CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Our Exclusive Itinerary (Quick Print Version)
FOR ST. FRANCISVILLE AREA
in the St. Francisville Area ???"
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If you sadly have 1 day only in an area that needs 2 full days in the very least, then:
BREAKFAST: To fortify yourself
for a busy day, begin by indulging in a gourmet New Orleans-style
breakfast of Eggs Benedict, Eggs Basin Street, or Eggs Creole here at Barrow House Inn.
Now, to work off those calories, drive the 7-8 miles to
Audubon State Historic Site (Oakley Plantation),
which was built during the colonial period here (late 1700s).
The architecture is a much simpler style and the grounds are quite natural,
much like they were 180+ years ago when Audubon himself walked the same paths.
For a different pace, travel a mile further down the road to the
Mary Ann Brown Nature Preserve
and take a light hike through the woods.
LUNCH: Drive back into SF (St. Francisville) and eat lunch at a true local treasure,
Magnolia Cafe.
Then onto
Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site. It's a true "Gone With The Wind" experience with the 1835 Greek Revival
'big house' and 28 acres of formal English gardens. Stroll down the alley of oak trees and admire the many statues,
fountains and gazebos. The tour of the house alone is a captivating hour,
so you will spend a good amount of your afternoon here.
The last stop is our Civil War site,
Port Hudson (15 miles south of town on Hwy 61).
Port Hudson was the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River after
the Union captured Vicksburg. One of our most frequent guests said this battleground
is fascinating, especially for those in the military. Not to be missed:
the
Ketchum Hand Grenades and
computer in the welcome center that gives your family's connection to this battle. Kids love it!
Return to SF and guess what?
You've only spent $10/person because all of these sites are state parks!
DINNER: 2 Four-Star Restaurants,
Varnedoe's Carriage House
(on the grounds of the Myrtles Plantation) or The Oxbow (sample menu - PDF document).
A. SHOPPING & WALKING TOUR:
Directory of Local Shops (click 'Tourism' button in menu at top)
Historic District Walking Tour (includes map)
After breakfast, pick up our unique audio walking tour at the
Barrow House. Listen to the town's history and stroll around the historic
district, which includes a stop at
Grandmother's Buttons . It's truly one of the most unique
shops in the entire South. Don't miss it!
Just a block away is
Grace Episcopal Church (1859),
one of America's most beautiful churches and cemeteries. In Spring it's absolutely stunning when the azaleas are in full bloom.
Continue along Ferdinand Street (the main avenue in the historic district) to shop for gifts like
antiques, pottery, used books, quilts, Audubon prints, and whatever else suits your fancy.
After lunch, drive out into the countryside to Greenwood Plantation,
where you can learn about the rebuilding of the home (which took 16 years)
and the filming of the TV mini-series "North and South."
Next, drive through part of the
Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area
on your way to the
Louisiana State Penitentiary Museum at Angola.
It's truly fascinating and the stories told by the curator(s) make it well-worth the trip. There you will see the
infamous electric chair 'Gruesome_Gertie' and prisoner weapons display.
In the Gift Shop you can buy a DVD of the award-winning A&E documentary "The Farm: Life Inside Angola Prison"
(the crew stayed at Barrow House Inn while shooting the film) & an "Angola: A Gated Community" t-shirt.
Return to SF. If this is a Friday or Saturday night, you can take the
fun 'Mystery Tour' at Myrtles Plantation, where you are entertained
with stories of ghosts that supposedly roam the property. NOTE: The night tour is more fun than the day tour, so *do not* do both.
B. GOLF:
You can chose from 3 golf courses in the surrounding area:
Take a 5 minute drive to Butler Greenwood Plantation, with its fabulous
Victorian parlor and visit with Anne Butler, who is 8th generation and a
noted local historian and author.
Drive up the road a few miles to Cottage Plantation, which is famous for
hosting Andrew Jackson on his way home to Tennessee after defeating the British at the
Battle Of New Orleans on January 8, 1815 (the battle was actually pointless, since the War of 1812 officially ended 2 weeks prior).
If you are here between March 1 - July 1 *or* October 1 - December 1,
you're in luck. You can visit
Afton Villa Gardens , a garden among the ruins of Afton Villa Plantation that's patterned after the world-famous
Sissinghurst Castle Garden in England . Afton Villa is 40 acres with 80,000 daffodils and countless tulips in the Spring and more beautiful
blooms in the fall.
In the afternoon, take the ferry ($1 charge ) across the Mississippi
River to visit
New Roads, another historic town located on the banks
of the False River.
LUNCH: Eat Lunch at
Satterfields overlooking the False River, then chat with
the incomparable Miss Lucy Parlange at
Parlange Plantation, in the *same* family since the 1750s.
DINNER: Eat Dinner at Ma Mama's Kitchen
or
Morel's in downtown New Roads.
Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge:
Clark Creek Recreation Area
Drive 12 miles east of SF to Jackson, Louisiana, our 'sister' town. Tour
Milbank, an 1836 mansion, the
West Florida History Museum
and then sample muscadine wines at
Feliciana Cellars.
If you have extra time, head over to Centenary State Historic Site , the original location of Centenary College (1826 - 1908 at this site) And if you're there on a weekend in March - November, you can take a ride on "Louisiana's Steam Train", the Old Hickory Railroad . . . ALL ABOARD!!! |
Barrow House Inn (circa 1809)
"Giving Guests Antiques & Ambiance For Over 20 Years"
9779 Royal Street · St. Francisville, Louisiana USA 70775
Telephone (225) 635 - 4791 · Email: