I'm from St. St. Martinville. 20 miles east of Lafayette. I grew up in "da'ville" for 20 years. History fans will love it full of history and great food. St. John's Restaurant is to die for! Longfellow State Park explains how the Acadians came here after they were exiled from Nova Scotia. Stop by the Evangeline oak next to the bed and breakfast.
....and don't forget that hot pepper sauce. As a trucker, I picked up many, many trailer loads of Louisiana Cajun hot pepper sauce right there in St Martinville. I am totally addicted to it and put it on everything, even in my soups.
I've always loved Louisiana. The people, music, food. And the history was very interesting there. I will love to visit someday.... Hello how're you doing?
First off, I watch your videos every time I venture out & plan a new trip. You made me smile! Warms my heart at how much love you feel/sense with our culture, food, & hospitality. Thanks for mentioning other wonderful parts of our historical locations. There is so much history here that I’m still exploring my state & I’m from New Orleans. I love my state & proud that you put us on the map! I hope you keep coming back 🥰
Am I the only Louisianan that hates Los Angeles because they have the same abbreviation (LA) but everyone always thinks of Los Angeles first, I actually thought Hollywood was in Louisiana when I was younger because someone said it was in LA.
Louisiana food is the best. I live in New York but I'm from Ville Platte. I miss the food at home. Only time I get a taste of season here is tasting the salt in the snow 😅🤣😆😁
A mind that is stretched by a new experience and new travel directions can never go back to its old dimensions..... Thank you for sharing this experience with us!!!
You didn't mention The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway (French: Chaussée du lac Pontchartrain), sometimes only The Causeway, is a fixed link composed of two parallel bridges crossing Lake Pontchartrain in southern Louisiana, United States. The longer of the two bridges is 23.83 miles (38.35 km) long. The southern terminus of the causeway is in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. The northern terminus is at Mandeville, Louisiana. Land can’t be seen by motorists who are crossing the middle 8 miles of the bridge. Since 1969, it was listed by Guinness World Records as the longest bridge over water in the world; in 2011, in response to the opening of the longer Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in China, Guinness World Records created two categories for bridges over water: continuous and aggregate lengths over water. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway then became the longest bridge over water (continuous), while Jiaozhou Bay Bridge the longest bridge over water (aggregate).
I've been on the Ponchartrain bridge (which is more like an elevated road) with my 18 wheeler and I was blown away by how long it was. It must have cost a fortune to build. If anyone plans to visit Louisiana, make sure you take the time to drive across this amazing bridge.
@@joejohnson3441 That bridge is a PITA haha. Definitely Amazing engineering though, there used to be a few old videos on youtube of how it was made. Worth a watch for sure.
I wouldn't cross that thing for a million dollars. I barely made it across Lake Charles! I don't know how people cross Lake Pontchartrain on a regular basis. Unbelievable!
Down here we call it "air you can wear", usually when the dew point is above 75 degrees, pretty oppressive, but we endure, come see us, we'd love to have you
If its cold and you go between New Orleans and Baton Rouge at the wrong time of year you’ll see dozens and dozens of dear next to the road too. We’re not used to the cold weather even though its happens all the time, watch out lol.
I'm from St. Bernard parish , it borders New Orleans . Big fishing community. I had a nutrea as a pet . ( Trained as good as a dog, great pet) Also had Gators and racoon's.( Not good pets lol ) The crime in The city can be alil much at times ,but my parish never had a murder in 27 years before Katrina . We have a few here and there now but still a very safe place to live due to our strict sheriff and law enforcement, which we treasure . I rarely go to the city ,New Orleans that is . The Quarter is awesome but can be dangerous late at night. When we go it's on Sundays during the daytime . It's really fun .
