About 28.7 million people visited Louisiana in 2014 and I’m sure that they didn’t come here looking for scenic mountain views or beautiful white sand beaches. What they did come to experience, however, was a unique culture and environment with amazing food, music, and, most importantly, some really friendly people. Louisiana is a cultural melting pot of family, food, and fun and it’s difficult not to fall in love with The Pelican State. I’ve had the pleasure of living in Louisiana for eighteen years and I want to share a few things that I adore about this place I call home.
1. "Laissez les bon tons rouler!"
Nothing quite describes Louisiana like: “Let the good times roll!” This popular phrase gives a nod to our French heritage and encompasses the attitude of most Louisianans. Here in Louisiana there’s always something going on, from festivals to football games, and everyone’s invited to join in the fun.
2. Food, food, and more food
What’s a day in Louisiana without enjoying some delicious food? “Gumbo weather” is a real thing and you can't have a football tailgate without jambalaya. Red beans and rice is what you eat on Mondays and if you’ve never tried boudin and cracklins then you’re missing out. Food brings people together here and the flavors of Louisiana cooking are hard to beat.
3. Southern hospitality
Wherever you go in Louisiana you’re sure to encounter welcoming people. There are small towns where everyone knows each other and there are cities where even strangers are friendly to each other.
4. Our great outdoors
Sure, much of Louisiana is at sea-level elevation, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have some great outdoor space. The swamps and marshes of south Louisiana are absolutely beautiful and are home to some of the best hunting and fishing in the world. Don’t forget the alligators!
5. Mardi Gras
It’s the season of king cake, parties, parades, beads, and lots of purple, green, and gold. It doesn’t get much better than that.
6. Music
New Orleans is known for jazz. Cajun and Zydeco were born in Acadiana. The roots of rock and roll were planted in Shreveport. From dance halls to nightclubs to outdoor festivals, if you enjoy listening to live music then Louisiana is your place.
7. Tabasco sauce and Tony Chachere’s
These are the iconic flavors of Louisiana and I’m not quite sure if Louisianans would be able to cook without them. It’s so easy to add a little spice to anything with some Tabasco sauce or Tony’s seasoning.
8. Pride in our roots
Cajun and Creole may be the most popular ways to describe our people, but Louisiana’s culture includes it all--French, Spanish, African, Native American, Irish, and Italian just for starters. Our French roots may be the most obvious in our names and places, such as Boudreaux and Baton Rouge, but we also enjoy muffulettas from our Italian roots and zydeco from our African heritage.
9. Beignets
They're fried dough covered in powdered sugar. What more do I need to say?
10. Crawfish boils
Nothing brings family or friends together like a crawfish boil. There’s something special about gathering around a table while peeling hot, spicy crawfish and enjoying good times with family and friends. There’s no better place to enjoy boiled crawfish than in Louisiana, where the tradition began.
11. SnoBalls
No, it’s not the same as a snow cone and summer is not complete without one. There are hundreds of flavors and hundreds of places to get them. The question is what’s your favorite?
With so much that's unique about The Pelican State, how can you not fall in love with Louisiana?
