Vibrant New Orleans: Culture and Cuisine
About the Trip
Cajun culture meets delicious cuisine in New Orleans on a lively journey through history. Start by joining a Second Line Parade, following the jazz band along Bourbon Street. Ride a private streetcar to the Garden District for a walking tour and taste beignets and a café au lait. Next, take a jazz and dinner cruise on the Mississippi River and sip cocktails under the stars. Depart The Big Easy and travel through bayous en route to Lafayette. Be immersed in Cajun culture on Avery Island and visit Vermilionville, a simulated Acadian village on the banks of Bayou Vermilion. Experience a crawfish boil, learn to dance the Cajun waltz and enjoy Louisiana’s lush beauty. Back in New Orleans, stroll through the French Quarter and marvel at the unique architecture.
Member-exclusive Benefits
We reward all our CAA Members on our Extraordinary Explorations® tours.
- Special gift‡
- 100 CAA Dollars®^
- 25% savings on CAA Travel Insurance◊
CAA Premier Collection Tours
One-of-a-kind departures that offer immersive and intimate group journeys.
- Every detail matters: From the moment you step onto our private charter jet to your farewell dinner, you’ll experience best-in-class service wherever you go.
- Our CAA Hosts lead you on incredible adventures to iconic destinations. They will take care of every detail on each journey.
- Travel in style: Stretch out on spacious motorcoaches while exploring during the day and rest easy at night in the best hotels each destination has to offer.
- Memorable dining: Delicious local dishes and the season’s most flavourful offerings will have you savouring every bite.
Exclusive Private Charter Jet
All Premier Collection Tours begin with a flight on our exclusive private charter jet, offering you superior in-flight service and unparalleled comfort.
Flight includes:
- Priority airport check-in.
- Gourmet in-flight meal and drink service.
- Spacious leather seats offering a generous seat pitch.
Design Your Day
Design your day by choosing from one of three included optional tours.
Mardi Gras Museum and Spirited Headdress Workshop
Take a private tour through exhibits at the Mardi Gras Museum, followed by
a mask-making class and tutorial.
Cajun and Culinary Tour
Savour the flavours of Louisiana’s creole-style and Cajun cuisines on a tour through the French Quarter with a culinary historian.
Cocktail Tour
The term “cocktail” originated in New Orleans in the 1830s. Take a stroll through the French Quarter and visit several of the city’s oldest bars and taverns.
Package Includes:
- Return airfare on CAA’s exclusive private charter jet from Toronto to New Orleans
- 2+2-night stay in deluxe-class accommodation in New Orleans
- 2-night stay in first-class accommodation in Lafayette
- Breakfast daily, 2 lunches, 1 box lunch, 5 dinners and 1 snack
- Land transportation via first-class motorcoach
- Sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary
- Professional English-speaking tour director throughout
- Hotel porterage of 1 suitcase per person
- Prepaid gratuities
- Destination transfers
- CAA Host
Vibrant New Orleans: Cajun Culture and Creole Cuisine
Activity Level: Moderate. Immerse yourself in Cajun culture on this curated journey of delicious local cuisine, live jazz music and exclusive tours of historic New Orleans.
Day 1
New Orleans – Depart from Toronto onboard CAA’s exclusive private charter jet to New Orleans. Take part in a Second Line Parade then have dinner at the Creole Cottage, a private dining room at the famous Arnaud’s in the French Quarter. (D)
Day 2
New Orleans – Take a private streetcar to the beautiful Garden District to see some of the most magnificent historic houses in the country. This evening, sail along the Mississippi River on a jazz and dinner cruise. (B/S/D)
Day 3
New Orleans to Lafayette – Travel to Lafayette. En route, stop on Avery Island to visit the TABASCO® factory for a tour and lunch, then see abundant wildlife in Jungle Gardens. (B/L/D)
Day 4
Lafayette – Visit the Vermilionville Living History Museum and Folklife Park followed by a trip to the Tietje Crawfish Farm, where you’ll learn about crawfish and then enjoy a traditional crawfish boil at the Cajun Table. Tonight, learn the basics of Cajun waltzing and two-stepping. (B/L/D)
Day 5
Lafayette to New Orleans – This morning, immerse yourself in Cajun music with a visit to Martin Accordions. After, tour the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, a Catholic church that dates back to the mid-18th century. Before returning to New Orleans for an evening at leisure, take a scenic swamp tour in a covered, flat-bottomed boat. (B/BL)
Day 6
New Orleans – Design your day by choosing from one of three optional tours and then reconvene with all of your fellow travellers for a farewell dinner. (B/D)
Design Your Day:
Mardi Gras Museum and Spirited Headdress Workshop
Take a private tour through exhibits at the Mardi Gras Museum, followed by a mask-making class and tutorial.
