Louisiana

[JTA]

BRDians,

I've got six days off in late Feb, weather permitting i'm gonna drive down to Louisiana/gulf coast area and do some camping.

Is there anything in Akabama or Mississippi or Louisiana or worth checking out?

Thanks in advance,

You're friend, JTA.

[O Really]

Well, there's New Orleans, of course. I like to go out to Cajun country - a good start is just to follow US-90 west toward Lafayette. Lots of places along the way to find live Zydeco and good food. Good fishing, if you like that, too.

[homerfobe]

Watch the 1981 movie "Southern Comfort" starring Powers Boothe and you'll find WHAT NOT to do while in Cajun country. It's on Youtube. Good movie.

[billy.pilgrim]

BRDians,

I've got six days off in late Feb, weather permitting i'm gonna drive down to Louisiana/gulf coast area and do some camping.

Is there anything in Akabama or Mississippi or Louisiana or worth checking out?

Thanks in advance,

You're friend, JTA.

What route are you taking?

[JTA]

Watch the 1981 movie "Southern Comfort" starring Powers Boothe and you'll find WHAT NOT to do while in Cajun country. It's on Youtube. Good movie.

Well shit, I guess I'll scratch stealing a canoe from some Cajuns off my list. Damn...

[JTA]

BRDians,

I've got six days off in late Feb, weather permitting i'm gonna drive down to Louisiana/gulf coast area and do some camping.

Is there anything in Akabama or Mississippi or Louisiana or worth checking out?

Thanks in advance,

You're friend, JTA.

What route are you taking?

Not 100% sure yet.

I was either gonna haul ass to New Orleans, then make my way back across the Florida panhandle, or head down to somewhere around the western panhandle and makenku way up through NO and in up the Mississippi River, but I don't know if there's really much to see, so I may opt for the first option.

[billy.pilgrim]

BRDians,

I've got six days off in late Feb, weather permitting i'm gonna drive down to Louisiana/gulf coast area and do some camping.

Is there anything in Akabama or Mississippi or Louisiana or worth checking out?

Thanks in advance,

You're friend, JTA.

What route are you taking?

Not 100% sure yet.

I was either gonna haul ass to New Orleans, then make my way back across the Florida panhandle, or head down to somewhere around the western panhandle and makenku way up through NO and in up the Mississippi River, but I don't know if there's really much to see, so I may opt for the first option.

There is a car ferry between Fort Morgan (gulf shores side) and Fort Gaines (mobile/dauphin island side) includes great road trip along the barrier island. These were the forts Farragut was attacking when he said, "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead"
The drive from Morgan to Ft Pickens goes through Gulf Shores, Perdido Key, Pensacola, Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach. Navarre Beach is as far east as you can go on the beach road due to Hurlburt Field.

Blackwater River north of Milton has camping and canoe rental. Also camping near Ft. Pickens should be open.

Fishing and gear rental is available at gulf side fishing piers at pensacola beach and navarre.

Bay fishing with your gear at fishing pier along side the Bay Bridge (Hwy 98) between pensacola and gulf breeze.

If you go through pensacola, stop at Joe Patti's

If you cross the Styx River think of John Wesley Hardin

If you are into military, the Naval Air Museum is on west side of Pensacola


Interstate 10 through Louisiana sucks

[homerfobe]

Well shit, I guess I'll scratch stealing a canoe from some Cajuns off my list. Damn...
Or shooting at them while using blanks.

Interstate 10 through Louisiana sucks
No shit. Nothing but one long ass bridge and flying 18 wheelers.

Have a safe, fun-filled vacation. I'm heading back to the island nation, too damn cold here for me. If you're ever down this way, look me up.
tootles.

[O Really]

If I was driving from somewhere around Greenville to the Gulf Coast, I'd take I-85 to south of Atlanta and take I-185 down to Columbus, then 431 to Dothan and 231 on to Panama City. Then take billy.p's suggestions. 431/231 is pretty much 4-lane the whole way.

[billy.pilgrim]

If I was driving from somewhere around Greenville to the Gulf Coast, I'd take I-85 to south of Atlanta and take I-185 down to Columbus, then 431 to Dothan and 231 on to Panama City. Then take billy.p's suggestions. 431/231 is pretty much 4-lane the whole way.

Nothing to see in PC, but 30A is interesting if you want to see insane new tourist sprawl. Seaside and Grayson Beach are cool, but you really should have some perspective about what they were 30 years ago

I would stay on 85 to its end in Montgomery (Dothan sucks so bad) and then on to Selma for an historical moment and a more northern route across Mississippi and Louisiana

Or, my preference would be, take I-65 from Montgomery to Evergreen, then US 31 to Brewton and then 87 to milton and on to navarre. (87 is called 41 in alabama). 87 ends at US Hwy 98. Turn back to the east to access the bridge to the barrier island. Once on the island, it's east to the nude beach (probably too cold) and west for 20 mile drive on underdeveloped barrier island to Pensacola Beach. Cross bridge back to 98 at GB, or stay on island to ft pickens.

