Take a walk through the grounds of Oak Alley Plantation for a tour that shows you the world of slaves and sugar barons during the heyday of sugarcane in the South. This meticulously restored National Historic Landmark includes a wealth of history detailing the fortunes and hardships of those who lived here.

After you're picked up from your New Orleans hotel, head upriver and pass under the tunnel of branches from the 28 evenly spaced oak trees that frame the path into the estate. A guide wearing authentic 19th-century apparel is waiting to show you around the Greek Revival-style manor house, ready with a wealth of insight into the estate.

Built entirely by slave labour in the late 1830s, the manor's high ceilings and picture windows were made for one of the region's leading families at the height of the sugarcane boom. Learn the storey of Antoine, a Creole slave who created what became known as the Centennial Variety of pecans while living in bondage at the estate, and get a look at the authentically preserved blacksmith's shop and farm equipment before your tour is through.