Tour Information

[C'EST LA VIE ON THE BAYOU  |  CRESCENT CITY JAZZ & HERITAGE   |  RIVER ROAD REVISITED]

C‘EST LA VIE ON THE BAYOU
(A Swamp Tour Experience)

All aboard for a swamp boat tour! Escape for a day and experience the primitive splendor of Louisiana’s Cajun country. Crescent City Consultants’ guides will escort you in climate-controlled motorcoaches to the nearby swamplands.

Coast Guard approved boats will take us on a fascinating journey, meandering through peaceful bayous. In this tranquil atmosphere, we will glide past exotic flora and fauna set against a backdrop of ancient, gnarled cypress trees. The thick Spanish moss that hangs from the trees over the dark brown waters below creates a primordial feeling. You might visualize Native Americans or pirates who camped along a bayou’s banks long ago. Soak up the distinctive sights and sounds that surround us. The only audible noises will be those of the wildlife in its natural habitat.

Local guides, many of whom speak Cajun French, will share their knowledge and love of these unique swamplands. On a clear, bright day during the slumber months, we are likely to see alligators emerging to bask in the sun on the banks of the bayou. Other typical species that we might encounter include turtles, otters, herons, hawks, ibis, egrets, and minks. There might even be sightings of black bears or deer. We will be observing a natural, Louisiana environment in which anything can happen on any given day, so bring a camera to record this special excursion. Delight in the serenity and pristine beauty of a place still unspoiled by modern intrusion.

[C'EST LA VIE ON THE BAYOU  |  CRESCENT CITY JAZZ & HERITAGE   |  RIVER ROAD REVISITED]

CRESCENT CITY JAZZ & HERITAGE

Let native New Orleans’ guides give you a thorough introduction to our exciting city! Crescent City Consultants’ guides will meet you to enjoy a "New Orleans Overture," as you circle the town in climate controlled motorcoaches.

The journey starts in the Vieux Carre, where you will pass historic Jackson Square and the St. Louis Cathedral, impressive reminders of the city’s earliest days. Soak up the feeling of our French and Spanish background through these architectural images of the oldest part of town. As you leave the French Quarter, observe the lively atmosphere of the bustling French Market, a living link to New Orleans’ past.
The tour extends along tree-lined Esplanade Avenue, the "Promenade of the Creoles," and passes through the neighborhoods of Mid-City. All the while, your expert guides will entertain and enlighten you with historical information and legends and anecdotes about the sights you see, including one of the city’s historic cemeteries, often referred to as the "city of the dead."

Just beyond the cemetery is Bayou St. John, our only bayou and a primary factor in the founding of New Orleans. Next, we will travel past the New Orleans Museum located in City Park, where massive, sprawling live oak trees will surround us. The park is enjoyed daily by locals and is the site of the annual, holiday lights display called "Celebration in the Oaks.”

From here, we will move through what was once the City of Carrollton and travel "up the streetcar line" to St. Charles Avenue. Prior to turning onto St. Charles Avenue, your guides will note various sites, including the Notre Dame Seminary. Along this romantic thoroughfare, patterned after the boulevards of Paris, you will soon see Audubon Park. This is a spot where New Orleanians like to exercise or relax under the shade of immense live oaks from which Spanish moss gently hangs. Our famous Zoo, one of the country’s top ten, is located in the park also. Traveling down "the Avenue," your guides will point out Tulane and Loyola Universities, in addition to the stately mansions that grace this beguiling street, extending into the lush area known as the Garden District.

Before returning to the hotel, we will swing around Lee Circle and into the Central Business District. Here, the most striking characteristic is the coexistence of modern skyscrapers and distinctive, historic architecture.
When this comprehensive tour draws to an end, you will have a much deeper understanding of the colorful, intriguing history of the Crescent City and your appetite will be whet to explore further this beloved destination.

[C'EST LA VIE ON THE BAYOU  |  CRESCENT CITY JAZZ & HERITAGE   |  RIVER ROAD REVISITED]

RIVER ROAD REVISITED

Come on an intriguing journey into Louisiana's splendid plantation past as we travel down the lower end of River Road to visit two of the South's most visited plantations.

First, we travel to Destrehan Plantation built in 1787 by a flamboyant family named D'Estrehan, and later expanded into its present West Indies-Louisiana plantation style. Destrehan Manor is the oldest plantation home left in tact in the lower Mississippi Valley. While strolling under the majestic moss-laden oaks of the manor, some of the largest in the state, you will hear the story of the D’Estrehan clan and their association with such historical giants as Napoleon Bonaparte and Marquis de Lafayette. You will also be greeted by a handsome collection of European and very early American antiques and paintings along with several 150 year old slave cabins located on the grounds.

Just a short ride away, you travel to San Francisco Plantation, a brilliantly restored example of mid-19th century Mississippi life and architecture. Originally named for its builder, Marmillion, costly redecoration caused Marmillion's son to comment that he was "sans fruscins," meaning that he had spent all of his money. Mispronunciation led to the present name of "San Francisco."

So distinctive is San Francisco Plantation that it inspired novelist Frances Parkinson Keyes to write "Steamboat Gothic," a story about a family she imagined living there. The novel's title is indicative of the manor's appearance with its gingerbread galleries and extensive ornamentation. San Francisco's interior is ornate as well, boasting handcarved woodwork, ceiling paintings, frescoes and beveled glass. The furniture is largely English and French 18th century pieces, an authentic representation of the original owner's tastes.

Guests will enjoy a tasty box lunch on the motorcoach as they travel. The lunch will consist of:

Sliced breast of turkey on croissant
“Zap’s” potato chips
Freshly baked cookie
Apple
Water
Assorted Soft Drinks

[C'EST LA VIE ON THE BAYOU  |  CRESCENT CITY JAZZ & HERITAGE   |  RIVER ROAD REVISITED]