What’s New in Louisiana
Foodies will enjoy The Greyhound in Covington. The former bus station turned gastropub is the newest collaboration of the same restaurateurs behind popular Del Port Ristorante. Café Creole is a partnership between century-old Vaucresson Sausage Co. and the famous Dooky Chase Restaurant – two of the oldest black-owned businesses in New Orleans. This restaurant, deli and meat market is located at the recently restored iconic New Orleans butcher. For your sweet tooth, local pop-up Caroline’s Cookies has opened a brick-and-mortar location in Lafayette, while Cane River Pecan Company has broken ground on a new Pie Bar and Pecan Museum in New Iberia.
Looking for outdoor fun? ZipNOLA on the banks of Lake Pontchartrain in LaPlace now takes guests on a half-mile zipline course offering views of the Maurepas Swamp, the historic town of Frenier, even the New Orleans skyline itself. Along the way you’ll speed through multiple different zips, two suspension bridges, and spiral down a cypress tree staircase – all surrounded by lush flora and fauna. Parc des Familles in Marrero has added a premier disc golf course ranked as one of the best in the country. The holes weave their way through a cypress swamp, plus there’s an onsite splash park! Bogue Chitto State Park has recently revealed four miles of new Mountain Biking Trails. Tchefuncte River Charters in Madisonville is now welcoming guests aboard a new 26-foot-long, 12-passenger “party barge” offering themed cruises and tours. With a sound system, LED lights, tableside dining and canopy-covered bar, a good time is guaranteed! Themed cruises let you enjoy the sunset, moonlight and surrounding moss draped cypress and palmettos – or you can just hop on and cruise to a waterfront restaurant.
New Orleans has welcomed several new lodgings. The Virgin Hotels New Orleans, located in the Warehouse District, features tropical architecture and design celebrating the city’s local art and music. The Four Seasons New Orleans is located in the former World Trade Center, built in 1967. The building was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014 and it now has an extra level to hold Vue Orleans, an indoor-outdoor cultural exhibit. The Kimpton Hotel Fontenot is a stylish, contemporary hotel in Downtown New Orleans. Check out its Peacock Room for an upscale bite and a drink, or Gospel Coffee and Boozy Treats for a fun twist on the usual café fare.
Appreciate the arts at Downtown West Monroe’s Alley Park, a new open-air gathering space hosting concerts, local events and family fun year-round. While you’re here, be sure to check out the new Herons on the Bayou public art initiative featuring 85 heron sculptures spread throughout Ouachita Parish, each with its own unique design.
History buffs, listen up! Nearby in Louisiana’s River Parishes, 1811 Kid Ory Historic House reflects The 1811 slave revolt and the birthplace of pioneering jazz band leader, composer, trombonist and recording artist Edward “Kid” Ory who was born there in 1886. And the Louisiana Civil Rights Trail was unveiled, featuring historical markers at Dooky Chase’s Restaurant (New Orleans), Baton Rouge’s Old State Capitol Building, Little Union Baptist Church in Shreveport and A.Z. Young Park in Baton Rouge.
