Cane River Creole National Historical Park made for an interesting COVID-19 quarantine virtual…read moretour. Thanks to OnCell for sponsoring it. The virtual tour currently comprises of a simple, obscure link embedded in the word "app" on the webpage titled "Oakland Cell Phone Tour." The National Park Service (NPS) webmaster or whatever they are called these days needs to make this link more relevant and easier to find as they have done for other parks' main pages: https://www.nps.gov/cari/planyourvisit/oakland-cell-phone-tour.htm So it's a very simplistic "virtual tour." In actuality, it's a cell phone tour with a few photos of the buildings and landmarks that narrators describe as you would if you visited Cane River Creole NHP in the flesh with a map to guide you. Guided tours with an NPS staff member are also available when a pandemic hasn't plagued our great country. Their schedule is a bit lengthy to repost, so I suggest you call or visit their website ahead of time. The park encompasses two former plantations, Oakland and Magnolia, that are spread out near the Cane River in Louisiana. What was left behind pales in comparison to what the plantations must have looked like so long. The Creole people were extraordinarily clever at using their natural habitat to survive. Overall, I enjoyed learning about the history of this beautiful, live oak-lined area... especially "bousillage" (a mix of mud, Spanish moss, and/or animal hair used in architecture), the Pigeonniers, the Bottle Gardens, the Punkah fan, and the Overseer's house. TIPS - the Magnolia main house is still owned by the 7th generation of the LeCompte family and is not part of the park, thus, is off-limits to the public + the Oakland main house is guided tours only

Great time with good people! We took a private trip, and it was absolutely fantastic. The owner was…read moreso friendly, and our guide was fabulous! If you are thinking about going, DO IT!

We needed the restroom and that's all. But if you're looking for any and all brochures covering…read moreevery aspect of Louisiana, they have it here, we noticed as we walked through the main welcome center seeking the bathrooms (all the way in the very back buildings--why do so many rest areas have half the restrooms closed constantly?) The employees in that main area smiled and greeted us as we walked through; next time I'll stop to chat about all things Louisiana but this time we're just passing through. Once I arrived in the women's restroom the gal ahead of me opened three stall doors until she found one that was okay. Not sure what the problem was but if she wasn't going in neither was I! Bit of a smell too but as a seasoned road-tripper I had no complaints; the areas I encountered were clean and functioning. Probably the most stalls I've ever seen in a visitor center/rest stop. Husband reported a smell in the men's room but he knows why based on the accompanying sound effects coming from one of the stalls. Me: Really, that happens in men's restrooms? Him: Yeah when someone is having trouble. Me: That just isn't something I've ever heard in women's bathrooms. Gotta love roadtrip conversation!

Friendly helpful staff on my triathlon of dining, drinking & shopping. Shared everything going on…read moreand recommendations along with a book of info. Clean restrooms.

The heat will be with you! Welcome to TX!…read more This is a great stop after traveling through Louisiana! The bathrooms were clean. There were shared areas to sit down and an open field to kick around a ball. My favorite part was inside. I love how the travel brochures were broken down by the regions in TX. I found so many cool places that I would love to check out. There were coupons attached to some brochures for the different activities. This is the perfect stop if you have a vacation or getaway planned . I was able to comfortably walk around without smelling anything weird. The outside and inside were both clean. Hopefully I can review some of these places in the near future .

lots of parking lots for cars and trucks and a special area for RVs and coming in hot isn't…read morerecommended because of curves and curbs and trees and a three story building and stuff like that... outside are a variety of seating, eating, or walking arrangements. inside is a very nice information center with booklets and brochures and guidebooks and upto a half dozen individuals available to answer your tourist questions and help separate you from your tourist dollars... perfect!! besides that you get the standard rest area amenities in above average condition because the bosses are on premises. it's all tidy all the time inside and out (where the late night mistakes are avoided) and I think that's swell!!

Looking for a place to hike? Bike? Kayak? Bird? Bring horses for a trail ride?…read moreThis is it. Several marked trails, about 65 miles of paved and unpaved roads with old concrete ruins rising out of the forest. This was once the Longhorn Ammunition Plant and has a lot of history that you can read about in the visitor center (if you can find it!). The visitor center is behind the Refuge offices. Take the first right after you enter the gates, then the first left to find it.

This was a great find by accident. We found out about it while at the state park and it was…read moredefinitely worth the stop. It is an old army ammunition factory that was turned over to the wildlife and fisheries department. Shells of some of the old buildings still stand. Lots of birds and wildlife, but very, very few people.