This series of photos are in chronological order. The road trip took a little over one month because of an unexpected Ice Storm.  Options to Road Trip through Louisiana:  1)  Laptop - Hover over each photo and a narrative will appear.  2) Mobile Device - Choose a photo to enlarge and read narrative below photo.  At the bottom of the screen you will see a sliding gallery.  You can click on each photo to advance forward.  ENJOY the complete State of Louisiana.
  For ALL the VIDEOS shot in Louisiana, click on this link.

One of the many, many abandoned homes located in Caddo Parish, Louisiana (very NW of state)

Crossing the border from Texas to Louisiana. Day 1

Over 2,600 people participated in paint parties throughout the city of Shreveport to secure the bragging rights of the largest publicly funded mural in the US. The mural was done by a paint by number grid applied to sheets of plastic paper. Once each grid was completed it was applied to the AT&T building by using acrylic. A feat in itself. This beautiful masterpiece is entitled, 'Once Upon a Millennium'. Day 1 in Shreveport.

Elvis in Louisiana? His first television debut was at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium in 1955. This larger-than-life statue towers at the entrance of the auditorium which is still used today. Day 1 in Shreveport.

Mardi Gras celebrations take place all throughout Louisiana - not only in New Orleans. The City of Shreveport hosts a Mardi Gras parade yearly attracting over 250,000 folks. Also, you can't miss the Krewe of Gemini museum - literally that is - with such a mega-huge Mardi Gras icon above the double entrance doors. Day 3 in Bossier

Behind the scenes - well, in the backyard of the Mardi Gras Museum - are garages stuffed with previous floats, icons and such. So much fun to walk through and peak in each stall. Day 3 at Bossier City.

Mardi Gras Museum stores hundreds of costumes used in the Shreveport Parade. Day 3 in Bossier

I'll take a Suicide Daiquiri TO GO please. In Louisiana you can just do that. A drive up liquor store offering 10 different flavors of homemade daiquiris. Paris serves me my Big Gulp Styrofoam cup thru the drive through window. Look closely and you will see a piece of Scotch tape holding the top in place and covering the straw hole. Remove or tamper with the tape before you are home you will receive a Open Container citation from your local policeperson. Day 2 in Shreveport.

Ice Box Pies only in the South - Strawn's Eat Shop carries the reputation as the best of the best in all the south. All is made from scratch each morning. Has to be eaten within 24 hours I was told my my waitress. Could be the best strawberry pie I have ever eaten.

ZZ Top watching Gandhi feeding fresh pie to Marilyn Monroe! Look again to see who else is at Strawn's Eat Place eating the world renowned Ice Box Pie Inside multiple huge painted murals plaster the walls of this diner. Day 2 at Shreveport.\

Close-up entrance of Mardi Gras Museum. Day 3 in Bossier

No two bricks are alike as you drive along Byway 2 entitled, 'Boom or Bust'. Small towns with Big Murals everywhere. Usually painted by local artists. Day 4 in Claiborne Parish.

Traveling the side roads throughout Northern Louisiana. Day 4 somewhere?

Louisiana's winningest high school football team comes out of the small town of Haynesville (pop 2,575). The locals boasts the credit of 17 State Titles to no fast food restaurants, no movie theatres - Just FOOTBALL - 365 days a year in our town. Day 4 in Haynesville.

Shrimp Po Boy Sandwich - Super Super Delicious!

Bonnie and Clyde stopped here - Ma Canfield's Cafe - for sandwiches. Seven miles later they died by a brutal ambush. Day 6 in Gibsland, LA.

In a small town they call Gibsland, LA. Make sure to make your way to the Ambush site 7 miles away. The owner of the museum will hand you a hand written piece of paper for directions.

Can't get enough of the abandoned homes throughout America.

An NBA star Karl Malone - the Mailbox - went to high school here before tracking off to join the Utah Jazz.

Another incredible hand painted mural on a wall in a small town in Louisiana. Stay off the highway to see the real USA!

A dogtrot log home - 1830 constructed and occupied by Alberry Wasson and family. Still owned by the family. The dogtrot style was popular during the 19th century as it created a large breezeway through the center of the home in the hot southern climate. Day 5 in the woods near Summerfield, LA

Off the beaten path in the woods of Northern Louisiana.

Vampires, Bats and Blood Oh My! The HUGE water tower, over this northern Louisiana town of 313 folks, says it all! Or does it? In the early 19th century Dr W. L. Richards bought large acreage in the area and named it after his beloved school - Transylvania University located in Kentucky. Not as exciting as the BAT story but true.

Transylvania Elementary School Closed! Why? Or do the students attend only when the sun is down? Day 6 in the eerie town of Transylvania, LA (population 313).