Cajun and Culinary Tour
Savour the flavours of Louisiana’s creole-style and Cajun cuisines on a tour through the French Quarter with a culinary historian.
Cocktail Tour
The term "cocktail" originated in New Orleans in the 1830s. Take a stroll through the French Quarter and visit several of the city’s oldest bars and taverns.
Day 7
After an adventurous week discovering the best of New Orleans, it’s time to return home onboard CAA’s exclusive private charter jet to Toronto. (B)
B - Breakfast | L - Lunch | BL - Boxed Lunch | D - Dinner | S - Snack
Terms & Conditions
*All CAA Member prices are per person, based on double occupancy, in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated and are subject to change without prior notice until final payment is paid. All prices are correct at press time and apply to new bookings only, based on availability at time of booking. To receive CAA Member-exclusive benefits, there must be one valid CAA Member travelling per booking. Non-members booking Extraordinary Explorations will not receive Member-exclusive benefits. ‡Special gifts are per person and are based on double occupancy.
^CAA Dollars awarded per adult Member. To earn and redeem CAA Dollars, you must be a current CAA Member in good standing (CAA Membership dues paid in full by membership expiry date). CAA Dollars will be credited at time of departure. For more information on CAA Dollars, please visit www.caasco.com/caadollars.
◊CAA Travel Insurance is underwritten by Orion Travel Insurance Company, a CAA Company. Twenty-five percent (25%) Member savings is made up of a ten percent (10%) Member savings as well as a promotional fifteen percent (15%) savings when you purchase an Extraordinary Explorations tour through CAA Travel, applies to CAA South Central Ontario and CAA Manitoba Members in good standing (CAA Membership dues paid in full by membership expiry date). This promotional offer is valid until December 31, 2023. Ten percent (10%) Member savings applies to Members in good standing of all other CAA clubs. Savings apply to the total premium excluding applicable taxes. Minimum premium applies. Visitors to Canada Insurance is limited to the promotional savings. Certain exclusions, limitations and restrictions apply. Subject to change without notice. A Medical Questionnaire may be required to purchase travel insurance.
Extraordinary Explorations vacations are organized and booked by CAA Travel (South Central Ontario) Inc. and CAA Manitoba (“CAA Travel”) on behalf of CAA Club Group (o/a CAA South Central Ontario and CAA Manitoba). In the event of an increase in any of the cost factors, CAA Travel reserves the right to increase the price whereby the provisions of the Travel Industry Act shall prevail. CAA Extraordinary Explorations packages are 100% non-refundable at final payment. CAA Travel service fee for cancellation prior to final payment varies by program. For full payment terms and conditions, please ask your CAA Travel Consultant. CAA Travel reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule any tour departure in accordance with operating requirements (minimum number of participants) or circumstances beyond its control. Additional fees for checked luggage or other incidentals may be incurred and vary according to itinerary and airline. Air schedules with some tours are not available at press time and may include several connections or forced overnight at passenger’s expense. CAA Travel strongly recommends the purchase of trip cancellation and emergency travel and emergency medical insurance at the time of booking.
Please note: Participants must be able to embark and disembark cruise ships and coaches without assistance as well as have a good level of mobility for walking tours in destinations where stairs and traditional cobblestone streets can be challenging. International transportation vehicles and facilities may not meet accessibility standards.
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Flight
IncludedTour Itinerary
Day 1
Toronto to New Orleans
Depart from Toronto onboard CAA’s exclusive charter jet to New Orleans. Upon arrival, you’ll be met by your tour director and taken to your hotel. This evening, experience a true New Orleans-style welcome in the French Quarter and take part in a Second Line Parade. Police motorcycles with flashing blue lights will lead the parade down Bourbon Street. Follow the jazz band in the “Second Line” as you join in to the lively music. Later, enjoy an unforgettable dinner of gourmet creole-style food at Arnaud’s Restaurant. You’ll be dining in the Creole Cottage, a private dining room with its own exclusive entrance. (D)
Day 2
New Orleans
You’ll begin your day travelling to the Garden District on a private streetcar. Wander through New Orleans’ most beautiful (and world-famous) residential neighbourhoods. In the Garden District, you’ll see some of the most magnificent historic houses in the country—many of which have appeared in tv shows and movies.
