By David Laurell

From central Louisiana to New Orleans, The Bayou State is steeped in rich history, with stately plantations, some of the most haunted places on the planet, and unparalleled food and entertainment.

New Orleans is, of course, Louisiana’s premiere tourist destination, but it is beyond the borders of the Big Easy where visitors will find the enchanting elegance and disturbing history of the state’s storied plantations. Most of these elaborate homes of yesteryear line the banks of the Mississippi River along River Road and are open to the public as museums that offer a peek into the bygone past of the Old South, plus restaurants, bed and breakfasts and wedding venues. If you are interested in architecture or the antebellum and Civil War history of the South, a visit to these magnificent mansions is a must.

While the summer is typically the time one’s thoughts turn to travel, it is not the best time to plan a plantation pilgrimage. Louisiana summers can be brutally hot with extreme humidity. The best time to visit this area is in the fall and during the holidays when the weather is cool and the French Quarter, Jackson Square and all of the plantations are decorated for Christmas.

There are numerous plantations to visit and explore during a visit to Louisiana, and the following are some of the most historic, storied and beautiful – each one a destination unto itself that will leave you charmed with their unique style, architecture and soul.

OAK ALLEY PLANTATION, VACHERIE

A 55-mile drive from New Orleans, Oak Alley Plantation on the west bank of the Mississippi River dates back to the 1840s. Best known for its quarter-mile canopy of 20 gigantic 300-year-old oak trees that stretch from the river to the house, the mansion today offers a restaurant, café, ice cream parlor, gift shop and bed and breakfast.

Known as the “Grande Dame of the Great River Road,” the classic Greek-revival style antebellum home with 16-inch thick walls, was designed for protection from the fierce summers of this area. The veranda extends approximately 13 feet from the walls, keeping the home in shade most of the day. The tall windows and doors face each other for cross ventilation and the ceilings are 12 feet high.

In 1925, Oak Alley was purchased by Andrew Stewart, who was the fifth and last owner. Stewart and his wife painstakingly restored Oak Alley to its former grandeur – a move that inspired the trend toward saving old plantations that had fallen into ruin. Following two years of restoration, the Stewarts, recognizing the historic and aesthetic value of Oak Alley, insured that the home and property would be properly maintained and open for all to enjoy by establishing a non-profit foundation to oversee the property that has served as a location for numerous films including 1964’s “Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte” with Bette Davis and Olivia de Havilland, and 1993’s “Interview with the Vampire” starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise.

Oak Alley Plantation, Restaurant & Inn, 3645 Highway 18 (Great River Road), Vacherie, Louisiana 70090, Phone: (225) 265-2151, Website: www.oakalleyplantation.com

HOUMAS HOUSE PLANTATION AND GARDENS, DARROW

A short distance from Oak Alley you will find Houmas House Plantation and Gardens, known as “The Crown Jewel of Louisiana’s River Road.” Once referred to as the “Sugar Palace,” the antebellum estate was completed in 1829. In 1927, the Mississippi River spilled from its banks in what history records as the “great flood.” While Houmas House was spared, the surrounding areas were inundated. Over the following two years, the economic toll of the flood, coupled with the country’s entrance into the Great Depression, saw this once-magnificent mansion fall to ruins.

By 1940, Houmas House was in deplorable shape. That was the year she was purchased by a New Orleans doctor by the name of George B. Crozat who planned on restoring the home and using it as a summer home. His renovation of the property gave it more of a “Federal” rather than the stately Greek Revival style in which it was conceived. The structure was painted white inside and out. Crown moldings and ceiling medallions were removed and both interior and exterior forms and finishes were simplified.

Eventually, the Crozat heirs opened the property to tourists and film crews. Like Oak Alley, scenes from “Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte” were filmed at Houmas House and the room in which Bette Davis stayed while filming has been preserved.

In 2003, through the vision and determination of Kevin Kelly, who fulfilled a lifelong dream by acquiring the property, Houmas House today stands as a monument to the best parts of each era of the home’s rich history.

In addition to the mansion and lush gardens, visitors have the opportunity to see many antique furnishings and works of art. Distinguished by its two garconierres, Houmas House exudes the warmth of a home, which makes sense, since it actually is Kelly’s private residence, while proudly portraying its role as a landmark in American history. And, for fans of the paranormal, many people have reported encountering the presence of a little girl whose identity remains a mystery. Kelly, who says he doesn’t believe in ghosts, asks that if you do have an encounter with her in the hallway or on the stairs, to please ask her name.

Visitors to this magnificent property can easily spend an entire day exploring the 38 acres of gardens, ponds, and ancient oaks. The plantation offers two restaurants – Cafe Burnside overlooking the gardens and Latil’s Landing for elegant fine dining. The estate is also booked regularly for weddings that can take place in various parts of the property and, like Oak Alley, Houmas House houses an incredible gift shop that offers antiques, books, art, collectables and distinctive one-of-a-kind gifts.

Houmas House Plantation and Gardens, 40136 Highway 942, River Road, Darrow, Louisiana 70725, Phone: (504) 628-6000, Website: www.houmashouse.com

BOCAGE PLANTATION, DARROW

Just a few minutes up River Road from Houmas House, you will find the majesty that is Bocage Plantation. Built in 1837, this historic treasure of the South is steeped in history with ties to Christopher Columbus, early colonization and the Louisiana Purchase.

