10 Best Hotels in Side Trips from New Orleans, Louisiana

It may be named for the Civil War–era military prison that once occupied the site, but you definitely won't feel like a prisoner in this pleasant, tile-roofed, contemporary brick house on winding, oak-lined Highland Road. The wooded property feels charmingly secluded, and the entire house is filled with antiques and works by regional artists. The garlic-cheese grits at breakfast are renowned, and guests can receive a discount by booking directly with the B&B.

Built circa 1890 of native cypress and handmade bricks, some rooms in the Acadian-style "Little Brother's House" are furnished with French and Louisiana antiques while others are more modern. Additional accommodations are in an Acadian-style cottage behind the main house. You are welcomed to this charming home with a complimentary "T'julep" and "Cajun canapés," which are hors d'oeuvres made with boudin. The Cajun breakfast combines regional ingredients with traditional southern cuisine. The friendly owners are available to help guests with tour bookings.

These cozy one- and two-bedroom cabins are right on a main drag, but with their homey decor and shade from the property's many trees—and with some featuring porches facing Bayou Teche—they feel rustic and have personality galore.

There could scarcely be a better way to appreciate the Queen City of the Teche than to spend a night in this simple, two-room, 18th-century cottage on the bank of the bayou, down the road from downtown attractions. Guests are left on their own, with self-service breakfast items provided in the refrigerator. You can explore the 3 acres of quiet grounds or sit in the front-porch rocking chairs and watch towboats ply the waters.

A sense of privacy prevails in these nicely located rooms in downtown Lafayette, where fine linens and a pool with hot tub are among the many amenities. All 20 rooms have large baths. Free breakfast is offered every weekend and on weekdays depending on hotel capacity.

This elegant mansion just south of Lafayette has four beautiful suites and offers a complimentary cocktail upon arrival, as well as a full Cajun breakfast each morning. Visitors can book art classes and massages, though these should be booked in advance. The mansion puts on several events during the week ranging from trivia to bourbon tastings to yoga.

This French Creole cottage built in approximately 1840 is on the National Register of Historic Places and features finely crafted furniture, beautiful gardens, and a monthly Secret Suppers Series that brings together James Beard Award-recognized artists, Grammy-nominated musicians, and an unforgettable setting to enjoy a world-class meal. Only one party of guests are able to stay on the property at one time, so book your suite as far in advance as possible.

Built in the 19th century, this quiet bed-and-breakfast features 11 rooms with early Acadian antiques. Don't miss out on breakfast, which is a three-course Cajun affair. The owner, Ravi, is a kind and informative inn keeper.

If you don't mind a deep legacy of hauntings (and doubly so if you love haunted things), you'll enjoy these character-filled guest rooms, split between the second floor of this plantation-house-turned-bed-and-breakfast and a couple of outlying buildings. The rooms are all filled with antiques and most with four-poster beds. A tour of the house, just a few miles beyond the center of St. Francisville, is included in your stay. In nice weather many guests opt to have breakfast at the outdoor tables behind the house.

Comfortable rooms with hardwood floors and the odd early Louisiana antique occupy a two-story redbrick building that in the early 1800s was an inn for steamboat passengers and a gathering place for French royalists. Some rooms overlook Bayou Teche, and guests can relax in a downstairs parlor.