Natchitoches, Louisiana Travel Guide
Welcome to Natchitoches, Louisiana! Natchitoches is in north-central Louisiana and is home to around 18,000 people. The city is known to be the first permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase. Natchitoches is best known for its meat pies, Northwestern State University, and being the backdrop for the 1989 classic film, Steel Magnolias. The town is located near several cities including Shreveport, LA (1hr 15min, 75 miles), Alexandria, LA (1hr, 55 miles), and Lafayette, LA (2hr 10min, 145 miles). Natchitoches has everything from Cajun food to plantation homes to a river cruise. Come see all that Natchitoches has to offer!
Natchitoches is home to plenty of old buildings and architecture. Consider touring The Prud’homme-Rouquier House or see The Melrose on the Cane Plantation. Visitors can also see the outside of the Steel Magnolia House, now a bed and breakfast. Other great tours include seeing the replica of Fort St. John Baptiste State Historical Site, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, and the Natchitoches National Historical Landmark District Walking Tour.
For some fun outside, see live gators at Gator Country LA Alligator Park, walk the popular Longleaf Vista Nature Trail, or fish the Cane River Lake. Be sure to get tickets aboard the Cane River Queen for a river cruise through the downtown area. Natchitoches is also home to Northwestern State University, which has around 9,000 students. Walk around campus or consider scheduling a prospective student tour here. For some shopping, be sure to stop by Kaffie-Frederick Inc. for a wide variety of items.
Natchitoches is, of course, known for its Cajun food, specifically meat pies. Start your day at Legacy Cafe for breakfast and grab a coffee from StoryBrew Coffee Cafe. For lunch, grab Cajun favorites from French Market Express and Merci Beaucoup. Grab burgers and snow cones from Marie’s Old Fashion Hamburgers, BBQ from The Breadhouse, or fried fish from Sam’s Southern Eatery. Stop in for a beer, and maybe a slice of pizza, at Flying Heart Brewery and Pub. Locals consider Lasyone’s Meat Pie Restaurant to have the best crawfish pies in town, so be sure to stop here on your trip. For dinner, have American favorites from Pioneer Pub or steak and Cajun specialties from Mayeaux’s Steak and Seafood Restaurant.
Need to stay the night? Natchitoches is home to many inns, hotels, and bed and breakfasts. Consider staying at the Steel Magnolia House, Andrew Morris House Bed and Breakfast, Judge Porter House Bed and Breakfast, or Queen Ann Bed and Breakfast. For an inn, try Church Street Inn or Sweet Cane Inn. If hotels are more your speed, book a room at Chateau Saint Denis Hotel. Need a whole rental to yourself? Consider booking a Vrbo. Here are some of our favorites: Cane River Home for 5, Rustic Cabin for 6, and Downtown Home for 8.
Want to visit Natchitoches but not sure when? Consider coming during the Christmas Festival, a multi-week-long celebration popular among locals and visitors. Whatever you’re into, Natchitoches, Louisiana has something worth seeing. We hope this travel guide gives you a glimpse into life in Natchitoches that can inspire a future visit.
Happy Travels!
The Modern Travel Guide
