Baton Rouge or Mobile after New Orleans

Hi, We are visiting New Orleans in a few weeks. We have planned 1 week there and then want to take the other week to visit more places. We%26#39;ve never been there and are thinking about a loop from NO to Baton Rouge, then east to Slidell...Or we could go out hwy 10 to Biloxi and on to Mobile. Any thoughts? We are a couple in our 40%26#39;s and love doing tours, art, food, wine, outdoors...we want to do as much as we can while we are there, we%26#39;ll relax when we get back home :)...Anyway, love to hear from anyone who has any ideas and suggestions.

Baton Rouge or Mobile after New Orleans

Personally, I would go out to Biloxi and Mobile from New Orleans b/c there%26#39;s more to do down that route, unless you haven%26#39;t factored in any plantation tours yet.

Baton Rouge or Mobile after New Orleans

I agree with the Biloxi/Mobile suggestion. Much to see and do along the way!

You indicated that you%26#39;ll be here ';in a few weeks';. Not sure of your exact dates, but if you%26#39;re here May 19-23, check out the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience www.nowfe.com It is a definite ';must'; for lovers of food and wine, and showcases many of our cities%26#39; finest chefs in one setting!

I was in NO in December and I went to Biloxi and Mobile while I was there. It is sad to see where the hurricane struck, but Beauvoir is open, the Gulf is pretty, and there is Bellingrath Gardens on the way to Mobile. I think there is a place right past Biloxi called Ocean Spring which I heard was nice, but I didn%26#39;t visit. There are also casinos in Biloxi. The Mississippi Visitor center on the border is a good place to stop for information and they even give you free soda!

Thanks for the suggestions everyone...And yes we are going to the food and wine event, i%26#39;m very excited about that. Have you been before? Is it pay one price then sample all the wine and food you want? We are hoping to sample lots of local foods. Do know where most of the wineries are from, I%26#39;m sure lots of them will be from my area, but was wondering the other areas that will be pouring. Any info you have would be great.

Lynn, yes, we go every year. But visit the link from my previous post to see the listing of different events that make up the entire ';experience';. There are dinners, Royal Street Stroll, Grand Tastings, and a Sunday brunch event. We typically go to one of the Grant Tastings...last year on the floor of the Superdome, and as a frequent visitor to your part of the country, can definitely say that we%26#39;ve run into a few people here in NOLA that we also visited with during visits to Sonoma and Napa counties!

Each event has a different price, and some sell out! You can purchase your tickets online, so if you have a heart set on one event, definitely buy in advance. Feel free to send me a PM with more questions.

If you are going the Mobile way I would suggest 45 extra minutes and go to Pensacola and visit their white sand beaches. There is a church tour at Malbis just along the way, the Battleship Alabama Park also along the way and the Naval Station Museum and old forts in Pensacola (also the beach).

Here%26#39;s the plan:

Go east on I-10--get off at the Bay St louis exit to 90.

Travel along the beach and see katrina aftermath. Stop for lunch at Mary Mahoney%26#39;s cafe in Biloxi. Casino? Continue on 90 to Ocean Springs. See Walter Anderson Art in museum. Get back up to I-10 and continue to Mobile,see the Battleship on the causeway. Eat at Original Oyster House on the causeway or Felix or Ed%26#39;s. Continue on causeway (2miles?)to Meaher Park, $1 or 2 and walk the boardwalk in search of a gator. get to 98 east and come to Fairhope --pier. park,shops food. Continue 98 east to Foley , turn south on 59 to Gulf Shores or orange beach and see the gulf of mexico.

I have left it up to you to decide where to spend the night(s)

If you%26#39;re going to visit casinos in Biloxi, the Beau Rivage is my favorite - it%26#39;s essentially the ';Bellagio'; of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. There is a new Hard Rock Casino right next door as well!

http://msshipisland.com/Home_Page.html

this leaves from Gulfport

I went to Mary Mahoney%26#39;s and thought it was a nice place. They have a nice outside courtyard to eat it. I missed the Bay St. Louis area, but wish I had seen it. The destruction I saw was very sad.