If you want to visit one state with more than a few cultural influences, come to Louisiana. Bordered by the Mississippi River to the East and the Gulf of Mexico to the South, Louisiana has seen more than a few inhabitants over the years. Many such inhabitants have come together to form communities with cultures all their own, namely the distinctive Cajun culture in Louisiana’s Southwest region. Then, of course, there’s New Orleans. This world-class city is rich in history and charm, and offers a music, cuisine and carnival festival scene unparalleled in the region. Add to that, the distinctive environmental features of the state, such as its vast swamplands and accompanying bird populations, as well as the many outdoor destinations to the north, and you’ll find plenty to do and see on your trip to Louisiana.

Baton Rouge is a city on the Mississippi River, and the capital of Louisiana. Antebellum landmarks include the castle-like Old Louisiana State Capitol, now a museum, and Magnolia Mound Plantation, with its French Creole house. LSU Rural Life Museum is a complex of refurbished buildings illustrating 18th- and 19th-century life. On the river, the USS Kidd is a retired WWII destroyer that is now a museum.