St. Joseph Plantation Felicity Plantation

After being picked up from your hotel in New Orleans in a 13-seater high-roof van, your enthusiastic historian driver-guide will take you on a scenic narrated drive out of New Orleans, preparing you for a pilgrimage back in time.  After crossing over the Mississippi River on a high bridge, you will arrive at a remote swamp to board a small airboat. With your Cajun boat captain, glide comfortably over marshes and deep into secluded bayous. Discover the swamp’s fascinating fauna and flora, including alligators, turtles, and exotic birds.  Next, you will drive upriver through sugar cane fields to arrive at Laura Plantation. Enjoy a guided tour of this Creole plantation dating back to 1804. Hear the compelling stories of Laura's family saga, as well as stories of the West-African, enslaved people who worked on this sugar plantation. At the end of the tour, visit the museum exhibit dedicated to "Slavery on Laura Plantation" in a restored overseer's cottage. Back on the old River Road, you will pass by Felicity Plantation, where "12 Years A Slave" was filmed, and St Joseph Plantation, where the "Queen Sugar" TV series was filmed. Stop in front of Oak Alley Plantation to admire its parallel rows of centuries-old oak trees. After crossing over the Mississippi River on the Sunshine Bridge, you will arrive at the iconic "Sugar Palace", Houmas House Plantation. Lunch will be served in their elegant dining room, with genuine Cajun cuisine. Then, enjoy a guided tour of the mansion with a guide dressed in Antebellum costume. After the tour, enjoy some free time to stroll around the splendid gardens, before you return to New Orleans. Sample Lunch Menu (subject to seasonal changes) Luncheon includes home-baked bread and butter, iced tea or soft drink, dessert, and coffee.  Choice of Entrees: Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad (gluten-free without croutons): Served with tender romaine lettuce, croutons, and parmesan cheese Crown Jewel Hamburger: Grilled 7oz burger topped with cheese, bacon, mayo, ketchup, lettuce, tomato, and onion served with French fries Shrimp Po Boy: Shrimp, crispy fried and served on New Orleans French bread with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, and Creole mayonnaise Breast of Chicken (gluten-free without grits): Skin-on breast of chicken, served with stone-ground grits, roasted veggies and rum-spiked Houmas House beehive honey glaze Vegetarian Pasta: Veggies and baby heirloom tomatoes with fettuccine pasta and parmesan cheese Choice of Dessert: White Chocolate Bread Pudding Turtle Creole Cream Cheese Cheesecake

Discover a site of historical and cultural significance during a tour of the St. Joseph Plantation tour. Follow your guide as you explore the expansive grounds and learn of the place's long history. Visit one of the few fully intact working sugar cane plantations in the River Parishes. Understand the site's historical significance as you discover the plantation's 2,500 acres, built in the 1830s. Discover the history of this family-owned plantation as one of the tour guides gives you a detailed tour of the home and farm, and shares the history of the many people who lived here. After the tour, feel free to take a self-guided tour of numerous outbuildings, including original slave cabins, a detached kitchen, blacksmith’s shop, carpenter’s shed, and schoolhouse. This plantation, and its sister property Felicity Plantation, was the location for several films, notably "12 Years a Slave", “All The King's Men”, "The Skeleton Key" and "Queen Sugar".

Explore Oak Alley Plantation, a National Historic Landmark dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history its inhabitants left behind, with an emphasis on its time as a working sugarcane plantation. Walk under the iconic Allée, and leave with a richer, more powerful understanding of this plantation’s history. Then cruise Louisiana’s Swamp and Bayou. Learn the mysterious culture of the Cajun and how they adapted to the waterways, wildlife, and weather of Louisiana. Cruise the waterways in a safe pontoon boat with a native of the area. Get up close and personal with some of the wildlife that inhabit the swamp. Take in the beauty of Mother Nature while you are surrounded by moss-draped Cypress trees.

Get a full-scope tour of a typical southern United States plantain from the 18th century. Learn how the plantation made money, and walk under the iconic oak trees on the property. Learn about the Habitation Heidel, or the Heidel Plantation, now called Whitney Plantation, which has undergone many changes in its 250-year history. First, your guide will explain Ambroise Heidel, a German immigrant from the Rhineland area, who purchased this property in 1752 and established a small indigo plantation. During these early years, Ambroise Heidel owned approximately 20 enslaved Africans whose expertise in indigo production he relied upon for successful crops. You’ll then learn that In 18th century Louisiana, many captive Africans who were sold into slavery had originated in areas of West Africa known for rice and indigo production, two major cash crops in the early colony. Hear how the development of sugar production in Southeast Louisiana after 1795 brought significant changes to the way of life for free and enslaved people. You’ll then have time to explore the grounds before concluding the tour.

Explore Oak Alley Plantation, a National Historic Landmark dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history its inhabitants left behind, with an emphasis on its time as a working sugarcane plantation. Here you will spend about 3 hours on the plantation grounds exploring a national historic landmark. Visitors are invited to experience the exhibits, walk under the iconic Allee of Oak Trees, and tour the big house. You will have the opportunity to have lunch at the restaurant or deli. You can spend a few moments in the gift shop, at the bar, or just sit under the many oak trees on the plantation.

Felicity Plantation is the sister plantation to St. Joseph and is part of the Louisiana Sugarcane Museum. The home was built between 1844 and 1847 and is a beautiful combination of Greek Revival with strong Creole influence. Felite’s father, Valcour Aime, is said to have financed the building of this home as a wedding gift. Like St. Joseph, sugarcane is still farmed here today. The Waguespack family bought it 1877 and in 1901 a corporation was formed to include both St. Joseph and Felicity and the 2500 acres. It is still owned by this corporation. In addition to sugar farming, Felicity is known for several film and tv projects. These include Skeleton Key, 12 Years a Slave, parts of the remake of Roots, Underground, and Filthy Rich.