Considered one of the best and most original interpretations of American Greek Revival architecture in the nation, Bocage was designed by the renowned architect James Dakin and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Today, welcoming guests as an elegant bed and breakfast, the stately mansion is also available for weddings, group functions and tours. Always a private home, Bocage, located on the east bank of the Mississippi River, sits on 110 acres. The mansion has been completely restored to its past grandeur with four magnificently appointed rooms available for overnight guests. Here you will sleep in a grand antique bed, with a modern private bathroom, and enjoy a step back in time to when plantation life was in full bloom.

This meticulously kept home, while warm and genteel, also gives guests the feeling of what it must be like to stay at the White House. The second-level grand rooms overlook the levee that fronts the Mississippi River and handsome double parlors open onto the front gallery that provides a panoramic view.

“We have spared no expense in restoring every detail of Bocage to its original glory,” explained Dr. Marion Rundell, a native of Louisiana and a Houston pathologist, who purchased the property in 2008 with a dream of restoring the home and making it available to those who would appreciate its history. The home is furnished with many pieces from Rundell’s private collection, created by the great furniture makers along with grand Baccarat and Waterford chandeliers.

At Bocage, no detail has been overlooked as guests are treated as if they themselves were the homeowners. A grand made-to-order breakfast is served on Limoges china accompanied by sterling silver flatware and crystal glassware.

Bocage truly offers those who visit her unparalleled elegance. A stay at this incredible mansion is something that simply must be on everyone’s bucket list. It is a home that harbors a spirit that will latch on to your heart and remain with you for the rest of your life.

Bocage Plantation, 39050 Hwy 942, Darrow, LA 70725, Phone (225) 473-4445, Website: bocageplantation.com

NOTTOWAY PLANTATION, WHITE CASTLE

A short drive from Bocage will bring you to the grandeur of The Nottoway Plantation located on the west bank of the Mississippi. Completed in 1859, Nottoway, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is one of the very few antebellum plantations that survived the Civil War and is the largest remaining plantation home in the South. Today, it is open for tours, dining, and as a bed and breakfast offering Southern grandeur and hospitality.

With its towering, hand-carved marble mantles and intricate plaster frieze work, Nottoway awes visitors with its grandeur and innovative features. The 64-room, three-story mansion, boasts 53,000 square feet, and originally sat on 400 acres of highland and 620 acres of swamp. It was designed by renowned architect Henry Howard of New Orleans in Greek Revival and Italianate style for which Howard was renowned. The home feature 15½-foot-high ceilings and 11-foot doors. Its most unique room is a semi-circular white ballroom with Corinthian columns and hand-cast archways.

A dramatic, multi-million-dollar renovation has restored this historic plantation to her days of glory as well as adding luxury resort amenities and corporate, wedding and social event venues.

Nottoway is an exceptional choice, as a luxury bed and breakfast, or simply for a tour and delicious Southern specialty dining.

Nottoway Plantation and Resort, 31025 Louisiana Hwy. 1, White Castle, LA 70788, Phone (866) 527-6884, Website: www.nottoway.com

THE MYRTLES PLANTATION, ST. FRANCISVILLE

About an hour’s drive north of Nottoway, you will come to The Myrtles Plantation built 215 years ago by General David Bradford, also known as “Whiskey Dave.”

A visit to The Myrtles gives visitors the opportunity to see fine antiques, architectural treasures that include double dormers, lacy grillwork, a 120-foot veranda, hand-painted stained glass, open-pierced plaster frieze work, Aubusson tapestries, Baccarat crystal chandeliers, Carrera marble mantles and gold-leaf French furnishings. Guests soon discover why the mansion has been called one of “America’s Most Haunted Homes.”

Docents point out a haunted mirror in the home’s foyer as they tell a grisly story of the plantation’s past that includes an accidental death of the original owner’s family, and also share their own firsthand encounters with the property’s paranormal happenings. Tours are conducted daily with hauntingly fun mystery tours offered on Friday and Saturday evenings. For those who dare stay the night in one of the home’s 11 bedrooms, a complimentary mystery tour is included.

Exploring the 10-acre grounds of The Myrtles, visitors are told to be on the constant lookout for the ghost of Chloe, the slave who reportedly caused the accidental death of the home’s original family. The 5,000-square-foot old brick courtyard is the perfect place for guests to keep a lookout for her while enjoying a cocktail before a candlelight dinner at The Myrtles’ Carriage House Restaurant that is also used for weddings and special events.

The Myrtles Plantation, 7747 U.S. Highway 61, P.O. Box 1100, St. Francisville, Louisiana 70775, Phone: (225) 635-6277, Website: www.myrtlesplantation.com

BRENNAN’S – A NEW ORLEANS TRADITION SINCE 1946

Whether your Plantation Pilgrimage begins or ends in the Crescent City, no visit to New Orleans is complete without having experienced a meal at Brennan’s. A culinary landmark since 1946, Brennan’s chefs have created some of the world’s most imaginative dishes - including Bananas Foster.

Located in the heart of the French Quarter, Brennan’s has been awarded culinary accolades from countless food critics and national publications. It has also received the coveted Wine Spectator Award in recognition of its 35,000-bottle wine cellar.

The restaurant’s scrumptious breakfast menu offers entree items that include crabmeat omelettes topped with Hollandaise Sauce and their specialty – Eggs Hussarde.

Dinner at Brennan’s is both a culinary and romantic experience you will not soon forget. As you are seated in the dining room, bathed in the light of the courtyard’s flickering gas lamps, you just might be a bit overwhelmed by the extensive selection of entrees that include fresh local seafood and prime beef.

Reservations are required and a confirmation of your reservation should be made on the day of dining.

Brennan’s, 417 Royal Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, Phone: (504) 525-9711, Website: www.brennansneworleans.com