In 2004 my husband was offered a job in Baton Rouge and another in Sterling, VA. He asked me which one I wanted to move to. I immediately said Baton Rouge. I was soooo excited. He said. NOPE. We’re moving to Virginia. I said WHY?! He said I don’t want ( our one year old) to grow up with an accent. I started crying. I was like why’d you even ask me then?!? I’m still salty to this day. Someday I will live in Baton Rouge. 🥺😭💕 We are divorced… 😂
As a Louisiana native, born and raised, I have to say that this is one of the best videos I've ever seen when it comes to describing our state🥰🥰🥰. But there's one thing that stood out. The word Boudin is pronounced BOO-DAN lol.
The north and south parts of the state are two completely different cultures although the north tries to pretend it is Cajun. I mean, the north part of the state is great to visit (and I recommend it) but it's more Arkansas and Texas in culture.
Very true. I’m from New Orleans and lived in Shreveport for 6 months after Katrina...it’s a whole different state up there. The accent, the food, the religion, the Cowboys games showing on Sunday instead of the Saints (that may have changed since the super bowl win?)
As a Louisiana native, I always tell anyone that does not live in the South....DO NOT come during the summer!! You will die from the humidity. There’s no way to fully prepare someone for just how hot and miserable it can be. Don’t get me wrong. I love my state, not always the summers though. Lol! Also you will NEVER find our food made better anywhere in the country. You want real authentic Cajun and Creole cooking, it’s only here in the state.
I'm from Australia the way you talk about the food make me want to jump on a plane and come see you guys, idk but this place seems amazing. Is it part of America?
The army sent me to your state for 1 month in the summer..... it's rough and I found out not to drip my jelly from PBJs on the ground 😂 ants was on rapid deployment and we ran outta water on day 1 maybe beginning day 2 afghanistan had nothing on that place as far as heat humidity and wildlife was concerned
@@sol-leks6122 I live in South Louisiana and worked in the swamps in the deep south last year. The amount of tourists from other countries, mostly Europe though, amazed me. I never thought of Louisiana as a tourist destination but I would see so many foreigners absolutely amazed and engaged with our nature and wildlife and how they enjoyed the food. Even when I traveled to other states for work, when they found out we were sent from Louisiana they would say nothing but good things and rave about our food I was shocked how many people knew about the town I was based in because it's not a major city and they would talk about how they loved the town and it's apparently known as one of the last cities to really embrace the Cajun culture and hasn't made it for tourists like New Orleans. You absolutely should visit Louisiana one day, it's not the richest money wise or the smartest by testing standards but it's truly a unique and amazing place in America
Fun fact about Louisiana: you won't hear too much of our french now and days because back in the day our great grandparents and grand parents were basically discriminated against and bullied for speaking it so the majority just decided to not teach their children and grand children so they didn't have to go through it.
The north used to have signs denying southerners business. The north hated the south because they thought we were all trash. That didn’t start changing until. after WW2.
As a 18 year old native French and Creole speaker from Louisiana it actually is more of you don’t hear a lot because everyone speaks English as well. I know plenty of people white and black from Baton-Rouge to Lake Charles who are my age or younger and grew up speaking French. Now some of us lose it because we don’t use it outside of our family but that’s actually starting to change in Louisiana especially with all the work we are putting into everything. Our legislation is looking to pass more laws to not only protect French but to expand it and also we have Télé-Louisiane who does great work. I have a show called LACréole Show you can watch it on télé-louisiane’s RU-vid or go to our website lacreoleshow.com we’re here it’s just we need to build an economy for us so we can really show we are here and since you don’t speak you can always learn standard French and go to French tables and pick up the local way of speaking. You can do it!
@@rouganou2651 yea don't get me wrong ik people who can speak it as well I'm just relaying Information that the elders of my family told me. I'm from the thibodaux/ houma area.
Had a friend from Alabama come over once and after reading the menu he asked for "bow-din" and "E-toof" he got laughed at pretty good. He enjoyed his food very much.
I was waiting for the "louisiana is not just new orleans" I mean i live in new orleans (born and raised) but that has always driven me crazy that that's immediately where people's minds go. I don't think people realize how awesome other parts of louisiana can be. So I actually REALLY appreciate that being one of the bullet points made in this video.
I know exactly what you mean. I live in North Louisiana most of my life, born here, and when I tell people where I am from, they assume I am from south Louisiana. I go 'nope, I am from the other side of the state.'
