St. Francisville Bed and Breakfast - Barrow House Inn

St. Francisville - Tons of Fun for Everyone!

GONE WITH THE WIND: EXPERIENCE THE OLD SOUTH

Rosedown Plantation: The crown jewel of Louisiana's state parks. This is the true "Gone With The Wind" experience, with over 28 acres of formal gardens.

Oakley House (Audubon State Historic Site) : A fantastic example of the early colonial period. Audubon walked the same paths in the 1820s.

Butler Greenwood: An awesome Victorian parlor and the tour is given by the 8th generation owner, who is a renowned author/historian.

Greenwood Plantation: Classic Greek Revival home which was completely rebuilt in the 1970s - an unbelievable story. Numerous movies have been shot here.

Myrtles Plantation: Called the most haunted house in America. The night tour (weekends only) is much more fun than the day tour.

Cottage Plantation: Andrew Jackson stayed here on his way back home from the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. Most original outbuildings and furnishings.

OTHER FUN ADVENTURES

Angola State Penitentiary Museum: Has something for everyone! Great history and tales of former inmates, plus you get to try out a jail cell.

Tunica Falls/Clark Creek State Recreation Area: Amazing scenery & hiking to 8 waterfalls

Big Cypress: The largest tree east of the Rocky Mountains, in Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Port Hudson State Historic Site: Longest siege during the Civil War (1863).

Grace Episcopal Church: One of the prettiest cemeteries in the entire South. DO NOT MISS IT!

GOLF: The course always wins at The Bluffs, an Arnold Palmer-designed course

WINERY: Feliciana Cellars An award-winning Louisiana winery; tasting room open daily

SHOPPING

Grandmother's Buttons (on the corner - the "factory" is on the second floor). Shanty Too (across from Historical Society Museum), Bohemiaville, Backwoods Gallery, St. Francis Co-Op Gallery, Harrington Gallery, Hillcrest, Avondale Antiques, Sage Hill and much more!

RESTAURANTS (all area menus are provided for our B&B guests)

Magnolia Cafe: a legendary institution, it's the best casual restaurant for miles around.

Carriage House (at Myrtles Plantation): the area's best atmosphere and 4-star cuisine.

Oxbow: Also 4-stars; famous for turtle soup plus outstanding appetizers and desserts

Que Pasa?: Our local Tex-Mex restaurant... que delicioso!

Cozy Corner Bistro - just down the street...the best soul food in the area!

Sonny's Pizza: Wonderful pizza and lots of other choices

Audubon Cafe: Popular lunch spot in the Spring Creek shopping center (LA Hwy 10 and US Hwy 61)

East Dragon: Good-quality Chinese and take-out

Wing It Sports Grill: Burgers, sandwiches and big-screen TVs for all sports fans. Geaux Tigers!

McDonalds, Sonic and Subway: 5-star gourmet restaurants... ok, who I am kidding???

COFFEEHOUSE: Birdman Coffee and Books: a favorite local hangout




What You Can Do For 1 - 4 Days in
St. Francisville Area (Fall 2012/ Winter 2013 Update)
*** Our Exclusive Itinerary (Quick-Print Version Without Images)


IF YOU (SADLY) HAVE 1 DAY ONLY

          BREAKFAST: To fortify yourself for a busy day, begin by indulging in a gourmet New Orleans-style egg breakfast here at Barrow House Inn.

          Now, to work off those calories, drive the 5 miles to Audubon State Historic Site (Oakley Plantation), which was built during the colonial period here around 1806. The architecture is a much simpler style and the grounds are quite natural,much like they were over 180 years ago when John James Audubon himself walked the same paths.

          For a different pace, travel a mile further down the road to the Mary Ann Brown Nature Preserve (The Nature Conservancy) and take a light hike through the woods. Don't miss the huge pond and gazebo!

LUNCH: Drive back into SF (St. Francisville) and eat lunch at Magnolia Cafe, a true local treasure with too many delicious items on the menu!

         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 State Historic Site (15 miles south of town on Hwy 61). Port Hudson was the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River. One of our most frequent guests said this battleground is fascinating, especially for those in the military. DO NOT MISS in the Welcome Center: the Ketchum Hand Grenades and the computer which gives your family's connection to this battle. Kids love it!

