The local had a simple question for us, “So, you all been to Louisiana before?”
I replied, “No. I mean, we’ve been to New Orleans before, but not Louisiana.”
He paused for a second and then the light went on. “YES! That’s it! Exactly!”
Now, New Orleans is fabulous and filled with incredible food, culture, history and … crowds. In 2019, nearly 40 percent of all visitors to the state went to New Orleans. But, as fine a city as it is, it doesn’t embody the entirety of The Bayou State, as no one city can. Like many states with an iconic, revenue-driving and globally-recognized city, too many outsiders equate that city with the rest of the state — when the two are generally very different economically, socially and culturally.
The good news, though, is that renown tourist destinations like New Orleans have ample air access (Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport currently hosts 18 airlines that offer nonstop flights to more than 60 destinations), and flights are (generally) more affordable than harder-to-reach destinations. Thus, you can leverage all that access to create a launching pad for nearby outdoor adventures into the breadth of the state of Louisiana.