In Louisiana hoods, they beat you with baguettes and croissants while raping in French talking about their uncles truck and his grandma's house in thr bayou.
He's not lying about the bugs and humidity. I dont even go outside in July and August! And the bugs. I've lived in south louisiana all my life, 31 years, and I swear every summer i see a new species of bug. They also get bigger, faster, and some are beginning to take flight. I've never known horror until i saw my first thumb size flying cockroach 2 years ago!!
I'm from LA and I agree . . . those thumbsize cockroaches (we called 'em water bugs), especially the ones that would fly at you, were TERRIFYING!!!!! 😳
I was born and raised in Louisiana. I have lived here my entire life, and appreciate you mentioning that we are not just New Orleans! I am in SWLA...closer to Texas, and every time I tell someone out of state that I am from Louisiana, they talk about New Orleans....gets frustrating
My French in-laws spoke French the whole time on our swamp tour with the Cajun boat captain. They understood each other perfectly, and my in-laws were completely charmed by his accent and outlook on life. It is to this day their favorite part of any of their trips to the U.S.
@@JPMJPM yes but i guess (i dont know) the dialect is completely different my friends from Quebec say they just cant understand the accent. However evryother part of french speaking Canada can absolutely understand cajun french.
The thing that shocked me about Louisiana is the heat. It’s otherworldly. Nothing prepared me for how hot it was. I’ve lived in Nashville for 20 years and thought I could handle it. It kicked my ass.
All Louisianans HATE the heat. Many times I wanted to move. I liked WIsconsin but TOO C~O~L~D in winter. Went to CO in Nov. Felt like I was in a freezer. Don’t mind snow for a few dys but not all winter. Guess I’m too Southern. Our winters are usually mild & Fall-like.
I’ve always loved Louisiana. The people, music, food. And the history was very interesting there. I went to the Whitney plantation and it was amazing. The stories there were incredible
Hey yea it was about an hour drive I believe outside of downtown New Orleans. I haven’t been there for a few years now but I’m very sure that it was called the Whitney Plantation. It was awesome and get a cheap rental and check it out, that’s how I did it.
@@tarek198608 thank u so much ,I've watched videos on Whitney Plantation and it looks like a place u could actually learn the history ,not just see a pretty building .
also temps in the saying Bon temps Rouler is pronounced Tawn like in dawn but usually with a silent n. and Rouler has a long A sound at the end like roul-a.
Talking about the accents, you pronounced Muffuletta and Boudin wrong! The proper way to pronounce the sandwich is, ‘Muff-a-latt-ah’ and the Boudin is actually pronounced ‘Boo-Dan.’ At least that’s about as close to correct as I can type it! LOL, you’d actually have to hear it pronounced! Great video from a life time Nu-Yallins guy!
As a south Louisiana native I can say everything this man has said is accurate. Especially the weather, if you come here during the summer (basically March to December) you will suffocate. Our air Dow here is made out of Roux and Louisiana hot sauce.
When I stayed in Louisiana I did not find that the people were friendly but most everything he said otherwise I found it to be accurate except for he didn't say how small the portions are in the heart of Louisiana when you're dining at a restaurant
Boudin is pronounced like boo-dan. Born and raised in North Louisiana. I love the south part of the state too. Grew up going down all the time to visit family. It is like another country. 🥰 The entire state. So much to see and do and, most importantly, eat!!
I've always loved Louisiana. The people, music, food. And the history was very interesting there. I will love to visit someday.... Hello how're you doing?
I too am born and raised in Louisiana and have lived in several cities. South Louisiana is the best food in the world and Lafayette area is true bona fide Cajun food. Don't bother with Shreveport or Monroe. Monroe is a food desert, nothing but fast food, It has zero food anywhere. My wife and I lived in Lake Charles in the late 70's and fell in love with Boudin (pronounced as Boo-Dan) now we have to go to south LA or order it on-line. Lived here in Louisiana for 65 years and it is very difficult to find work, taxed on everything and is the poorest state in the Union'
Someone made a negative comment on the smell that they noticed in Louisiana. Well I’ll say in response , that when I drove from the Texas border on I 10 through to New Orleans, I did noticed the odor .Some might call it smell , but I recognized it as being the native scent proper to the bayous, bogs, swamps and wetlands. It’s a completely natural aroma no different in its uniqueness than the scent you notice in a farm with livestock.