Share Duster plain from the past but still in full force today spraying the cotton fields of Northern Louisiana.

You know you are in Louisiana when you see this restaurant.

Did you know that is the small town of Monroe there was a gentleman that actually took the fountain soda Coca Cola and put it in a bottle. Yep he started it.

In a local town on the wall of a carwash. I didn't try to make a call cause I had no one to call at the moment. :)

Oldest General Store in Louisiana - Survived the Civil War, WWI, The Great Depression and WWII (opened its doors 1863) Still operated by the Original founding family - Kaffie-Frederick. Day 7 in Alexandria, LA .

In 1893, when a railroad pushed through, a town was born - Oakdale. Today resides over 7,000 occupants take pride in their logging history and more importantly being recognized as 'a Little City with a BIG Heart'. Day 8 on the streets in Oakdale, LA

Holocaust Memorial reminds us to never forget. This small park offers the visitor a place to meditate, reflect and remember the 6 million lives lost. The monument is 16 feet high as the Hebrew letters for 18 mean LIFE! Day 9 in Alexandria, LA.

In 1941, Don Theatre begins offering Saturday matinees to the local folk. A frequent movie goer said one time, "When we came out of the air-conditioned Don Theatre we couldn’t wait to cross a busy Bolton Avenue to get a snow cone on a hot summer day before having the theater ticket sales lady call our mothers to come pick us up”. Oh - the GOOD OLE DAYS! Day 10 in Alexandria, LA.

This general store has been run by the same family since before the Civil War. Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. Definitely worth the stop!

I couldn't help myself! The best fried meat pie on the planet! Lasyone's Meat Pie Restaurant gives you the true soulful Creole experience. Only in Louisiana

March 12th 1894 Coca-Cola was bottled for the first time graduating from a fountain drink. Visit the Biedenharm Museum and have this 'soda jerk' tell you how Coca-Cola went from a fountain drink to a bottle drink .

Anne Frank - the voice of one and a half million children killed in the Holocaust. This plaque is displayed at the Holocaust memorial in Alexandria Louisiana.

Crayfishing in Southern Louisiana! Have a Crawfish Boil or eat some Crayfish Cornbread! Only in Louisiana!

Life Altering Words painted on a fence in rural Louisiana.

The Southern Hospitality in Louisiana is like no other. Invited to a home for a traditional Crawfish Boil. Ate Crawfish like the locals - Suck the juice out the head first, then eat the tail! Delicious! Day 15 at Adrian's Home (Crayfish Farm) in Iowa, LA

Tools of the Trade on a Crawfish Farm - Southern Louisiana

Crawfish Farmers very used gloves after a long day in the field lying in a field.

Louisiana harvests more crawfish in the US than any other state. Individual Crawfish Boat.

Fresh Blue Crab - Takes some real training to eat them right - Take it from my experience. New Iberia LA

Warm Fried (yes in butter) Bread Pudding! To die for!

Fried Meat Pie - Lasyone's Meat Pie Restaurant. Signature meat-filled handmade pies. Natchitoches, LA

Hurricane Delta and Laura ripped through many communities along the Gulf of Mexico. Cameron, LA

Devastating damage to a once beautiful home in Lake Charles, LA. Two back-to-back hurricanes in 2020.

Homes buried and left abandoned along many rural roads in the Lake Charles area from the 200 mile an hour Hurricane Laura.

Business completely destroyed by Hurricane Delta and Laura in the Lake Charles Area, LA

Only a toilet stands on this home foundation from the winds of Hurricane Laura 2020.

Signs ripped apart from the 200 mile winds of Hurricane Laura. Southern Louisiana.

Streets lined up with mountains of debris from Hurricanes Delta and Laura - back to back 2020.

LIving Oalk Tree ripped out of the Earth by Hurricane Delta and Laura - August 2020. Thanks Shane for the pose. Day 20 Holly Beach, LA

Homes being rebuilt after back-to-back 2020 hurricanes.

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler! English translation: Let the good times roll. The Mardi Gras is in the spirit of the folks in Louisiana ALWAYS - Covid 19 or no Covid 19. Day 21 in a New Iberia neighborhood, LA

Holly Beach devastated by two back-to-back hurricanes in 2020. Reconstruction starts within months reclaiming the land. Holly Beach, LA

Huge warehouses full of unrefined sugar waiting to be processed for the consumers - like you and me.

Mountains of unrefined sugar! Louisiana produces over 14 million tons annually on more than 440,000 acres in 24 parishes. That is alot of sugar! Day 22 at the oldest family owned and operated plant in Louisiana, since 1825. M.A. Patout & Son - Iberia Parish, LA

Transformers for the Marshes in Louisiana. They are called MARSH BUGGIES. Day 21 near the Gulf of Mexico.

