Louisiana Travels for Oct. 14

Try Haunted Swamp Tour for delicious chill

A nighttime boat ride through the swamp could be scary in itself, with its creep creature sounds, rolling foggy mist and red-eyed alligators sightings. But add in some spooky stories from a narrator and you have Jean Lafitte’s Haunted Swamp Tour.

Available each weekend in October, the tour takes its brave participants through the backwater bayous of Jean Lafitte National Historic Wildlife Refuge in Marrero.

The tour runs each Friday and Saturday this month, as well as on Sunday, Oct. 28. Gates open at 7 p.m., and the boats run continuously from dark until midnight.

Admission is $25, adults; and $12, children.

The refuge is located at 6601 Leo Kerner Lafitte Parkway.

For more information, call [phone].

äON THE INTERNET:

http://www.bigeasy.com

Spanish Town in contest

Baton Rouge’s Spanish Town is one of 10 finalists from the South Central U.S. for the title of “Prettiest Painted Places in America” by the Paint Quality Institute.

The institute, an informational entity whose mission is to educate the public about quality paints and coatings.

The other finalists are: Old Arabi Neighborhood, St. Bernard Parish; Natchitoches National Historic Landmark District; downtown historic Bastrop, Texas; Graham, Texas; Lafayette Square, St. Louis, Mo.; Lindsborg, Kansas; Ottawa and Franklin County, Kansas; The Paseo Arts District, Oklahoma City, Okla., and Victoria, Texas.

A panel of judges with expertise in color selection, exterior painting, and home improvement reviewed the entries and narrowed the field to 60 finalists, 10 from each of six geographic regions. The 12 national winners will be named later this month and after further evaluation, two of the 10 will be named the prettiest painted places in the South Central U.S., alongside winners from five other regions, to make up the 12 prettiest painted places in America.

The search for America’s prettiest painted places began this spring, when the Paint Quality Institute contacted state departments of tourism, local chambers of commerce, and convention and visitors bureaus in all 50 states. Eventually, nearly 200 towns, historic districts, neighborhoods and Main Streets were nominated in the competition.

A “prettiest painted place” is a special town or neighborhood with exceptional communitywide “curb appeal” due to optically pleasing or creative use of exterior paint color, according to Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert for the Paint Quality Institute.

“Spanish Town Neighborhood is the oldest neighborhood in Baton Rouge and filled with character to be experienced by locals and visitors alike. I was pleased to nominate one of our most well-known neighborhoods that everyone enjoys!” said Christy Chachere, communications coordinator for Visit Baton Rouge.

Halloween at Rosedown

Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site will be in mourning Saturday, Oct. 27, as Rosedown’s staff re-enacts the wake and funeral service of Daniel Turnbull, the plantation’s original owner and builder. Turnbull was laid to rest Oct. 31, 1861, shortly after the commencement of the Civil War.

Funeral and mourning customs of the 19th century followed strict traditions and formalities, many of which are no longer practiced. For the event, the main house will be decorated according to 19th century mourning customs, and re-enactors will be dressed throughout the day in 19th century-style mourning costumes. The funeral service will be held in the Informal Parlor of the Main House at 3 p.m.

Among the re-enactors will be Rosedown Curator Polly Luttrull, representing the grieving widow Martha Barrow Turnbull, with Interpretive Ranger Sasha Traña depicting Sarah Turnbull Bowman, the only surviving child of the deceased. Rounding out the cast will be Manager Patricia Aleshire portraying Caroline Butler Turnbull, widow of Turnbull’s late son William, and Interpretive Ranger Jessica Dixon taking the role of Grace, a trusted family retainer.

At 4 p.m., visitors are invited to take a “ghost” tour through the Plantation Main House as living history presenters portray the spirits of family members who have returned from their graves. Each of the “spirits” will speak about their former lives at Rosedown and share reminiscences from their pasts.

Rosedown Plantation SHS is located on La. 10 in St. Francisville, 30 minutes north of Baton Rouge, off U.S. 61. The site is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Guided tours of the main house are provided on the hour beginning at 10 a.m. and concluding with the final tour of the day at 4 p.m.

Admission prices are $10 for adults (ages 18-61), $8 for seniors (ages 62 and over) and $4 for students (ages 6-17). Children 5 and younger are admitted free. Garden only is $5 (ages 18 and older). Special programs and demonstrations offered throughout the year are included with the price of admission.

For more information, call [phone].

äON THE INTERNET:

http://www.lastateparks.com

Have a chocolate

Crunch!

The Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium in New Orleans is hosting Chocolate Covered Insect Day 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14.

Visitors will be able to partake in sugary “treats” made by executive bug chefs and dip the edible creatures in a fountain overflowing with rich melted chocolate.

It’s part of National Chocolate Insect Day, and also this year, visitors can dip their insects in pink chocolate in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Rare pink katydids will also be on display in the lobby.

Tasting are including with regular Insectarium admission of $16, adults; $13, seniors; $11, children; and free, Audubon Nature Institute members.

The Insectarium is located at 423 Canal St.

äON THE INTERNET:

http://www.AudubonInstitute.org

Ghosts in the Oaks

New Orleans’ City Park’s annual Halloween event, Ghosts in the Oak, is set for Friday-Saturday, Oct. 19-20.

The family-friendly evening includes unlimited rides in the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, trick-or-treating in Storyland, arts and crafts, face-painting and live music.

Early admission starts at 6 p.m. and gates open at 7 p.m. Early admission is $20 per person and regular admission is $15. It’s $12 for Friends of City Park members, and free to children under 3.

City Park is located at 1 Palm Drive.

äON THE INTERNET:

http://www.neworleanscitypark.com

7 miles-plus of stuff

The Arnaudville Area Chamber of Commerce is preparing for its annual 7 Mile Plus Yard Sale 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20.

Taking part this year are Arnaudville, Grand Coteau, Sunset and all communities in between. For more information, call [phone].

äON THE INTERNET:

http://www.arnaudvilleareachamber.com

100-plus kinds of brew

BREW, Shreveport-Bossier's annual beer tasting event, is 2-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, in downtown Shreveport's Festival Plaza.

The fourth such event is a project of the Mudbug Madness Festival and the Red River Revel Arts Festival, and is presented by Eldorado Resort Casino. More than 100 domestic, foreign and home brewed beers will be offered. There will also be live music, and food from local restaurants.

Tickets are $50.

äON THE INTERNET:

http://www.shreveportbrew.com

Visit Baton Rouge, the Office of State Parks, Cheryl Lemoine, the Audubon Institute, New Orleans' City Park, the Arnaudville Area Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Shreveport Unlimited provided items for this column. Louisiana Travels is a biweekly column about travel destinations and events in Louisiana. Email items for Louisiana Travels to [e-mail] or [e-mail] or fax to [phone].