Louisiana

Louisiana, well known worldwide for their huge Mardi Gras celebrations and Creole culture, as well as the aftermath of the devastating Hurricane Katrina, is an absolute melting pot of culture and class. In Louisiana, visitors can experience top-notch cultural arts, soulful music, exciting festivals, great beaches, world-class fishing and amazing theme parks.

Before Louisiana was an American slave state, it was a French colony, and before that a Spanish colony, and before that, home to the first Native American mound building nation in the Americas. So it's no wonder that Louisiana is a diverse melting pot of French, Spanish, Native American, and African cultures. A bustling port on the Gulf Coast, New Orleans remains a major shipping and exporting location. Ships filled with diverse cultures and peoples traveled up and down the Mississippi River daily, and sometimes the residents got off and never got back on. Luckily, that is what makes Louisiana such an explosion of fantastic arts and interests.

Travelers to the Louisiana capital, Baton Rouge, can find some great vacation fun at Blue Bayou Water Park and Dixie Landin' Amusement Theme Park. At the joint park, visitors can rocket down the world's largest tornado slide, water racer, sled slide, or in line water slide. At Dixie Landin' there's the Hot Shot, where riders drop 200 feet! The Ragin' Cajun is an amazing steel looping coaster, and the Splinter is a 50 foot log flume – all rides to make the stomach churn and the heart race.

For some history in Baton Rouge, the USS Kidd and Veterans Memorial can't be missed. The USS Kidd was a navy destroyer, nicknamed the "Pirates of the Pacific." Visitors can opt to do overnight camping on the USS Kidd to see if they can earn their stripes with the best of them. The Veteran's Memorial paired with the USS Kidd honors American armed forces. After the exhausting day out, eat at The Chimes, the undisputed best restaurant in Baton Rouge. The Chimes features Southern Creole food with tons of beer options.

New Orleans is the biggest city in Louisiana, and anyone taking a vacation to New Orleans has a wealth of options for just about any kind of entertainment. The House of Blues features 365 days of different musical performances. At the New Orleans Opera Association visitors can see classic Opera, and at the Mahalia Jackson Theatre vacationers can see great shows like The Lion King, South Beach, or Blue Man Group – just make sure to get tickets in advance! New Orleans also features tons of festivals year round: Music, Culinary Arts, Fine Arts and more.

For culture in New Orleans, there's nowhere better to go than the French Quarter, where New Orleans boasts the best restaurants, history, and hotels in all of Louisiana. Bourbon Street has night clubs, restaurants and tons of historical spots, and Royal Street is full of art galleries, historic hotels and amazing architecture.

Interested in something a little outside the box? Try Bloody Mary's Tours – a cemetery tour and haunted spots tour. Also unique is the Cajun Encounters Swamp City & Plantation Tours where visitors ride through swamps on a flatboat.

Elsewhere in Louisiana, visitors can find great fishing and beaches at Lake Charles, which boasts that it is one of the 10 best fishing spots in the world. Along the Gulf Coast, the sandy beaches are crowded in the summer, but don't miss out on visiting them. LaFleur Beach, North Beach and Rutherford Beach have all made a name for themselves as fabulous spots to tan in the sand. In Lafayette visitors shouldn't miss Cajun Country where they can see firsthand the Creole lifestyle at Acadian Village. Shreveport features great gambling, walking tours, and riverboat cruises. And no matter where you go in Louisiana there is bound to be a beautiful antebellum house somewhere nearby.

So don't stress about your New Orleans hotel! Hotels.bz will see you through with a great list of budget hotels and luxury hotels with more in the middle, too!

For the best budget hotels try these gems:

Ramada Inn Baton Rouge - Starting at $56 a night, Ramada is close to the Mall of Louisiana where vacationers can find great shopping. Plus, the Ramada has a complimentary breakfast!
Historic French Market Inn - Starting at $71 a night, this historic hotel offers a unique and affordable spot to stay in New Orleans. Family-friendly this hotel is right in the French Quarter! Don't miss the great coffee shop, bar and free Wi-Fi!
Howard Johnson Lafayette - Starting at $60 a night this Lafayette hotel is near Alexandre Mouton House and other historical attractions. The hotel boasts an outdoor pool and children's pool, a free breakfast, and free in-house Wi-Fi.

For mid-range hotels try these great hotels :

Hotel Indigo Baton Rouge - Starting at $104 a night this hotel is near tons of great down-town tourist spots. Their in-house restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and includes a bar.
- Starting at $112 a night this downtown New Orleans hotel is a steal! Right in the Warehouse-Arts district and close to the Riverwalk Marketplace. This hotel is a step back in time, with a porter and bellhop, and free newspapers in the lobby. This great hotel only has 44 rooms, so book in advance!
tteDrury Inn Lafaye - Starting at $99 a night this Lafayette hotel is near to all the great Lafayette hotspots, and features an outdoor pool, spa tub, and fitness facility.

If you're taking out all the stops, try these amazing luxury hotels with amenities to make you feel on top of the world:

Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center - Starting at $135 a night this hotel is located in the center of Baton Rouge. With great access to family-friendly tourist spots, this hotel is a steal! A 4-star property, dine at the restaurant, get a latte at the café, and order room service at midnight. Plus, the hotel features a full service health spa with massage and beauty treatment.
The Roosevelt New Orleans - Starting at $143 a night this Waldorf Astoria Hotel is really an amazing place to stay. Located in downtown New Orleans in the Warehouse Arts district and near to Bourbon Street, it's impossible not to enjoy yourself while staying here. The hotel has 4 restaurants, a poolside bar, 24 hour room service, a health club and fitness facility and a full service health spa. This is a 4.5 star property and is THE place to go to pamper yourself in New Orleans!
Royal Sonesta Hotel - Starting at $140 a night this fabulous 4 star property is located in the French Quarter. With a restaurant and coffee shop, beautiful outdoor pool and bar, and more, this is the place to stay if you want to stay in the French Quarter.