Monster Machines to work in the marshes in Southern Louisiana.

Marsh Buggies move throughout the swamp lands to make room for man.

Beaches being rebuilt along the Gulf of Mexico. Holly Beach, LA

Huge, massive oil rigs clogging up the coastline at the border of Louisiana and Texas.

Shrimp boats line up the Gulf of Mexico at the border of Louisiana and Texas.

Driving along the Gulf of Mexico (LA 82) to the very edge of Louisiana. As you cross the bridge, leaving Louisiana entering Texas. Can't wait to road trip it through Texas in 2023! □

A FEAST - A Crawfish FEAST - This is no restaurant! After the ice storm, a group of us put on our winter coats and got together for an outdoor ALL-YOU -CAN-EAT boiled crawfish extravaganza. A once in a life time experience for me! Thanks Adrian! Ducking out of the ice storm staying in Iowa, LA.

As you travel the roads ALWAYS keep you eyes out. There is ALWAYS something to see out that window. Folks are proud to be an Louisianan.

Land of the Giants - These three canasters stand strong in front of the Steen's Syrup Mill. In the south, Steen's Pure Cane Syrup is a household name since the early 1900's. Production of the 100% pure cane syrup is still done today as it was originally in 1910. (If you look closely you can see a man in the background - just to show you the size of these gigantic canasters) Abbeville, LA.

Since 1843, four churches have stood on this particular site. This latest church was built in 1911. The exquisite Saint Mary Magdalen Church located in the quaint town of Abbeville, LA.

Talk about having a BIG HEAD! Two 5-feet heads with blindfolded eyes and the top part of their heads missing (where the brains go). Located at the ends of the entrance to the Federal Courthouse Building. Very unusual. Entitled The Urns of Justice. Lafayette, LA

Massive Trees in Louisiana - These magnificent trees are called, 'Live Oaks'. They are HUGE! To give you an idea, look for the sitting bench in this photo.

Not only shirtless, but built-to-the-tilt Fireman statue in front of the local fire station. This strong, dedicated fireman is pointing to an unknown fire while wrestling with the fire hose. Lafayette, LA.

Brown Pelican State Bird - Can only be found along the ocean shores and not on inland lakes. Also, out of the 7 species of pelicans, this particular species is the only one that plunges from the air into the water to catch its food.

One of three commercial salt mines is located on Avery Island, LA - Cargill Mine. This mine produces 2 million tons of salt a year. The mine will be closing its' doors this year serving the area since 1979.

Built in 1936 in the Jungle Gardens on Avery Island, LA. The Buddha Temple shares space with a beautiful pond and an arched bridge. The shrine is used today as a place of worship. Avery Island, LA

Home of Tabasco Sauce - All Tabasco sauce is produced here by the Avery family. The area is littered with dirt roads to AWESOME destinations.

Avery Island Old Factory. Home of the makers of Tabasco Sauce.

Bird Sanctuary on Avery Island.

Segregation - The Evangeline Theatre opened its' doors in 1930. If you were black you had a separate entrance. This theater continued operating in this format until its' doors closed in 1960. New Iberia, LA

Sit next to Rosa Parks at the local bus station in Lafayette, LA.

Two World Trade Center beams surrounded by Pentagon limestone and all resting on a bed of dirt from the Flight 93 Crash Site. Lafayette, LA

Two World Trade Center beams surrounded by Pentagon limestone and all resting on a bed of dirt from the Flight 93 Crash Site. Lafayette, LA

The 'Blue Dog' series took a New Iberia artist worldwide with his paintings. Every Blue Dog painting carries three characteristics: 1) Always a Live Oak in the painting, 2) Yellow piercing eyes and 3) The dog is always facing the same direction staring at its' viewer. Everything in this exhibit was taken from his studio before he passed in 2013. This is his last unfinished painting. Bayou Teche Museum, New Iberia, LA

Another case of Louisianan Hospitality - Invited to join some local businesses for lunch I was eyeing a woman making a dessert from scratch. She smiled and asked if I ever tried Bread Pudding.

My face lit up as I answered like a child, "Never in my life!" □

Absolutely delicious! Thanks Evie for stopping everything to serve a complete stranger.

She immediately prepared a sampling - more like a plate full.

Larger than life! Shrimp Boat Rubber Boots - 8 feet tall and 3 feet wide! Located in the small town of Gray. Very Southeast Louisiana.

One of the many, many shrimp boats located throughout the Terrebonne Parish. Took a spontaneous day road trip just driving small roads with no map today! Great adventure! Louisiana.