Pickens and Sumter were the 2 forts Lincoln held after succession. Pickens was never held by the South.

Geronimo was imprisoned at Pickens

Camping at Adventures Unlimited north of Milton and in Gulf Islands National Seashore near Ft Pickens

The navarre pier seems to have the best fishing

Live camera

http://www.resortcams.com/webcams/navarre-beach-pier/


I was still working at our beach house last week when the guests checked in a little early. The guy went down to the beach and brought back 2 large pompano within about 20 minutes.
It may have been a fluke, or the water is warmer than usual.

[O Really]

The visit to Selma is a good idea. So appropriate this year in particular. But although Dothan sucks, he wouldn't have to stop there unless he needed gas. It's got a by-pass. I just like the route past Columbus-Eufala-Dothan-I-10 because it's usually light traffic, decent 4-lane, and, depending which direction you're going on 10 it's pretty direct. But yeah, if you're going straight to Mobile and west, Montgomery to I-65 is the way.

But I'm probably not the best authority on Alabama. IMNVHO, the best way to get through it is on a plane. Or the next fastest way you can. Others views undoubtedly differ.

[billy.pilgrim]

The visit to Selma is a good idea. So appropriate this year in particular. But although Dothan sucks, he wouldn't have to stop there unless he needed gas. It's got a by-pass. I just like the route past Columbus-Eufala-Dothan-I-10 because it's usually light traffic, decent 4-lane, and, depending which direction you're going on 10 it's pretty direct. But yeah, if you're going straight to Mobile and west, Montgomery to I-65 is the way.

But I'm probably not the best authority on Alabama. IMNVHO, the best way to get through it is on a plane. Or the next fastest way you can. Others views undoubtedly differ.

65 is good to mobile, but get off 90 miles north at Evergreen for pretty decent roads to Navarre and Fort Walton, or 70 miles north for US 29 to Pensacola.

I travel a lot from Auburn and Atlanta to Navarre. 35 years of it and I get off I 65 at Brewton

[Vrede too]

Why not wait for Mardi Gras?

[billy.pilgrim]

Why not wait for Mardi Gras?

Crime and certain death in NO


Mobile has good Mardi Gras

Pensacola has good drunken attempt at Mardi Gras




Mardi Gras is an official state holiday in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Other counties in the state grant employees a day of personal leave in lieu of Mardi Gras.[6]

Mobile Edit
Main article: Mardi Gras in Mobile


Mobile, founded by Bienville in 1702, is known for having the oldest organized Mardi Gras celebrations in the United States, beginning in 1703.[7] It was also host to the first formally organized Mardi Gras parade in the United States in 1830.[7]

[Vrede too]

We're old farts, JTA isn't.

[billy.pilgrim]

We're old farts, JTA isn't.

Too much can go wrong there. True dat.

[O Really]

Been to NO Mardi Gras twice, Jazzfest 7 times. Mardi Gras on the streets is indeed chaos. Mardi Gras from a balcony is pretty cool. Anyway, JTA says he's going "late February" so maybe he'll catch it on the 28th.

[Vrede too]

Opps, missed that. Thanks.

[billy.pilgrim]

Been to NO Mardi Gras twice, Jazzfest 7 times. Mardi Gras on the streets is indeed chaos. Mardi Gras from a balcony is pretty cool. Anyway, JTA says he's going "late February" so maybe he'll catch it on the 28th.

I agree with balconies and don't leave out floats. I was in one of the krewes here for about 20 years - amazing what people will do for beads - but riding a float is the way to do Mardi Gras. I have a client who just dropped out of a NO krewe due to the cost being over $30,000 last year for her and husband. My old krewe is closer to $500/year

The best of Mardi Gras - wherever - are the balls. Every krewe has a private grand ball a day or a few before the parade. This is where the money goes.

Building the floats was usually more beer than building.

[JTA]

Why not wait for Mardi Gras?

I'm trying to avoid throngs of people. Mostly aim to do some camping and fishing and relaxing. I'll be staying at Fortenbleau state park in Louisiana a night. Plan on checking out New Orleans during the day, exploring some historical sites then head back to my campsite across lake Ponchartrain

I'll be camping at a few different places along the panhandle, plan on spending a night at ft pickens campground as well on the gulf islands national seashore.

Not backwoods remote camping or anything, but just enough to relax and do my thing.

Thanks for the advice you guys.