When you want to experience the grandeur of a southern plantation rich in elegance and filled with history, Oak Alley Plantation should be at the top of your list. Conveniently located between Baton Rouge and New Orleans on the Great River Road in Vacherie, Louisiana, Oak Alley Plantation offers more than a night’s lodging. It is a destination.
Plan to arrive during the day so you have time to explore this national historic site. Be sure to take the tour of the exquisite plantation mansion known as the “Big House.” You’ll be greeted by guides dressed in gorgeous antebellum-period attire and shown the lavish lifestyle of the plantation owners. In contrast, Oak Alley also offers a look at the other residents who once lived on the plantation, the slaves. The slavery exhibit includes everything from the shackles used to control the slaves to the dilapidated cabins they called home.
Other activities you won’t want to miss include a stop at the Civil War tent where you can talk with the historical interpreter or a visit to the sugarcane theater where you can learn about this valuable crop that was grown on the plantation. Enjoy browsing in the gift shop, and when you’re hungry, be sure to visit the restaurant right on the grounds where you’ll get a good helping of food served with southern hospitality.
Situated in a quiet setting, the unique lodging includes century-old cottages that once belonged to freed slaves and newly constructed deluxe cottages. After hours, when the tourists have gone, overnight guests enjoy the fabulous opportunity to wander the grounds without any crowds. The mansion is especially exquisite at night when it is lit along with the row of magnificent oaks that gives the plantation its name, Oak Alley.
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