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Top Historic Sites In Louisiana

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Louisiana has an extremely interesting history and culture. The land was first settled by the French and parts were later occupied by the Spanish. The Americans then took over the area after Napoleon Bonaparte sold the land in the Louisiana Purchase.As a result of the territory changing hands so many times, the area has a vast array of historical sites honoring different ethnic groups and cultural heritages. Almost all of these historical sites are extremely interesting to visit and have much to offer in the form of education and entertainment. Some of these sites stand out from the rest and are true must-see destinations in Louisiana. Here are some of the top historic sites in Louisiana that history buffs absolutely have to visit.

French Quarter

The French Quarter is one of the oldest and most historic areas in the city of New Orleans. Its origination dates all the way back to 1718, as the rest of New Orleans sprung up around the district. Although it’s named the French Quarter, much of the original French influence has been slowly eroded since the Louisiana Purchase. However, there are still several areas where French culture and architecture shines through. As a result, the French Quarter in its entirety was named a historic landmark. Today the French Quarter is filled with both modern amenities like restaurants, hotels, and bars while also blending in the historical aspect. This makes the French Quarter a great place to visit for both history buffs and partygoers. If you’re looking for New Orleans houses for sale,then chances are you’re likely to be spending a lot of time in the French Quarter in the near future.

Oak Alley Plantation

Oak Alley Plantation is an old plantation located in the southeastern portion of Louisiana. The plantation is a reminder of America’s dark history of slavery, as the entire mansion was built from slave labor. Many slaves also worked on the plantation harvesting the sugar cane that the plantation was known for. Once slavery was declared illegal and the property was damaged from the Civil War, the original owners had to sell the property. Eventually, the property fell into the hands of a family by the name of Stewart, who then commissioned several repairs. The Stewarts used the plantation as a cattle ranch before slowly reintroducing sugar cane to the property. Finally, upon Stewart’s death, the property was given to the Oak Alley Foundation and opened to the public as a historical monument. This property is absolutely gorgeous and is the perfect property for history fans visiting Indiana.

Fort St. Jean Baptiste

This famous fort is a stunning replica of the original French fort that was constructed in the early 1700s. The fort was an important part of the town of Natchitoches, one of the first European settlements in the land that would encompass the Louisiana Purchase. The fort was used for defense and a hub for trading, allowing local settlements to prosper. After the area was transferred to Spain, the fort was abandoned and eventually lost to history. Luckily American architects recreated a replica from blueprints that were found, creating a building that resembles colonial architecture. This would be a sight to see on its own, but the fort also hosts several reenactments every year, depicting what life in colonial times was like. If you want to feel like you’re truly stepping back in time, then this would be the perfect location for you to visit.

Louis Armstrong Park

Louisiana and New Orleans have always had a strong connection with jazz music, and there are several monuments to the genre throughout the area. One of the most famous of these is Louis Armstrong Park. The park gets its name from singer Louis Armstrong,a New Orleans native and one of the most famous jazz musicians of all time. The park hosts a wide variety of musical events and performances, most of which relate to the jazz genre or African American heritage. As a result, the park is not only a very important historical site but also a very important cultural site as well.

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Top Hiking Destinations in Canada

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Banff, Canada

No matter where you live in Canada, whether you purchased some Toronto real estate in Ontario or anywhere from Vancouver, B.C. to St. John’s, Newfoundland, odds are, you have a wealth of hiking opportunities nearby. But for those who are true enthusiasts of getting out on the trail, these are the country’s very best hiking destinations.

Banff National Park, Alberta

One of the most popular destinations for hiking in all of Canada, Banff National Park offers some 1,000 miles of trails that vary from easy to challenging, with stunning views of the dramatic Canadian Rockies, surreal gem-hued lakes, glistening glaciers and much more around practically every turn. There are dozens of options, like the short Rockpile Trail which is just under a mile roundtrip and provides a breathtaking view of aquamarine-colored Moraine Lake and Mount Temple, along with a number of hanging glaciers. The Bow Glacier Falls trail is a great day hike at 5.5-miles roundtrip. The trek hugs the shoreline of Bow Lake, one of the park’s largest lakes, leading to the falls while passing lush alpine wonderland and glaciers.

