March 2, 2017

Stopover in LaPlace, Louisiana; hotel review + restaurant view + things to do

STOPOVER IN LAPLACE, LOUISIANA


LaPlace is a convenient spot to overnight when you're visiting the Louisiana plantations.  I recommend you plan in a swamp tour here as well.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites La Place  

4284 Hwy. 51, in LAPLACE, (985) 618-1600.  Continental breakfast.  Pool; coin laundry. 
This is a cog in the reliable chain and features really unusual bathroom plumbing.

Nobile’s Restaurant  

2082 W. Main Street, in LUTCHER, (225) 869-8900.  L M-F, D Thur-Sat. 
Built in 1895 during Louisiana’s lumber boom--this town harvested cypress--when it served as a bar and boarding house, this spacious restaurant features vintage high ceilings is a comfortable gathering place for locals.  It retains a lovely Victorian mahogany bar that greets arrivals and has some interesting collectables as part of the decor.  The menu offers Cajun and Creole dishes, including gumbo, seafood, and po’boys.  I chose a crispy Caesar salad and an unusual appetizer plate of crawfish empanadas to go with my colorful Hurricane cocktail.

front dining room in Nobile's Restaurant in Lutcher, Louisiana
front dining room in Nobile's Restaurant in Lutcher, Louisiana


rustic paintings for sale in Nobile's Restaurant in Lutcher, Louisiana
rustic paintings for sale in Nobile's Restaurant in Lutcher, Louisiana


Hurricane cocktail at Nobile's Restaurant in Lutcher, Louisiana
Hurricane cocktail at Nobile's Restaurant in Lutcher, Louisiana


Caesar salad at Nobile's Restaurant in Lutcher, Louisiana
Caesar salad at Nobile's Restaurant in Lutcher, Louisiana


crawfish empanadas at Nobile's Restaurant in Lutcher, Louisiana
crawfish empanadas at Nobile's Restaurant in Lutcher, Louisiana



Cajun Pride Swamp Tour  

110 Frenier Road, in LAPLACE.  Cajun Pride Swamp Tours glide through the legendary, privately owned Manchac Swamp, where you will see alligators, turtles, and a variety of birds.  Seasoned guides introduce additional local flora and fauna as the pontoon boat meanders through the waterway, and they tell tales of hurricanes, survival, and the unique Louisiana culture.  According to Captain Allen--our Cajun guide who sports a gravelly voice much like the late actor Redd Fox--whether you see alligators “depends on the temperature.”  At 70-degrees plus they come out.  Allen keeps alligators in his home as pets and sometimes brings one along for his riders to hold.  If you’re real lucky, as I was, he will do this on the day you visit and you, like I did, might get to hold a two-foot-long baby alligator.  

Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana
Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana


alligator spotted on Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana
alligator spotted on Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana


egrets spotted on Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana
egrets spotted on Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana


red cardinal spotted on Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana
red cardinal spotted on Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana


Captain Allen holds alligator on Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana
Captain Allen holds alligator on Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana


visitors hand off alligator on Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana
visitors hand off alligator on Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana



Nearby plantations.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

 

images ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

5 comments:

  1. Now that swamp tour would be most interesting! That one called out to me.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow! Have always wanted to dig a little deeper into the swamp culture of the south. LaPlace looks like a great spot to do just that!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've never heard of LaPlace so it's great to learn something about it. The swamp tour sounds fascinating especially as we have nothing like it in Australia.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'd love to try those crayfish empanadas they looked delicious. That swamp tour looked like quite an adventure. Not sure I'd want to hold that mini gator though ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Turns out I am allergic to crayfish so I wasn't happy I ate those empanadas. The alligator had his mouth held shut for the tour.

      Delete

Popular Posts