Anna Mancuso Naquin
April 30, 2008
Edna Mae Westbrook Smith Guilfore
May 2, 2008
With gas prices threatening to hit $4 a gallon, many locals are choosing to vacation close to home, and one Louisiana community is banking on it.
Nestled in the rolling wooded hills of central Louisiana, 50 miles north of Alexandria on I-49, is Natchitoches – a vibrant, fun community with many attractions, state historic sites and museums. A visit to Natchitoches is a great getaway for the entire family. It’s within a tank-of-gas drive from to the area, yet it’s far enough away to leave your worries behind.
Visitors to Natchitoches instantly fall in love with the city’s 33-block Landmark district. This shoppers’ paradise offers fine dining, local cuisine, arts, crafts and boutiques that carry one of a kind items.
Known for its world famous meat pies and its “City of Lights” festival each holiday, Natchitoches has also become famous for its unique accommodations. The city has earned the title of “Bed and Breakfast Capital of North Louisiana” – featuring over 35 inns offering a total of more than 125 rooms. The bed and breakfasts range from rustic to elegant town homes.
For more modern accommodations, the city offers eight nationally recognized hotel and motel chains and two locally owned inns. Together, they offer more than 750 rooms.
If you’re a movie buff, you’ll likely feel at home in Natchitoches, as it has been the featured location to several major motion pictures, including the Southern classic “Steel Magnolias.”
The summer is an active time for the unique Louisiana city. Featured activities this summer include the Melrose Arts & Crafts Festival, June 14-15; Celebration on the Cane, July 4th and the NSU Folk Festival held in air-conditioned Prather Coliseum at Northwestern State, July 18-19.
“There’s something for everyone in Natchitoches,” said Iris Harper, executive director of the Natchitoches Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We’re a place South Louisiana families can enjoy and afford year-round.”
Harper enthusiastically describes an event occurring in the city this summer. Natchitoches will present Game Faces: LSU Sports, an exhibit on display at The Old Courthouse Museum, a branch of the Louisiana State Museum. The exhibit features LSU sports memorabilia and artifacts, a few dating back to the early 20th century, like the 1907 football used in an LSU game played in Cuba and track shoes worn by track star Al Moreau. It will also house the LSU women’s pink decorated basketball jersey worn during a special Kay Yow Breast Cancer Awareness Tournament as well as trophies, cups, titles and awards – including the Heisman given to Billy Cannon and the 2007 National Championship trophy.
Natchitoches also offers history on display. Visitors can take a drive along the Cane River National Heritage Area Trail and visit Melrose Plantation and the newest National Park located at Oakland Plantation.
The kids will enjoy the Alligator Park & Show and see live buffalo at the Adai Caddo Cultural Center & Museum. The newest attraction – the W. R. Atteridge Naval Ship Museum – features over 100 exact miniature replicas of battle ships from the civil war through the Korean War.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Natchitoches offers hiking and biking trails in the Kistachie National Forest, as well as great fishing in area lakes.
It’s all just one tank of gas away!
For a visitor’s guide, call (800) 259-1714 or for a listing of current events visit www.natchitoches.net.
