Must See: Attend the Preakness at Pimlico Race Course
Most Unusual: Chincoteague ponies
Highest Point: Backbone Mountain at 3,360 feet
Food to Try: Maryland Blue Crabs

What to Do:

1 See the Chincoteague wild ponies at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

2 Explore the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal

3 Enjoy recreating at Deep Creek Lake, Maryland's largest freshwater lake

4 Take a boat to explore Piney Point Lighthouse Museum and Historic Park

5 Explore Maryland's network of Civil War Trails

6 Watch the Preakness

Off The Beaten Path | Maryland

Maryland's landscape extends from the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean to the Appalachians. Visitors will find the excitement of a large city in Baltimore, and can enjoy the beautiful scenery in the rural areas. Throughout the state there are many fascinating and fun attractions for visitors to explore and enjoy. Here are a few of Maryland's excellent destinations.

Assateague Island National Seashore

Assateague Island National Seashore is a amazingly beautiful spot in Maryland. Visitors to this national park will love the sandy beaches, as well as the other natural features of the island, including salt marshes, maritime forests and more. A trip to Assateague Island should start at the visitor center, the exhibits educate visitors about the National Seashore. Visitors will find a wide variety of recreational activities to enjoy, including biking, kayaking, surf fishing and even horseback riding.

National Aquarium in Baltimore

The National Aquarium is an amazing family destination. Visitors will find a variety of exhibits, as well as thousands of animals. Exhibits include jellyfish, dolphins and an Australian animal exhibit. Visitors can see amphibians, birds, octopi, reptiles and lots of fish.

Calvert Cliffs State Park

This Maryland park was named for the cliffs found along this part of the Chesapeake Bay's shoreline. Visitors to the park can see the unique fossils from prehistoric species, revealed by the erosion of the cliffs. Calvert Cliffs is also a great place for people to enjoy a sandy beach, explore a tidal march, and hiking on the miles of trails in the area.

The Preakness at Pimlico Race Course

Each year at Pimlico Race Course the Preakness Stakes are held on the third Saturday in May. The Preakness Stakes are one of the three races that are part of the Triple Crown Series. Attendance at this event is second only to the Kentucky Derby. Maryland residents and visitors should plan ahead to attend this event. The race is filled with excitement and each year the winner is draped with a blanket of Black-eyed Susan, the state flower of Maryland.

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

The Chesapeak & Ohio Canal was essential to the communities on the Potomac River. Goods such as coal, lumber, grain and other important items were transported on this canal. Today, this park preserves this important aspect of America's transportation history. In the over 180 miles, visitors will find a wide variety of recreational activities to enjoy, including hiking, biking, boating, cross country skiing, wildlife viewing, and event boat tours.

Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum

Visitors to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum can learn all about the creation of the B&O Railroad, at the same location where the railroad actually began. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum has an amazing collection of American Railroad history. Visitors can learn about the history of railroading, while seeing exhibits that include tools, furniture, scale models, and many historic structures.

Brookside Gardens

These beautiful gardens cover over 50 acres in Maryland's Montgomery County. Visitors to the Brookside Gardens will enjoy a variety of different types of gardens. There are a a variety of districts within the gardens, including, Azalea Garden, Rose Garden, Rain Garden, Aquatic Garden and more. Throughout the different areas of the gardens there are many amazing sights and species of plants to enjoy.

Maryland | Fun and Funky Things to Do 

Those visitors to Maryland that enjoy visiting fun and funky attractions will have plenty of options. Here are a few of the fascinating places visitors to the state of Maryland can enjoy.

American Visionary Art Museum

Located in Baltimore, this museum is dedicated to visionary artists, those artists that independently create their art and style, perhaps without ever realizing that it is art. The art at this museum spans many years and styles. Visitors will love seeing all of the different pieces of art and learning about some of the unknown but amazing artists found throughout the country.

National Museum of Dentistry

Dental enthusiasts as well as other curious travelers should find the National Museum of Dentistry in Baltimore. At this museum visitors will find an impressive collection of artifacts and information on the history of oral health and more. The fascinating exhibits include collections of historic dental instruments and even an exhibit dedicated to George Washington and his dentures.

National Vigilance Park

This park honors aerial reconnaissance crews and their sacrifices over the years. Visitors to this park can see real aircraft made to resemble those that went down during their missions. While exploring the park visitors can see a refurbished C-130 and other aircraft, while also learning more about the important role aerial reconnaissance has played in national security over time.

Thrasher Carriage Museum

Travelers interested in historic transportation should be sure to visit Frostburg, Maryland to learn about and see the collection of horse-drawn vehicles at the Thrasher Carriage Museum. This museum is dedicated to carriages, carts and sleighs. Visitors to the museum will have the opportunity to see an amazing collection with examples of horse-drawn vehicles that served all purposes.

US Army Ordnance Museum

Located in Aberdeen, Maryland the US Army Ordnance Museum houses an impressive collection of weapons and documents important to the US Army Ordnance Corps. Although the museum has started relocation to Ft Lee Virginia, visitors to Aberdeen can still see the outdoor display, which includes plenty of impressive tanks to wander among.

Quick Facts, Massachusetts

Uniquely Massachusetts: Dr. William Morton was the first to use anesthesia in 1846, commemorated at the Ether Dome at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston
Must See: Nantucket
Most Unusual: Salem, site of the Salem witch trails in 1692
Highest Point: Mt. Greylock at 3,491 feet
Food to Try: Cranberry Jelly and Farmstead Cheese

What to Do in Massachusetts:

1 Tour a cranberry bog

2 Visit the living history museum at Plimoth Plantation to see the recreation of seventeenth century English and Wampanoag communities

3 Catch a Red Sox game at Fenway Park

4 Watch the Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade

5 Take a Witch Trial Tour in Salem

6 Explore Massachusetts natural beauty at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston