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| St. Joseph Plantation |
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| Laura Plantation |
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| Evergreen Plantation |
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| Oak Alley Plantation |
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| San Francisco Manor House |
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| Houmas House |
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| Destrehan Manor House |
THE HISTORY GEEK: I have always been a huge fan of history. Yes, I realize that that makes me sound like a nerd, but seeing as I've always owned that, I'm not too worried to admit it. History was always my favorite subject in school. That being said, I've always enjoyed visiting museums or places that have some sort of history (how many times can I write that word).
THE INCONVENIENT TRUTH: Despite their beauty, Antebellum homes really do have two sides to them: the elegant quasi European vibe of the aristocratic Antebellum South and the horrific atrocities of slavery. This makes them super complicated. However, I believe that it is still important to visit these places for the sake of education. Let me clarify. Sure, you can learn all about the South in your textbooks, but it really doesn't hit you until you actually see history before your very eyes. It all comes together and you find yourself having a deeper insight into this dark time in American history.
VISITING: Louisiana's River Road plantations along the banks of the Mississippi River are fantastic to visit because they are all close to one another (i.e essentially on the same road). Hence, it is not completely out of the question to visit most/all of the plantations in one day. In fact, why not stay overnight in one of them? We stayed at Nottoway (not pictured and it is a little farther away from the others) and loved it! It is (obviously) a bit pricey, but we were blown away by the Southern hospitality there. As for actually seeing the plantations, it is essential that you book tours for them. In fact, I believe that for most of them, tours are mandatory if you want to see the house(s). All of the ones we went on were excellent and highly informative (the Oak Alley and Nottoway tours being my favorites). It's nice to know what you are looking at inside the home and hearing stories of the people who lived in the rooms that you are looking at. Please note that prices do vary from plantation to plantation. Furthermore, make sure that you keep the open and close times in order. We wanted to see Laura, but couldn't because it closes earlier than the others (at least when we were there).
THE MUST SEES: The ones that I would highly recommend that you visit are Nottoway Plantation because it is the largest plantation home in the South, to the point of being called the White Castle, Oak Alley for its namesake alley of oaks, and Houmas House for its beautiful gardens.
Best Wishes,
The Pseudo Southerner
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