Stay off the highways to truly experience a state. This is a very typical home in rural Louisiana. What is common to the local folks is uncommon to the traveling visitor - such as these various signs.□ Only in Louisiana.

Absolutely Stunning Coastal Community for those few who can afford it in Louisiana. Drove there to specifically witness the sunset on the Gulf of Mexico. Cypremort Point, LA.

Beautiful Sunset - Cypremort Point, LA.

Cypremort Point's Sunset.

Predating the Civil War (1859) the Southwest Reef Lighthouse was in use guiding mariners on the Atchafalaya Bay. Decommissioned in 1916 and left abandoned until 1987. It proudly stands at its new location at Berwick Bay completely restored. Some of our last days traveling through Louisiana before we enter new terrain - Mississippi! □

My first GATOR spotting in Louisiana! □ The locals tell me this unique wall art just showed up one day on the side of this building. Nobody saw the artist create it nor there is no artist's signature. New Iberia, LA

Climb upon an operating oil rig in Louisiana! Incredible personal tour showing you from the sleeping quarters to the hardware used to get the crude oil out of the underground. Morgan City, LA

The apparatus used to higher and lower the crew members to the small shore boat which brings them to the massive rig. Morgan City, LA Oil Rig Tour

The actual pipes used deep into the waters and the hole drilled out to reach the oil. The tour $5. □ Amazing. Morgan City, LA.

Shrimp season runs generally from May to January depending on what type of shrimp. Gulf of Mexico LA.

Trailer homes are abundant in small shrimping communities along the Gul of Mexico. LA

A typical home in a small shrimping community along the Gulf of Mexico. Quiet now as it is off season.

Day road trip through various pocket-size shrimping communities along the southeast coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

In the Kitchen at James Seafood Restaurant. So fresh and so delicious! New Iberia, LA

James Seafood preparing Crawfish Boils

Adding the Cajon Spices to their signature dishes at James Seafood Restaurant. New Iberia, LA.

Traditional huge plastic plates to hold the array of seafood and its goodie. James Seafood in New Iberia, LA.

Chucking Oysters in the back kitchen at James Seafood Restaurant located in New Iberia, LA.

Folgers Coffee Company Plant - Oh New Orleans, here we come! Last leg of Louisiana!

Sitting along the side of a highway is a strange, small castle. It's named - Fisherman's Castle. Built in 1981 for the World's Fair tourists. Survival of two hurricanes. Today, it stands vacant. Nobody knows for sure what will happen to it. Rumor has it maybe a bed and breakfast inn. Outskirts of New Orleans. LA

Another massive Live Oak Tree. The branches are so large they rest on the ground. Old State Capital Building LA

Mississippi River view from the Old State Capital LA.

The tallest State Capital in the United States. Two huge monuments greet everyone entering the Capital - The Pioneers and The Patriots.

The Pioneer Monument pays tribute to the original Native Indians, the French and Spanish explorers and to the American's who made Louisiana their home.

The Patriot Monument honors those who died defending Louisiana's home and rights. Amazing! Baton Rouge, LA

An AMAZING day exploring the uniqueness of NOLA - New Orleans. Tomb of the Unknown Slave.

Shotgun Homes throughout New Orleans, LA

Doullut Steamboat House located on the Levy. New Orleans, LA.

A rare encounter - NaeNae, a backyard horse, in New Orleans, LA.

Holy Cross Boys School closed after the damage from Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans, LA

Some of the residual effects of Hurricane Katrina. Navel Building. Holy Cross, New Orleans, LA

Six Flags New Orleans most still underwater after Hurricane Katrina.

Six Flags Out of commission since Hurricane Katrina. Guarded by security so entry is possible.

The Levee. If you look through the trees, you can see downtown New Orleans.

One of the many Fishing Charter Boats. Venice, LA.

Venice Marina. Fishing Capital of the World.

Drive a road to the furthest part of Louisiana. Nicknamed: The End of the World. Venice LA

Along the roads to the End of the World - Venice, LA

No need to say nothing here. Photo says it all. Venice, LA

A map showing the end of the road to the bottom of Louisiana.

One of many colorful and full of life homes in New Orleans, LA

In a side backyard in a small community - Holy Cross, New Orleans, LA

The Pelican dives and scoops up the fish with up to 3 gallons of water in it's pouch. Once the water is drained, this bird tilts it's head back and swallows the fish whole!.

Brown Pelican - State Bird - 3 to 4 feet in length.

Early European settlers were impressed with the generosity and nurturing approach towards their young and has continued to be a symbol of the wonderful state of Louisiana. □

A beautiful state bird - The Brown Pelican. Venice, LA