What. Is. That? There's a CASTLE over there?…read more Driving over the I-10 bridge from New Orleans back to Biloxi, we spotted it and I had to know what was going on so when I came back a few days later, I went out of my way to visit here. Built in 1981 for the World's Fair, the castle is quite small by castle standards. Only two bedrooms and a one and a half baths on the inside. It is private property so if you're coming to visit, please be respectful and only view it from the street (or the lake). [Review 14204 overall, 1526 of 2020, number 22 in Louisiana.]

As you drive down the I-10, east of New Orleans, you may have a WTH moment. There's a castle off in…read morethe distance (well on Hwy 11). It is a private home, for now, with aspirations for more that never quite materialize. Still the history of the place; it's recent vintage and it's singularity in the swamps of South Louisiana make it something special. You have to love a man with a dream. In 1981, Simon Villemarette decided he wanted a castle. Was it supposed to be at tourist attraction? Or was it just going to be his home? Whichever he built it well. He passed and his family had to sell. Yes it survived Katrina when most buildings did not. The official assessor's description says "concrete castle" so maybe even the K winds were intimidated. Some folks from Virginia owned it from 1995 to 2014, maybe they planned to make an inn out of it (according to news stories at the time), but that never happened. Now the current owners post to the official FB page that they too want to make it an entertainment/photo shoot/bed & breakfast spot. BUT the FB has been saying be patient since 2016. Still it's a fun spot to see. It is private property so don't be a creeper. And I decided this bit of unique architecture should be my review #2400. Enjoy!

AHS!!!!! for those who dont know AMERICAN HORROR STORY!! YES THIS IS THE MANSION FROM SZN 1…read more It looks so beautiful in person and you can def see the full scenes of AHS pop out at you while your strolling down this house! This was on my list to see in NOLA during my stay and so happy I got to see it in person! If your a AHS fan, this is def something you will want to see! Worth a lil detour to look at the place!

The Buckner Mansion is an incredible place to see if you're visiting New Orleans. I really enjoyed…read moreseeing it in person since it was featured in American Horror Story Season 3. The mansion looks amazing and is definitely worth stopping by.

Anne Rice's former home, in the Garden District, is known for its connection to her vampire novels…read more She lived in this historic mansion, built in 1857, that was once owned by Albert Hamilton Brevard. Rice reportedly spent a lot of time writing in a small observatory room at the top of the house.

Add the house to your Garden District Tour map. Map it all out before you set off, so much easier…read more Pay homage to a legend, "All the old poetry makes sense when you look at one whom you have loved." This neighborhood is stunning but wear good shoes and watch out on the sidewalks which are minefields.

This beautiful building is a must-see. Both inside and out is stunning. Rich history, elaborate…read moreceiling details, & gorgeous stained glass, & right in Jackson Square. Self-guided tours are available 9am-4pm, excluding mass - so be mindful/respectful of that. Benches out front provide seating to rest & take in the view It sits beside the Cabildo as well, also a historical landmark, with many iconic restaurants nearby.

Such an amazing holy place to visit It is breathtaking and…read moreto walk around knowing how old it is and the history behind it - plus be able to attend a service there Amazing is not a good enough word

Beautiful, huge oak tree. A must-see historical landmark while walking in City Park, NOLA. The…read moreSpanish moss and the shape of the oak tree is a sight to see in-person.

In the 1800s duels we're fought under the Oaks nearly daily. Sometimes 200-300 people hurried from…read morethe city to witness these human baitings. On the occasion of one duel the spectators could stand no more, drew their swords, and there was a general melee. The Spanish and French would settle their differences with swords and pistols under the oak. One of the Dueling Oaks was destroyed by a hurricane in the 1940's. The remaining one is thought to be 300 years old with a height of 70 feet and a girth of 25 feet. You've also seen these oaks featured in many movies

Built in 1822 as part of the "Third System" of the seacoast defense plan that was enacted in the…read morewake of the War of 1812, it was one of 42 forts constructed. Later, the fort was occupied by Confederate Forces during the Civil War. The fort was decommissioned and abandoned in 1871 following a fire four years previous. The ruins were further damaged during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Due to its dangerous and deteriorating condition, the fort is currently closed to the public. You can still get quite close to it by parking at the nearby harbor and walking down a pretty nasty little road that is cluttered with debris and litter. From there, you can see the brick walls and the magnitude of this impressive fort. Or you can take your chances and trespass but I don't recommend it. [Review 14203 overall, 1525 of 2020, number 21 in Louisiana.]

Historical plantation house on River Road in Reserve. The local historical society has been…read morepainstakingly restoring the magnificent Godchaux-Reserve House since 2013. Previously it has long been in disrepair. There is a small parking next to the house. It is open occasionally for community events.

The remains of the Plantation of Pierre Denis De La Ronde sit quietly along Judge Perez Drive, a…read morefragment of early Louisiana history that has somehow survived suburban traffic and two centuries of weather. What's left of the grand house is fenced off with a low barrier that makes the message clear enough: look, learn, and respect the boundary. Even from the outside you can see the brick arches and the long, skeletal outline of what was once one of the most impressive Creole plantations in the region, a reminder of the Battle of New Orleans era standing in plain sight. The marker reads, "Command Colonel Third Regiment of Louisiana in the Battle of New Orleans night skirmish of December 23, 1814, fought on the grounds of this and adjoining plantations. Main house served as temporary British headquarters and hospital January 8, 1815. Ruins survive today as final structural remnant associated with the Battle of New Orleans." You don't need to step inside to appreciate it. The ruins are fully visible from the road, and standing there for a moment gives you a sense of how old this landscape really is, long before the modern parish grew up around it. It's a brief stop, but a worthwhile one, a quiet history lesson from two centuries ago that asks only that you observe without disturbing what remains. [Review 316 of 2026 - 94 in Louisiana - 25504 overall]

This spot in the middle of St Bernard Hwy looks like ruins that someone did not want to dispose of…read more That is not entirely true. It is the ruins of the plantation where the Battle of New Orleans was during the Revolutionary War. Very interesting historical marker. You can read more about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versailles,_Louisiana Also: https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/130364/De-La-Ronde-Ruins.htm Also: https://chalmetterefining.com/delaronde.html And while you are in the area, you might as well see some other sites. Check it out: https://www.visitstbernard.com/

You down with JBB? Yeah you know me…read more I wouldn't plan a trip to New Orleans just for this, but it is just 200 feet from Cafe de Monde, along a riverwalk perfect for walking off a corner of one beignet. It's just a placard designating the Execution Of Jean Baptiste Baudrau II, a local trader killed at the site by the breaking wheel. That means he was strapped down for agonizing mutilation, by breaking his leg bones, then arms and ribs. If the operator was "nice", he'd do the neck next. Otherwise, he'd braid the limp limbs into the wheel and let him hang out for up to 3 days before getting decapitated or lit on fire, the body left there for the animals. All this for locking his Blue Bike out of the designated area. (Actually, he was implicated in officer death and prison mutiny where he was locked up for illegally salvaging wrecked ships). Jean's remains were thrown in the river. Nice photo op. Side note: He was the great-great-great-great-great grandfather of cousins Jimmy Buffett and actress Diane Ladd (Laura Dern's mom). The placard won't say that- obviously, the City doesn't want people to break out in "Margaritaville" at a memorial.