Copyright © 1997 - 2009
Click to hear You Are My Sunshine, Louisiana State Song
Written and recorded by former Louisiana Governor Jimmie Davis,
An original guitar sequence by Dick Anderson.
Dick, thanks for fulfilling this Louisiana gal's special request.
"Louisiana is truly a paradise of rich history, tradition and beauty." ~ Another Side of Paradise, Louisiana travel brochure
Louisiana. My home. Front porches and backdoor friends. Backyard patios and cookouts. Over the fence chats. Iced tea and hot, strong coffee. Mint juleps and dandelion tea. Fine wines and cold beer. Spicy food and rich desserts. Red beans and rice. Roux and gumbo. Po-Boys and meat pies. Catfish fries and crawfish boils. Festivals, festivals, and more festivals. Beauty pageants and barge parties. Tea rooms, antique shops, and flea markets. Sharecroppers and plantations. Baseball and football. Pleasure boats and pirogues. Riverboats and gambling. Speedways and horse racing. Mysterious Voodoo and magnificent cathedrals. Fiddles and banjos. Cajun and country music. Jazz and zydeco. Alligators and snakes. Red wasps and fire ants. Singing birds and chirping crickets. Bejeweled dragon flies and flickering lightning bugs. Hovering mosquitos larger than Hueys, swarming Love bugs and buzzing June bugs. Whispered secrets of tall, swaying pines. Thick San Augustine grass. Deep, darkened woods and wide, open pasture lands. Ancient oaks and cypresses gray-bearded with delicate Spanish moss. Clear lakes and steamy swamps. Lazy bayous and rivers. Cotton and sugar cane fields. Heady scents of magnolias, roses, and camillas. Azaleas in almost every yard. Trailing trumpet vines and yellow jasmine. Wisteria and honeysuckle dripping from trees and fences. Dogwood and redbud trees. Poke salad and kudzu. Hot days and sultry nights. Soft rain and violent thunderstorms. Occasional snow and ice storms. Gentle Gulf breezes, hurricanes, tornadoes...and even earthquakes. Hospitality.
There's nothing quite so meaningful as coming back after a long period away from home. Only once have I left my home - and that was for nearly five years. Five years too long. Craig, the Kiddens, and I are back here to stay.
I love my state's large cities: New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and others. Yet, if time permits, I prefer traveling the side roads rather than the interstates and well-known highways. It's been my pleasure to travel each of Louisiana's Byways, some quite frequently through the years. The rural areas show the true natural beauty of Louisiana more so than the urban cities. Rural people are more inclined to carry on the traditions that have been in their families for generations. And Louisiana brims over with her varied, colorful, rich cultures ...
Louisiana is divided into five different regions: Sportsman's Paradise, Crossroads, Cajun Country, Plantation Country, and Greater New Orleans. These regions reflect her various ethnic backgrounds and lifestyles. Regardless of what Louisiana region you live in or visit, you will always find two things that are part of a Louisianan's soul: Southern hospitality and the love of celebrating anything that is old or new. Festivities can be seen in every tiny town or large city throughout the state - we have well over 400 annual fairs and festivals. From throwing hurricane parties and music festivals to huge Mardi Gras balls and parades, Louisianans are born to celebrate.
Map and Byways sign - courtesy of Louisiana Office of Tourism.
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Setting aside a weekend to enjoy one of the many Scenic Byways this state has to offer is a sure way to discover the beauty, history, and culture that makes Louisianans who we are. While on the road, look for the little white sign with the black roofed red roadster. That's the Scenic Byways' sign. Follow those signs for a glimpse into Louisiana's soul. Happy and safe traveling in the Pelican State - as our Office of Tourism's advertising jingle states, "Come as you are, leave different."
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Additional Louisiana Information:
A Selective Chronology of Louisiana History
A Tour of Louisiana's Scenic Byways
Louisiana Lagniappe: Facts and Trivia
Louisiana: How to Speak the Language
What an honor, dear Magnolias! I'm thrilled to accept your beautiful gift!
Dearest Di,
This is most treasured - Thank YOU!
Your donation goes to the expenses for our feral cat colony and foster cats and dogs' food, upkeep, and medical care. 100% of all donations go to the animals because there are no salaries or administrative fees. Thank you for your support!
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