Part of me wishes I could break the review into two parts. The swamp tour was astounding! Captain Jason was incredibly knowledgeable regarding the “landscape” of the canals, swamps, bayou, and marshlands. His insight into the sustainability of the ecosystem given his credentials was eye-opening. And his little rescue gator, Nubby, was cute and mildly terrifying. (Full disclosure: I’m terrified of reptiles, so this portion of the tour was to appease my hubs since I’m a history buff; we both ended up enjoying this part immensely!)
**Pro Tip: Bring a light jacket and sunglasses. It can get QUITE breezy, and thus chilly.
The Oak Alley portion was a bit of a letdown after the swamp tour (we had the 10:45a showing, so swamp then plantation). We had 45 minutes to wander on our own and then a 30 minute tour of the “Big House.” That was it. And the tour was lackluster with a meager amount of information shared and barely any time in the 5 rooms. We didn’t even have time to check out the gift shop since we had to scarf down a mediocre sammich in our 45 minute self-guided portion of the excursion. The bit of time there was not enough to do the property or the memory of the poor enslaved souls any justice at all. Gorgeous trees though.
**Pro Tip: Wear comfy walking shoes!
The van driver was very friendly and warned us about the (VERY) rough roads before we encountered them. He can’t be blamed for the roads. They should check the shocks on that van though… If you get motion sickness easily, take Dramamine or wear your bands. That also applies for the airboat ride.
**Pro Tip: Bring some bottled drinks (water would be best) and a couple of protein bars to keep you hydrated and to keep your tummy from grumbling. Just wait to get back to the city to eat a big dinner. ALSO, bring cash to tip your boat captain and the driver. Some of the captains also take Venmo.