Louisiana Day: Celebrating this Southern State’s Rich History with Unique and Unusual Places to Visit in Louisiana

We’ll take any available chance to hit the road and explore any of our country’s 50 unique states! Today, we’re celebrating Louisiana Day with a fun guide of interesting and must-see destinations around the state.  You’ll find kitschy roadside stops, haunted houses, historic museums, and plenty of photo-worthy stops on our guide. Just say “good bayou” to boring vacations and hello to excitement and unforgettable memories.

Memorable and Exciting Places to Visit in Louisiana

The Bonnie and Clyde Ambush Museum is a fascinating locally run attraction commemorating the couple’s very dramatic end on their final ambush.  The owner of this facility is the son of one of the officers that responded to the scene at the time. The result is an eclectic mix of memorabilia including firearms, the original car windshield, replicas of their tombstones, and items from Bonnie and Clyde’s personal wardrobe. Every spring there’s even a special event called “Bonnie and Clyde Day” which includes speakers and special displays. There’s no charge to visit the museum, making it a perfect add-on to any trip for something offbeat and unusual. It’s a small stop off but jampacked with Great Depression era information and a specialty look at these romanticized historic icons.

The Abita Mystery House is a true roadside gem and one-of-a-kind experience. This is a truly offbeat art installation and collection of oddities and creative sculptures made of found objects and vintage collectibles. Visitors all have trouble adequately describing the full experience, and encourage other travelers to stop in and see for themselves just how unusual and kitschy it is! Many of the displays are interactive, making it a prime spot for children who adore hands-on experiences.  You can even purchase some unique gifts and memorabilia in the shop at the end. If you get the chance to speak with the owner/artist, too, we’d recommend it for a more enhanced experience. It’s described as an abstract, surrealist, nostalgic venue. Stop in for yourself and see what you think and let us know your thoughts!

The Kentwood Historical Museum and Cultural Arts Center offers two unique buildings: one dedicated to WWII history, featuring photographs and artifacts brought back by local soldiers in the war; the second dedicated to the life and career of the iconic pop star, Britney Spears, whose hometown is Kentwood. The Britney Spears exhibit is the facility’s most popular, and chronicles her rise to pop stardom, featuring artifacts and costumes from tours, photographs from her life, awards and displays, and a replica of the stage created during her Dream Within a Dream tour!

The Museum of Death New Orleans is located in the French Quarter, and has fully leaned into its macabre fascination with this natural human process. While the exhibits are labeled as all ages, some sensitive visitors may find some displays a little too graphic or upsetting, so use caution if visiting with younger children; although if you do faint from shock, you’ll apparently be awarded an “i passed out at the museum of death…and lived to talk about it.” commemorative shirt!  The strange museum features items such as a body back collection, letters and pictures sent in from serial killers, death themed oddities, shrunken heads, skeletons and taxidermy, embalming and autopsy video displays, and other morbid ephemera.  It’s not for the faint of heart, but certainly a very memorable experience!

Music Box Village features unusual architecture and a fantastical collection of hands–on displays encouraging an exploration of music and song.  The grounds were curated and designed by a creative collective of more than 80 artists and designers, each offering unique sculptures, interactive music houses, and whimsical experimental artworks. This avant garde venue also hosts a series of public art workshops, movement and music classes, and focused panels on creative topics. You can also enjoy local food from the NOLA area, and specialty drinks at the full on site bar!  The rotating cast of artists-in-residence means the grounds are always growing, evolving, and updating. Make sure to check the calendar and event listings to catch something unique on your visit!

Jungle Gardens on Avery Island features 170 acres of curated tropical gardens and botanical installations, and a stunning rookery/bird colony where thousands of birds migrate and shelter each year. This beautiful haven on Avery Island is also home to an abundance of diverse wildlife, making it an incredible place to visit for nature lovers. You can spot black bears, wildcats, coyotes, armadillos, otters, and more in and around the island area.  For a reasonable price of $50, photographers can wander the grounds year round and snap incredible nature backdrops in their family photos!  You can opt into the TravelStorys app and take yourself on a self-guided tour with an enhanced experience.

Other fantastic areas of note include:

• The USS Kidd Veterans Museum featuring a Fletcher-class Destroyer from WWII era.
• Gardens of the American Rose Society featuring 118-acres of stunning curated roses.
• Global Wildlife Center is the largest wildlife center of its kind, and offers a fun safari tour!
• Musical Legends Park features life-sized statues of famous music artists from NOLA.
• Atchafalaya Basin is the largest swamp in the entire country and offers numerous tours.
• Chauvin Sculpture Garden has more than 100 statues by mysterious artist Kenny Hill.
• Tabasco Factory Museum Tour and Restaurant on Avery Island.
• Bayou Suvage National WIldlife Refuge covers 24,000 acres and is the largest urban wildlife refuge in the US.
• National Hansen’s Disease Museum chronicling the history of a quarantine hospital for leprosy patients and cemetery.
• Bayou St. John Confederate Submarine at the Louisiana State Museum exhibit.

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