Natchitoches, the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase, is a four-hour drive from New Orleans. It’s anchored by the National Historic Landmark District, a 33-block area with shopping and plenty of charming bed-and-breakfasts. Don't leave town without sampling its famous meat pie.

The Cajun town is home to the colorful Courir de Mardi Gras tradition, but Eunice merits a visit any time of the year. Start on Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Savoy Music Center, which hosts an acoustic jam session. That night, visit the Liberty Theater, a restored art deco playhouse, which hosts the Rendez-Vous des Cajuns radio show on Saturday nights. The Cajun Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Prairie Acadian Cultural Center, and the Eunice Depot Museum are all worth a visit. And be sure to eat as much boudin and cracklins as possible.

Antiques lovers will find heaven in Washington, home to the Washington Old Schoolhouse Antique Mall, where antiques fill up the floors of an old schoolhouse and gym. You could spend a whole day here and fuel up at the 1950s-style cafe on site when you need a break. It's about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from New Orleans.

A little over two hours from New Orleans, New Iberia’s Main Street showcases the art deco Evangeline Theater. Visit Shadows-on-the-Teche, a 3,750 square-foot historic house and garden. You'll also can’t miss Avery Island, the salt dome that is home to the Tabasco hot sauce factory, the tropical Jungle Gardens, and the Bird City wildfowl sanctuary.

Unscathed by the Civil War, Natchez is the place to go if you want to gape at antebellum architecture or visit indigenous tribal grounds of the Natchez Indians; or the Natchez National Cemetery. You’ll also find the Natchez booze trinity of Old South Winery, Charboneau Rum distillery, and Natchez Brewing Company. Known as the Biscuit Capital of the World, Natchez is a little less than three hours from New Orleans.

St. Francisville is the heart of plantation country; the haunted Myrtles Plantation is located here. Oakley Plantation, which is within the Audubon State Historic Site, and Rosedown Plantation are two more to check out. If you're the outdoors type, nearby Tunica Hills offers camping, hiking, and bird-watching. St. Francisville is a little under two hours from New Orleans.

About an hour and a half north of New Orleans, you’ll find this charming town near the Bogue Chitto River. In October, Franklinton holds one of the longest-running fairs in the state. And if you’re looking for a day in nature (or tubing), it’s only seven miles from the Bogue Chitto State Park. 

The town also features the Da Varnado Store Museum, which has a selection of rotating, community-centered exhibits.

Abita Springs, less than an hour from New Orleans, boasts of one Louisiana's most famous roadside attractions: The Abita Mystery house, a gas station-turned-folk-museum housing a jam-packed collection of art, memorabilia, "pure junk," and other curiosities. It’s a short drive away is the Abita brewery, where you can take a guided tour with free 4-ounce tastings or buy a pint in the Tap Room. Neighboring Covington has a historic downtown area with cafes, charming shops, and art galleries.

One of the most “Poplar” choices, this small city hosts the annual Blueberry Jubilee, an arts and craft fair that happens on the second Saturday of every June. Poplarville is home to the oldest community college in Mississippi. The city also holds a farmers market on the first and third Thursday every month between May and October.

The artsy Mississippi town, less than a two-hour drive from New Orleans, is home to the Walter Anderson Museum of Art, featuring the painter's colorful, folksy murals. The nearby Ocean Springs Community Center is home to Anderson's largest mural. Explore the Charnley-Norwood House, the summer cottage designed by Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright, which is open for public tours. The Crooked Letter Brewing Company offers tours, with samples, on Saturdays. The Greenhouse On Porter is a whimsical coffee shop with seating inside a greenhouse, high-quality coffee, and homemade biscuits.

The picture-perfect Alabama town on the Eastern shore of Mobile Bay is about two-and-a-half hours from New Orleans. Anchored by an adorable downtown area, Fairhope Avenue is the main drag with shopping and restaurants. There also are beaches and a municipal pier. The Fairhope Brewing Company offers tours every Saturday. There are plenty of cute bed-and-breakfasts in town; for a fancier option, the nearby Grand Hotel Marriott Resort is gorgeous.