30 Days of Thanks – 14

If you have the good fortune to live in Louisiana, you are probably grateful like I am. Although I wasn’t born here, I have spent almost all of my life in this state. We have suffered at the bottom of lots of lists, but we truly are a fabulous place to visit, as well as live. While everyone knows about New Orleans and many have vacationed there, you likely have not gotten to know the real New Orleans. It’s more than the French Quarter and Bourbon Street.

You might have missed all the antebellum plantations along the Mississippi River up through Baton Rouge and St. Francisville. You may not have toured the Tabasco plant or seen the salt domes. Did you know we have amazing swamp tours all through the state and boast some of the best fishing in the country? Not to mention the shrimp, crab, crawfish and oyster farms. We are home to Creole, Cajun, and French cuisine. (Yes, we truly have the best food in the country.) Our festivals are known far and wide – not just Mardi Gras. The people are warm, friendly, and hospitable. We have a large number of refineries here. Our universities have many nationally ranked programs in academics and sports.

“Come as you are. Leave different.”