2 Best Sights in Side Trips from New Orleans, Louisiana

Between 1854 and 1929, more than 2,000 orphans from New York were transplanted via train to Louisiana. The museum, housed in an old depot building, has more than 200 photos and articles of clothing from the orphans who made the journey.

This museum traces the history of Opelousas from prehistoric times to the present. There's an exhibit on the town's brief stint as state capital during the Civil War, and a collection of more than 400 dolls; exhibits of artists' works rotate every three months. The museum is also home to the Louisiana Video Library and the Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival archives.