writing retreat in louisiana? (New Orleans, Baton Rouge: rental car, 2009, rental)

[erin1981]

Hi everyone,

I hope you can offer some advice. I'd like to come down to the deep south to work on my book for a week, so I'm looking for somewhere that offers some beautiful views and options to go for a stroll/walk into town, but not somewhere with a lot of distractions/attractions/tourists, as I'll want to focus on writing rather than having too much fun... I don't drive and will be flying from NYC so it has to be somewhere I can reach fairly easily from an airport by train/bus/taxi - I don't mind a fairly long journey from the airport so long as it isn't a complex journey.
Either location or accomodation tips would be much appreciated. Ideally I guess I'd like a very small town in a picturesque setting.

Thanks so much folks.

[sailordave]

You could try Breaux Bridge. It's filled with bed and breakfast homes, some of which were built in the early 1900s and are along the river. There are some very good restaurants and small shops downtown. As a writer, you would probably want to visit the memorial to the Longfellow poem Evangeline located in St. Martinville Longfellow-Evangeline State Park, a Louisiana State Park near Carencro, Forked Island, Jeanerette, Lafayette, New Iberia

[linicx]

You might like Natchitoches (pronounced nac-ei-tish. Established in 1714 it is the oldest continuously occupied settlement in the Louisiana Purchase. The movie Steel Magnolias was filmed here. it's quaint, charming and friendly. It is one of my favorite destinations when I am in La. You will find a fair amount of information here. It's midway between SBC and Baton Rouge. It is not NOLA but it has all the flavor.
Natchitoches Chamber of Commerce

[BetaBeta]

Read this article and see if this type of place would meet your criteria. If so, you would want to fly into the Baton Rouge Airport (BTR) Friends in St. Francisville, Louisiana: Slow Down & Savor - FOR FULL ARTICLE - CLICK HERE You can find more info on St. Francisville at: http://stfrancisville.us/component/o...mid,1/lang,en/

You can get a cab from BTR airport to take you to one of the many B&Bs (St Francisville is about 25 miles from the airport). However without a rental car you wouldn't get to visit larger cities like Baton Rouge or New Orleans (without a cab ride).

You will probably want to pick a B&B that is close to downtown St. Francisville for walking purposes as there is no public transportation that I know of.

For B&Bs check: Louisiana Saint Francisville Overnight Association-

This particular one is in walking distance of a few restaurants and shops. Its quite beautiful and very inspiring.. St Francisville Inn BB Louisiana - GENERAL INFO

Good Luck on your search, wish it was me! :>)

[erin1981]

thank you all so much; this is great.

[Bixaorellana]

Hey ~~ my home town! Thanks, BetaBeta, that is nice.

Coincidentally, I just wrote about St. Francisville here.

[BetaBeta]

No problem Bixaorellana, I've had my eye on spending a weekend there since moving here its a very peaceful place.

Edited to add: That was a wonderful blog you posted, makes me want to do that weekend there even more, LOL.