The scent of being out on a boat on the bayous.... when suddenly... You accidentally go into a shallow part and get stuck. And you frantically try getting the propeller to loosen out of the mer to get out of there. The stench stirring up of the marsh muddy waters is awful.
When I moved away from Louisiana for school my nose bled for months before I acclimated. I'm accustomed to living with humidity levels equal to living underwater, living somewhere that didn't have 90% humidity at all times was a shock to my system.
I was stationed here in Central Louisiana for 4 years in the early 80s . I went all over hell and creation and ended up in Las Vegas for many years until I retired and returned to the Alexandria area in 2020 . People elsewhere always associate Louisiana with New Orleans . I've had a couple of friends visit and they cant get over how rural and laid back it is .
Watching this and living in louisiana I think to myself people really come here for vacation 😂😂😂 If your a tourist don't drive slow we have slow service but we late everywhere so pls get out the way. Enjoy your stay ✌️
Also- while there, hit up a night at the Blue Moon Saloon, Saturday morning at the Savoie music Center in Eunice followed by Saturday morning dancing at Fred’s in Mamou.
It can be. Have your wits about you when you're in a touristy area off hours. We had someone following us on a quiet street. Luckily we came across a British pub, and popped in. Had a great time. My boss used to have make a cash deposit at the bank every week. He'd give me a big brief case to carry it in. In those days I was in tee shirts and cut-off jeans with my hair down to my butt. I would stuff the case in my back pack to go to the bank. My boss couldn't understand why, but a long-hair in jeans carrying a brief case is just asking for trouble. Use the same precautions you'd take in any big city - get a razor proof bag, keep it in front of you. Be aware of people crowding around you when you're walking. Don't leave stuff out of reach. etc.
I really enjoyed Louisiana and especially New Orleans.. I’ve been to the East coast and the West coast but there is no other place like New Orleans in the US.. I wish to come back soon 😎🤟🏻
I've always loved Louisiana. The people, music, food. And the history was very interesting there. I will love to visit someday.... Hello how're you doing?
Most things here l agree with; except for the bit about Louisiana being much more than "just" New Orleans - l always knew that Louisiana is one of the most fascinating States! Baton Rouge, for one, is not a "poor man's New Orleans"; it's a fascinating and beautiful city in its own right! Don't miss Lafayette, and the intriguing Cajun areas. But what is said here, correctly, about the kind, friendly denizens of the State, l find every bit as true about Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, northern Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee and Texas; l am a huge fan of all things Southern! Everywhere in the South, the food is awesome; but even more so in Louisiana. By the way, the Cajuns and Creoles are very different from each other, with a different history - but they're all Americans! A relatively unknown little town is Ferriday, best seen from Natchez, Mississippi (only by taxi, no buses go there), the home of Jerry Lee Lewis, and the site of a fascinating museum documenting the Mississippi Delta's unrivaled musical heritage.
Yes. The bugs. I worked at the youth hostel one summer during the World's Fair, and the visitors would complain every time they spotted a bug. We cleaned, we sprayed, but yes, you will still see bugs. Big bugs. Big roaches. They fly. Fun stuff.
All of the weirdest stories from my friends revolve around New Orleans. Oh, someone in drag you couldn't understand followed you around from bar to bar buying you drinks and trying to talk you into giving them your shoes and eventually beat you for them? Let me guess where.
I'm a native of Louisiana and everything you have said is right! Everyone I meet from outside of the state, especially from the north, can't believe how nice we are. I'll always love this state. Even when it disappears into the Gulf of Mexico.
