Douglas Alexander and Erik Alexander with their precious baby girl[/caption]
You can contact them at nolapapa.com and on facebook/nolapala.
Douglas Alexander and Erik Alexander with their precious baby girl[/caption]
While we were recently visiting New Orleans, we stopped by for a tour of Laura’s Plantation which is located about 35 miles west of the New Orleans Airport and right on the banks of the Mississippi River. We had already read the book, “Memories of the Old Plantation Home & A Creole Family Album” which was written by Laura Locoul Gore many years ago and published in 2001. Gore who died at the age of 101 in 1963 chronicles her life and her famiie’s history on the Plantation. She sold the Plantation in 1891 and moved to St. Louis with her husband. It is a marvelous read. When we entered the front area of the office we were greeted very warmly by the staff. There were about 8 of us for the tour. We had been told that all of the tour guides were extremely informative, professional and friendly. For our tour, we had Jay Schexnaydre, who is the assistant manager of Laura’s Plantation. In all of our travels from coast to coast we have visited and toured dozens of museums, home tours and all types of tours however Jay was the best tour guide that we have ever encountered. His tour was extremely informative and professional and entertaining. You could tell that he really enjoyed what he was doing. After the tour when we were all walking out, everyone in our tour was commenting on how good he was. Some things can be written about or seen in a movie or on television however this Plantation is something that has to be seen in person. (and with an excellent tour guide like Jay). How he can remember all the names and dates is amazing. He talked about each of the family members and what they did (and didn’t do) and it is a true history lesson. From being inside the large Plantation house itself to the slave quarters one really does get a true sense of how it was to live back in that era. It is about a 75 minute tour and one is spellbound the We always tell our readers to “talk to everyone” and we met a couple on our tour, Kelly and Rich from New Zealand. They were visiting the United States and we just happened to be in the same tour group that they were in. We had a very fine conversation with them and then the next day we ran into them again on the streets in the French Quarter in New Orleans. With the thousands of tourists there, what are the odds of that happening ? It is always nice to meet people from other countries as they visit the United States and especially when they are as fun and interesting as they were. Now we want to travel to New Zealand just so we can visit them! Laura’s Plantation hosts 12 buildings that is on the National Register surrounded by fields of sugarcane, vegetable and fruit gardens and formal French parterre. Beginning in 1805 and for the next 5 generations, different family members owned the Plantation. Years later the ‘right’ people purchased the Plantation and completely refurbished it and now it is back to it’s original grandeur for people to visit and learn about it’s history. And what history there is! Your admission includes a guided tour based on Laura Locoul Gore’s book and a complete guided tour of the Big House, it’s raised basement and galleries, men’s and women’s parlors, service rooms and common rooms as well as a guided tour of the 200 year old sugar plantation homestead. In addition a tour inside a slave cabin and many other places. They are open every day and they give tours from 10 AM to 4 PM. Be sure and take your camera with you. Their website is: https://www.lauraplantation.com/ or give them a call at 225.265.7690. There are other Plantations in the area to visit but you might as well tour the BEST ONE which is the Laura’s Plantation! Thank You to the entire staff for making this such a great place to visit! On your way back to New Orleans, be sure and stop in the small town of LaPlace, Louisiana and dine at Wayne Jacob’s Smokehouse Restaurant. They smoke all their own meat right there. We had their baby back ribs and also beef brisket and they were the tastiest that have ever had. The servers are extremely friendly and you will leave with a big smile on your face and your stomach will be full especially after eating one of their desserts. They are located downtown LaPlace at 769 West 5th Street. Give them a call at 985.652.9990. Check out their website at: https://wjsmokehouse.com/ and they are open 7 days a week. You can also purchase food there to take home or to ship home or to friends Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married). Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/
Visiting lesbian New Orleans for the first time? Prioritize your agenda – lots of play, a good amount of eating and maybe a little sleep. From girlfriends exploring, bachelorette and bachelor parties, to couples wandering hand-in-hand looking for amour en Vieux Carre, the French Quarter is alive at all hours of the day or night. Experienced Nola travelers pace themselves but it’s newbies get overwhelmed and enjoy some things a little too much (like Bourbon street after midnight) and completely miss the magic of other things (like beignets at Cafe du Monde). If you’re planning a trip to the Big Easy, pull up a chair and learn how to strategize your Nola travel time like a pro. It’s no secret how Nawlins, also known as Mardi Gras City got its name – lavish celebrations, wee-hour partying and drunken rowdiness is just another day (or night) in this city. Bourbon Street captures more than its fair share of attention, but there’s so much more this city has to offer – historically, culturally and architecturally.
