Day Trip: Vacherie, LAApr 21, 2011
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Another Mississippi Bridge
Mint Julep Lunch
Rear of Plantation
After taking care of chores in the morning, we head to the Mississippi River. There are many plantations in the Baton Rouge area. I pick Oak Alley to visit.
We cross the Mississippi River again and turn north on the Great River Road. As soon as we arrive, I know I have made a good choice.
In the 1700’s an unknown settler planted twenty-eight evenly spaced oak trees in two rows leading from his humble cottage toward the Mississippi. The riverboat captains named the area. For them Oak Alley was a landmark.
In 1839, Jacques Telesphore Roman, a wealthy Creole sugar cane planter, lured his young bride from New Orleans to the plantation by building a spectacular mansion here. The trees are now three hundred years old and have a life expectancy of six hundred years. They are very impressive!
We eat lunch at the Oak Alley restaurant. The lunch includes mint juleps of course! The tour is good and air-conditioned. It is getting warm in Louisiana. It is another good day on the Mississippi.
Route: 16, 22, 61, Great River Road, 70, 22, 16
Campground: Baton Rouge KOA