Gross Morne National Park, Newfoundland

Canada’s easternmost national park is spread across over 62 miles and features practically an endless number of hiking options as an outdoor adventurer’s paradise. It’s also home to one of the highest densities of moose in the world, with around 7,000 inhabiting the region. One of the most popular hikes is the just over six-mile roundtrip trail to Baker’s Brook Falls. You’ll follow the path, much of which is flat boardwalk, through the forest to the magnificent series of cascades, watching for moose and other wildlife along the way.

Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia

This national park is home to what’s often ranked among the world’s greatest drives, the 185-mile Cabot Trail. While the scenery from behind the wheel is jaw-dropping, it’s even better when you get out on foot and explore the miles and miles of hiking trails. Middle Head Trail is just one, a former carriage road, it follows a long, narrow peninsula that separates two ocean pays, ending on the headland cliffs that overlook the Atlantic, Ingonish Island, and Cape Smokey. Hikers not only enjoy incredible sea views, but the opportunity to spot whales, seals, and bald eagles. There are countless other options from beginner to more difficult trails, with the longest at around 7.5 miles.

Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario

One of Ontario’s most popular parks, Algonquin offers diverse terrain bringing a wide range of options for hikers of all experience levels. The short but sweet Beaver Pond Trail is a favorite for many. While it’s only about one-and-a-quarter miles long, it offers a good chance to spot wildlife, including beavers that are frequently spotted in the two beaver ponds the route passes.

Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Lush Vancouver Island is home to what may be the “hiking holy grail,” the West Coast Trail. The bucket-list trek covers some 47 miles of remote terrain in the north part of the island, featuring rainforest, waterfalls, caves, whale watching and more.

5 Reasons Living Down South is Awesome

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The southeastern United States is unlike any other place on Earth. With its own distinct personality, the South is loved for its melodic drawl, mild weather, and friendly folks. If there’s a better place to live, well, Southerners just aren’t buying it. Here are a few of the best things about living in the South.

1. The Food

There is something about living in the south that makes your food taste better. They don’t call it Southern Fried Chicken for no reason. It’s because it truly is the best. Usually, a southern grandma can make it even better than that. Most people think there’s nothing more to Southern cuisine than fried chicken and barbecue. However, Lowcountry meals are so much more than that: they’re unpretentious, flavorful, and will make you feel right at home. They’re the reason Southern hospitality is a thing. Biscuits and gravy, Southern BBQ, Shrimp and grits, Mac and cheese, Fried Green Tomatoes, Collard greens, Sweet Tea – these are all must-haves when in the South.

2. The Weather

Some southern states see perfect weather. I’m talking Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter all balancing each other out, all four seasons are represented equally. Just around the time one may get tired of summer it turns into a beautiful colorful fall (which I don’t think I’d ever get sick of). Then gorgeous white snow in winters and amazing rain and flowers in spring. We have the best weather.

3. Homes

Homes for Sale in Birmingham are roughly equivalent to the national average, but housing prices will vary greatly by neighborhood. However, everyday expenses such as groceries and health care are generally lower in Birmingham than in other major metropolitan areas. Renovated houses in the most desirable downtown neighborhoods, with tree-lined streets, fetch over $200k. The new luxury condos they’re building downtown also fetch a high price.
You can still get houses for under $50k if you’re willing to do some work or live in a more modest neighborhood. There are lots of charming craftsman bungalows waiting to be restored.

4. Southern Hospitality

It really is a thing. (Almost) everyone you meet is friendly, or at least they aren’t unfriendly. Most people here will hold a door open for you or help you with something even if you don’t ask. And manners are impeccable. There are so many please’s and thank you’s and yes sir/ma’am or no sir/ma’am. You can’t go wrong with the genuinely nice people you meet in the South.

5. Y’all

Let’s just take a minute to appreciate the word “y’all”. If you grew up in the South, you use it all the time. It sounds so much nicer than “you guys” or whatever other way people would indicate a group of people. Or if it’s a large group of people, that would be “all y’all”.

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