By Julia Rosien – Full Story at Go Girlfriend
Lesbian New Orleans Travel Resources
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Yes, it’s Gay New Orleans. There’s a reason this southern gay mecca always makes the list of most popular cities in America, and it’s not just because of the delicious originality of beignets. There are so many unique experiences that you can only find here, and the combination of the them in one trip or five is the absolute beauty of the place. Check out these five really gay things you’ll only find in this one American city… 1. “The Fruit Loop” Gay New Orleans may be known for its slower pace and easy-going attitude, but when it comes to going out, the gays are all about efficiency. That’s why the majority of the bars are clustered within walking distance of each other, in an area of the French Quarter appropriately dubbed “The Fruit Loop.” And since New Orleans is one of the few places left where open containers are allowed on the street, it makes bar hopping extra fun. Not to mention convenient.
Louisiana Gay Travel Resources
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Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay: Thank you for considering the LaQuinta Inn & Suites New Orleans Downtown! This isn’t your everyday LaQuinta located only 2 blocks from the French Quarter in the heart of the Central Business District and only one block from the St Charles Street Car Line. We’re also the proud recipients of the “LaQuinta of the Year Award” for excellence in customer service, cleanliness and sales. Stay with us and experience all New Orleans has to offer at a great value in a great location! All rates include a daily hot continental breakfast buffet and complimentary wi-fi. This hotel is TAG Approved
See the LaQuinta Inn & Suites Downtown Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here
Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals in Louisiana
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Growing up, I hated Baton Rouge. In my teen years, Baton Rouge didn’t have much to offer besides crappy chain restaurants, LSU football games and a high teen pregnancy rate. After high school, I swore I’d go to college out of state, or at least outside of Baton Rouge. Once I got accepted to the state’s flagship university, I promised I’d leave once and for all after graduation, journalism degree in hand. When I was offered a job in the place I’d spent my entire life trying to escape, I figured I’d better learn to love Baton Rouge. My job requires me to explore and write about Baton Rouge and its burgeoning food scene, and in doing so, I began to see firsthand how greatly I’d underestimated my hometown, and how much things were beginning to change. Today, Baton Rouge is as much a travel destination in Louisiana as New Orleans. The city has seen a revival the way many mid-sized cities across the U.S. have in recent years. With a thriving food and beverage scene, a revitalized downtown, and a huge college-aged population, Baton Rouge is best described by the favorite local adage, “a drinking town with a football problem.”
By Sydney – Full Story at Autostraddle
Louisiana Gay Travel Resources
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Visiting lesbian New Orleans for the first time? Prioritize your agenda – lots of play, a good amount of eating and maybe a little sleep. From girlfriends exploring, bachelorette and bachelor parties, to couples wandering hand-in-hand looking for amour en Vieux Carre, the French Quarter is alive at all hours of the day or night. Experienced Nola travelers pace themselves but it’s newbies get overwhelmed and enjoy some things a little too much (like Bourbon street after midnight) and completely miss the magic of other things (like beignets at Cafe du Monde). If you’re planning a trip to the Big Easy, pull up a chair and learn how to strategize your Nola travel time like a pro. How to Play in the French Quarter It’s no secret how Nawlins, also known as Mardi Gras City got its name – lavish celebrations, wee-hour partying and drunken rowdiness is just another day (or night) in this city. Bourbon Street captures more than its fair share of attention, but there’s so much more this city has to offer – historically, culturally and architecturally.
By Julia Rosien – Full Story at Go Girlfriend
Louisiana Gay Travel Resources
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