Louisiana has always been a favorite destination for trains, especially since the heyday of train travel coincided with one of the most affluent periods of Louisiana history. Three of the longest routes on Amtrak’s schedule end in Louisiana, including the City of New Orleans, the Crescent, and Sunset Limited. Check out these awesome Louisiana trains.
A wonderful, historical museum full of railroad-related artifacts from the Kansas City Southern, Missouri Pacific, and Union Pacific Railroads in DeQuincy.
These historic streetcars are the oldest continuous trains to operate in any city in the country. New Orleans has recently invested in the cars, increasing their tracks throughout the city.
This 900 mile journey takes you from Chicago, south to end in New Orleans. This train includes the Cross Country Café which offers Louisiana food as you ride.
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4) Southern Forest Heritage Museum and Research Center
Another historic Amtrak route, this train takes passengers from New York city southwest to end in New Orleans. It includes stops in D.C., Richmond, Atlanta, Birmingham, and Meridian. Here, the Crescent passing from Mississippi into Louisiana.
Few beverages in New Orleans are as iconic as the Sazerac. Originally made with the Sazerac de Forge et Fils brand of cognac brandy, today this rye whiskey cocktail is served at just about every bar in the city, and it’s widely believed to be America’s first cocktail! I had the pleasure of visiting The Sazerac House to learn all about the history of the official cocktail of New Orleans, and I had a blast. Here’s what you can expect when you visit this incredible museum in New Orleans:
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Sitting pretty at the corner of Canal and Magazine, The Sazerac House opened in the fall of 2019 and boasts three floors dedicated to whiskey and the history of alcohol in New Orleans.
The self-guided tour is a great way to learn about the history of New Orleans through the lens of alcohol. The tour is open to all ages, but you need to be over 21 to enjoy the samples.
The first floor is where you’ll find the distillery. Here, you get the opportunity to see the production process of how Sazerac Rye is made.
This leads into the gift shop, where you can purchase any souvenirs to take home.
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The second and third floors are filled with exhibits and displays covering everything from New Orleans cocktail culture in the 1900s to brand-specific exhibits that delve deep into the history of how things are made.
There are three tasting experiences at the Sazerac House: Whiskey Grid Tasting, Tropical Cocktails, and The Sazerac Cocktail Tasting. These tastings are separate from the complimentary tour and need to be booked in advance.
I joined the Sazerac Cocktail Tasting and the Whiskey Grid Tasting.
Now, I’ll admit that I’m not much of a drinker, but I do enjoy origin stories and learning about the history of just about everything. I found both of these tastings to be incredibly informative and educational while still staying casual and fun.
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The tasting room has several tables that are set up before you arrive.
In addition to learning about the early days of New Orleans’ official cocktail, each participant got the opportunity to make their own iconic cocktail.
Guests are limited to attending one tasting per day.
Since I had signed up for two, I had a decision to make. I chose to pass on tasting this one so that I could try the whiskey grid. If you’d like to make your own at home, check out this Sazerac recipe straight from the source.
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The Whiskey Grid Tasting is ideal for anyone who wants to try different whiskies and learn about the art of tasting while sampling a few whiskies from the Buffalo Trace Distillery.
We learned how to properly nose the whiskey and discussed what notes we were picking up, how to hold the glass, etc. As someone who doesn’t drink that often, I found this class to be so insightful and a wonderful introduction to a bourbon lover’s life.
A good tour is equal parts of a good product and a good guide.
Buffalo Trace makes an excellent product, so naturally, an excellent guide is necessary to complement the products. Gregg led both of the tastings I attended and he was incredible. Not only was he a wonderful storyteller, but his passion for whiskey and New Orleans was unparalleled. Watching someone do what they love to do is a joy, and Gregg expertly navigated both tastings. He knows this city well, and he knows his whiskey even better!
After spending a day touring The Sazerac House, I'd absolutely recommend this to both tourists and locals.
Each floor offers something different, and all of the exhibits are very thorough. The Sazerac House gives visitors a wonderful glimpse into understanding how alcohol played a part in shaping New Orleans culture. Whether you're a whiskey drinker or not, you'll walk away with a new appreciation for the city. Heck, you might even walk away with your new favorite cocktail!
The tasting classes can last anywhere from 45-75 minutes, and the time flies by. But it is good to know how long these classes take, so you can plan your day accordingly. Visit The Sazerac House website to reserve your complimentary tour and book any additional tastings that interest you.
If you've ever visited The Sazerac House in New Orleans, share your experience with us in the comments!
On the first Sunday of every month, you can get free admission to a handful of select museums in Baton Rouge. The next one coming up is on August 6, which is just around the corner! Whether you're looking for a unique day trip with the kids or a day-date idea, these museums offer something for everyone. Plus, you'll be escaping this insane heat wave we've been under, and that's always a win. Gas up the car and pack some snacks and let's see what museums are a part of the program:
From Mardi Gras to the Mississippi River, the Capitol Park Museum kind of covers a little bit of everything. The museum focuses on the people that shaped Louisiana, including American Indians, enslaved Africans, Acadians, and colonists from France, Britain, and Spain.
Just a few blocks away from the Capitol Park Museum right by the Riverfront Plaza, the Louisiana Art & Science Museum is a great museum for families. Housed in a historic railroad depot, visitors can explore several different art and science galleries covering everything from dinosaurs to ancient Egypt. For an extra special spin on the day, check out one of the many Planetarium Shows (for an additional fee).
If you’re an art lover, be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to check out the LSU Museum of Art on August 6. The campus museum showcases several different works ranging from the 17th century up to modern art. It’s also the only museum in Baton Rouge with a focus on featuring local, regional, and international rotating exhibits alongside the permanent collection.
The Magnolia Mound Plantation House, also known as Magnolia Mound, is a French Creole house from 1791 that’s maintained by BREC. It's the oldest house in Baton Rouge, and the entire property clocks in at about 16 acres, though when it was a working plantation it encompassed a massive 900 acres. There are several different buildings you can tour, including the main house, an open-hearth kitchen, a double slave cabin, and an overseer’s house. Not all of the structures are original to the house, some, like the slave cabin, were transported from a nearby plantation in Pointe Coupee Parish.
Rounding out this list of museums in Baton Rouge, we come to the LSU Center for River Studies, one of the most unique museums in Louisiana, if you ask me. The LSU Center for River Studies researches many of the world’s major rivers, but focuses on the Mighty Mississippi. Here, you’ll be able to see one of the world’s largest moveable bed physical models of the Lower Mississippi River. The river model clocks in at 10,000 square feet and replicated the flow, water levels, and sediment transports of the river. In this realistic simulation, you’ll see one year of the Mississippi River simulated in one hour!
As always, it's a good idea to check the museum's website before you head over, just to make sure they are participating in the monthly free admission. Since these museums can be pretty popular on these days, you may want to get there early to beat the crowds!