I’m from Louisiana and hate going to NO. The traffic and parking are frustrating. But more than that, I don’t like being approached and every time I’m there (with my kids) some man walks up to me asking for money, my leftover food, or tries to sell me something or trick me. Like leave me alone and let me enjoy my time there with my kids. And there is so much more to Louisiana than NO, do your research
The contrast between north and south Louisiana is pretty drastic. It’s almost like they could be two different states. South Louisiana is what u think Louisiana is like, then north is like a combo of Arkansas and Mississippi and Texas
Know about the crime before you come here. In every city there are wonderful places to be but also (know where not to be). If you're visiting Shreveport, stay in Bossier.
I've lived here all my life 68 years and think of all the fantastic food as day to day normal. However every time I leave south Louisiana for vacations or business and eating foods in other states I'm reminded just how great our food is down here.
When I tell people I live in denham springs I gotta explain to them its 20 mins outside of baton rouge, some don't even know about baton rouge so I end up having to just exclaim to them I'm from nola, point is like you stated that lousiana is way more then just new orleans. I rarely even go to new orleans because it's a tourist destination, to me it just seems a shell of what nola used to be. Similar to Miami, Los Angeles, and New York.
Omg! I love this video! I’m in Louisiana (born & raised) and you hit some GREAT points I really would have never thought twice about because it’s common for me (like the raised roadways). We just grew up knowing “you better use the bathroom before you leave the house” 😂. Thanks for shouting out Shreveport- that’s my neck of the woods. GEAUX LSU!!! 🐯💜💛
Hello from a nola local! Your forgot the most important season! Mardi gras!! The biggest party in the country. Also the traffic is a bit to get used to.Dont forget to see the revolutionary and civil war sites as well forts and battlegrounds all over.
@@The_-_- I can’t remember who JBE’s opponent was at the moment, but he was such a known crook the even that republicans didn’t vote for him. And, for what it’s worth, New Orleans is blue (and I think Baton Rouge and Shreveport are too)
It’s funny being from west Texas, growing up in scrub desert I’ve always envied people with land that can actually be traveled without getting sticked by a mosquit tree
I brewed up a pot of Community coffee for a friend of mine, from Tennessee. He took his first sip, and said, "I'm not man enough to drink that coffee." He always bragged about how much coffee he drank.
Yes it is. My dad is from Ville Platte La. I have most of dad’s family still living there. My mama’s family founded Natchitoches La. thats my hometown.. Natchitoches is 4 years older than New Orleans. I’m also part of Creoles and Natchitoches Indians
Was engaged to a girl from Alexandria and she took me to" Nack-a dush" for lunch one day to go sight seeing. Beautiful. town and was looking forward to moving to CenLA until I found out she didn't want me to go back with. her!!
Recently moved to Ville Platte and love it. It's so charming, the air is clean, the water is clean and the people have such lovely manners. Everywhere I go around here everyone is so thoughtful and considerate. I've lived in other parts of the state and had a completely different experience. This small town is by far my favorite.
The biggest shock and what should have been first is the wall of humidity that you hit when leaving the airport. I always feel it and am like "ahh I suddenly remember we live in a swamp"
If you want to avoid mosquitos go to Lake Martin. There are so many dragon flies there that there are almost no mosquitos. The first person from Louisiana I ever met back in 2002, was a mind reading lady. It was at the welcome center in Lake Providence, and the first words that came out of her mouth, when we entered, were "Do you need a restroom?" And as we had been driving down from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, that was so true. When we returned she said "Hello", offered us some freshly pressed lemonade and we had a nice long talk. I love Louisiana, my second favorite state in the US 😁 And btw in 2016 my son and I drove from Slidell to Avery Island and back (about 400 miles) for an afternoon trip, just to shop in the Tabasco Country Store. 🌶🌶🌶
@@romaschild3 Actually around 190 miles each way by I-10. We were in a hurry as we had to get back in time for an evening tour inrto Honey Island Swamp.
A Major shock is looking for a pretty woman or nice gym to workout in- but the Biggest shock of all is when you get you paycheck lol Lamest state And the people are NOT friendly