DINNER (2 Excellent Choices):

1) Carriage House Restaurant  (4-star cuisine with fantastic setting at Myrtles Plantation)
2) Oxbow Restaurant  (Longtime restaurant w/ outstanding desserts)

DAY 2 IN ST.FRANCISVILLE AREA

SHOPPING AND WALKING TOUR

Directory of Local Shops

          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 , one of the most unique shops in the entire region. Don't miss it! The stained glass window is reason alone to go inside.

          Just steps away is Grace Episcopal Church (1859), one of the South's most beautiful churches and cemeteries... absolutely stunning when the azaleas are in full bloom.
*** NOTE: DO NOT... I REPEAT... DO NOT MISS THIS CHURCH AND CEMETERY ***

         Continue along Ferdinand Street (the main avenue in the historic district) to shop for gifts such as local handicrafts, antiques, pottery, quilts, Audubon prints, and whatever else suits your fancy.

LUNCH: Either Cozy Corner Bistro (just 3/4 mile down the street at the stop light)
or Audubon Cafe (at intersection of US Hwy 61 and LA Hwy 10)

          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. This is the one place every area visitor loves, believe it or not! The tales told by the trustees alone make it well-worth the trip. There you will see the infamous electric chair "Gruesome Gertie" and display of weapons fashioned by inmates. 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 the  Myrtles Plantation, where you are entertained with stories of ghosts which supposedly roam the property. NOTE: The night tour is more entertaining than the day tour, so *do not* do both.

Do You Play Golf?

If so, you can choose from 4 golf courses in the surrounding area:
The Bluffs - (PRIVATE) 7 MILES AWAY. Arnold Palmer-designed course w/ spectacular 17th hole!
Beaver Creek - (PUBLIC) 18 holes on 200 acres of rolling terrain
Copper Mill - (PRIVATE) 18 holes of “links-style” golf reminiscent of Scotland
Prison View Golf Course - (PUBLIC) Why the name "Prison View" ??? Get this: it's 9 holes *inside* Angola, our state prison. Yet at this long-term bed and breakfast, you don't have to stay to play. ;)

DINNER - (2 choices are previously mentioned):

Carriage House Restaurant
Oxbow Restaurant
Magnolia Cafe ( American; Dinner: Thurs - Sat. Only)
Que Pasa (Tex-Mex)
East Dragon (Chinese)
Wing It Sports Grill (American)`


DAY 3 IN ST. FRANCISVILLE AREA

          Take a 5 mile 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're here between March 1 - July 1 *or* October 1 - December 1, you're in luck. You can visit Afton Villa Gardens , set among the ruins of Afton Villa Plantation and patterned after the world-renowned Sissinghurst Castle Garden in England . Afton features 40 acres with 100,000 (!!!) daffodils and countless tulips in the Spring, with more beautiful blooms in the fall.

         Take the beautiful new $400-million Audubon Bridge (about 7 miles south of town) across the Mississippi River. This is the longest cable-stayed suspension bridge in America. Next stop: New Roads, an historic town on the banks of the False River.

LUNCH: Eat Lunch at Satterfield's overlooking the False River. After lunch, drive 3 1/2 miles north on LA Hwy. 1 to the Pointe Coupee Museum. While there, be sure to ask about visiting Parlange Plantation, which has been in the *same* family since the 1750s.

DINNER: Ma Mama's Kitchen or Morel's Restaurant and Antiques in downtown New Roads.

DAY 4 IN ST. FRANCISVILLE AREA

Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge:
          Only a 5 minute drive from the inn.  Walk along Blackfork Trail, a 3 mile loop to view several 500 - 1000 year-old bald cypress trees. The aptly-named "Big Tree" is the largest tree east of the Rocky Mountains, a whopping 52 feet in circumference. ***NOTE: To see this natural wonder, drive 5 miles to the very end of a rough gravel road, then walk 1/2 mile on a good path.

Clark Creek Natural Area
          a 45 minute drive from your B&B; where you can hike to the Tunica Falls and a series of 7 waterfalls. This hike usually takes about 3 hours to complete.

         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. One of Louisiana's most famous wineries, its tasting room is open daily.
          Next, head over to Centenary State Historic Site , the original location of Shreveport's famous Centenary College (1826 - 1908 at this site) Into trains? Check out the Old Hickory Railroad .


Barrow House Inn, a Louisiana Bed & Breakfast (circa 1809)
"Giving Guests Antiques & Ambiance Since 1986"
9779 Royal Street   ·   St. Francisville, Louisiana USA 70775
Telephone (225) 635 - 4791   ·   Email:  [AD]

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