Later, visit St. Louis Cemetery No.3. This beautiful Catholic cemetery is near the tranquil Bayou St. John. Established as a burial ground for leprosy victims, it’s an ideal place to stroll among the tombs and learn about the burial customs of New Orleans. You’ll hear fascinating and true stories about both famous and infamous people. St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 is also the final resting place of notable architect James Gallier, Storyville photographer E.J. Bellocq and New Orleans chefs Leah Chase and Paul Prudhomme. At the end of the tour, stop by Café du Monde to taste their world-famous beignets.
Tonight, you’ll enjoy a jazz and dinner cruise that’s pure New Orleans. As night falls, you’ll step back into the glamour of the riverboat era while sailing along on the Mississippi River. Eat and drink while you cruise past one of America’s busiest ports. Dance to the sounds of a trio of jazz bands, then escape to the promenade deck and enjoy your favourite cocktail as the city skyline slips by under a canopy of stars. (B/S/D)
Day 3
New Orleans to Lafayette
Travel to Lafayette. Enroute, stop on Avery Island to begin your exploration of Cajun culture. This is a special place where the red peppers grow, the TABASCO® factory hums and abundant wildlife can be seen in Jungle Gardens. Tour the history and production of the world-famous TABASCO® brand Pepper Sauce from seed to sauce, shop for those hard-to-find gifts in their Country Store and indulge in authentic (and spicy!) Cajun-style dishes at Restaurant 1868!. You’ll also get to explore the natural beauty and wildlife of the 170-acre botanical treasure known as Jungle Gardens. Upon arrival in Lafayette, check into your hotel for a 2-night stay. (B/L/D)
Day 4
Lafayette
This morning, visit theVermilionville Living History Museum and Folklife Park. Vermilionville sits on a beautiful tree-covered 23-acre site on the banks of Bayou Vermilion. Vermilionville is a place of history, music, food, cultural exchange, historic architecture and much more. Visit some of the 19 attractions on offer, including tours of some of the original houses that have been restored back to their original style. Watch costumed artisans demonstrate the traditional craft-making skills once performed by early settlers.
Continue on to the Tietje Crawfish Farm, where the crawfish’s habitat and harvesting process is showcased by family member Burt Tietje. Learn about the biology of the species as well as dietary information and pond ecology. After the visit, enjoy a traditional crawfish boil at the Cajun Table.
Tonight, embrace Louisianian joie de vivre in a uniquely local way. While a live band plays, learn the basics of Cajun waltzing and two-stepping. (B/L/D)
Day 5
Lafayette to New Orleans
This morning, immerse yourself in the history of Cajun music. Start with a visit to Martin Accordions and learn from Joel Martin and the Family Band about accordion-making. Go back in history to the early 1900s as you listen to traditional Cajun music, gospel music and zydeco music.
Head to downtown Lafayette, a major center of Cajun life and lore, and tour St. John the Evangelist Cathedral. This Romanesque-style cathedral was constructed in 1913 on grounds where union troops once encamped during the Civil War.
Before returning to New Orleans, experience the beauty of Louisiana’s scenic bayous in a covered, flat-bottomed boat. Cruise through the swamp past bald cypress trees draped in flourishing Spanish moss, and see wildflowers and multitudes of indigenous aquatic plants. Travel back to New Orleans for an evening at leisure. (B/BL)
Day 6
New Orleans – Design Your Day
Spend the day at leisure in New Orleans or choose from one of the optional included tours. This evening, enjoy your Farewell Dinner. (B/D)
Mardi Gras Museum and Spirited Headdress Workshop
A private tour through exhibits at the Mardi Gras Museum, followed by a mask-making class and tutorial.
Cajun and Culinary Tour
Electrify your taste buds as you stroll through the French Quarter on a progressive tasting and oral history tour with a local culinary historian. You’ll savour the flavours of Louisiana’s creole-style and Cajun cuisines.
Cocktail Tour
The term "cocktail" originated in New Orleans in the 1830s. Walk through the French Quarter and visit several of the city’s oldest bars and taverns. You'll learn about the history of these establishments and enjoy a signature libation from each.
Day 7
Return home
After an adventurous week discovering the best of New Orleans, it’s time to return home onboard CAA’s exclusive private charter jet to Toronto. (B)
B - Breakfast | L - Lunch | BL - Boxed Lunch | D - Dinner | S - Snack
Design Your Day
Choose from one of three included optional tours.