The River Parishes are the Louisiana parishes that line the Mississippi River in the eastern part of Acadiana, from the Mississippi state line to just outside the New Orleans metro area. From Baton Rouge north, the parishes are on the west bank of the river (we have placed Baton Rouge in the Florida Parishes). The parishes between Baton Rouge and New Orleans straddle the river and, in particular, form a unique area known as the "Acadian Coast." This was an area that the first Acadian (now Cajun) exiles settled when they arrived in Louisiana from Canada. The region's parishes are Ascension, Avoyelles, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, and West Baton Rouge.

Cities

• 1 Donaldsonville
• 2 LaPlace
• 3 Luling
• 4 Marksville
• 5 New Roads
• 6 Plaquemine
• 7 Port Allen
• 8 Saint Rose
• 9 Simmesport
• 10 Vacherie – several plantations can be visited by the public

Other destinations

• 1 Atchafalaya Basin (also known as Atchafalaya Swamp) - enormous swamp around the Atchafalaya River

See

Historical plantation homes dating back to the 1800s are on both banks of the river and some are open to the public, ranging from non-profit educational facilities to commercial tourist attractions with major amenities. Pre-Civil War, there were hundreds of wealthy plantations along this trail, growing mostly sugar cane. Most are gone today, but locals have worked diligently to keep the remaining plantations viable and open to the public for visiting.

• Houmas House Plantation, in Darrow , is a historic plantation established in the 1700s that operates as a museum and inn.
• Nottoway Plantation near Plaquemine is reputed to be the South's largest and looks like it could be the White House. It functions as a hotel and restaurant but is also available for tours.
• From the town of Vacherie, you can visit:
  • Evergreen Plantation: A plantation house constructed in 1790 with a grand staircase and 22 slave quarters .
  • Oak Alley Plantation: Famous for the beautiful alley of multi-century old oak trees at the front of the property, this plantation includes a historic "big house" (where the owners lived), gardens, and reconstructed slave quarters.
  • San Francisco Plantation: "The Most Opulent Plantation in the South". A national historic landmark that is open for tours.
  • Whitney Plantation: The only plantation museum with a focus on slavery. This sugar cane plantation intertwined the lives of German immigrant owners and African-American slaves. Part museum, part art gallery, part living history.

Go next

• The rest of Acadiana
• Central Louisiana – to the north
• Florida Parishes – to the east