160 Miles (257 Kilometers) | 3 to 4 days | Year-round |
Other cities in the United States can argue about who has the greatest this or the most that, but when all the slogans have been written and all the press releases released, there's still only one New Orleans. Only one place can be the most cosmopolitan, provincial, urbane, small-town, sophisticated, earthy, multicultural gumbo of a metropolis in North America. What other city was christened for a scandalously debauched French duke, promoted by a crooked Scotsman, and governed for a time by a Spaniard named O'Reilly? In New Orleans, the spirit of laid-back hedonism presides over the second busiest port in the country. In New Orleans, people walk around on dry land 6 feet [1.8 meters] below sea level. In New Orleans, you practically need to learn a second language to get around: Uptown, downtown, riverside, and lakeside replace the points of the compass, a median is neutral ground, and a sidewalk is a banquette. And if you think all that's complicated, just try to pin down exactly what Creole really means.
After exploring New Orleans, this drive travels up the Mississippi River to visit a selection of gracious plantation houses—reminders of the vanished Old South, and peaceful counterpoints to the bustle of the city. CONTINUED
The Beginning of a New Way to Think About Driving!
