Should Natchitoches, Louisiana Be On Your Radar? Read This and Find Out!
Hello, travelers!
Picture this: the air is warm, birds are chirping, and the scent of magnolias is in the air. You pass old mansions with wrought iron around their balconies and rockers on their porches. At night, frogs croak by burbling fountains and a train whistles past in the distance.
That’s exactly how it felt when I visited Natchitoches, Louisiana near the end of April. Pronounced “nak-a-tish,” this little town is located in the Northwestern part of the state with a population of about 36,000 per the 2025 census. There are many aspects about Natchitoches that I believe make it a nice place to visit, so I thought I’d go over my itinerary and give you a pros and cons list to help you decide if Natchitoches, Louisiana should be your next weekend getaway.
MY WEEKEND
I flew in on a Saturday morning and came back on the following Monday evening, so my only full day was Sunday. My motivation for visiting was that my high school voice teacher who has become a dear friend over the years moved down there several years ago to be on the musical theatre faculty at Northwestern University, one of the only colleges in Natchitoches.
I stayed at an Airbnb called “Maison Louisiane” which was an old 1898 Southern home down the street from the fifth oldest cemetery in the country (“don’t worry, it’s not haunted!” I was told). As I stood on the spacious front porch, I read on the plaque by the door that the house was placed on the national register of historic places. It was one of many buildings in the town that had a plaque like that on the front; in fact, much of Natchitoches is filled with history.
Founded in 1714, it is the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase and is named after the indigenous Natchitoches tribe. Many of the people who live there are proud of where they come from, and are more than happy to share the history of the town with you.
Many were also surprised to learn that I was coming from Detroit, as the town doesn’t get many tourists until Christmas. Apparently, Christmas is a huge deal in Natchitoches. I was told that the town is covered in lights, there are fireworks every Saturday from the week before Thanksgiving to the middle of January, and Santa is pulled in on a canoe by alligator in their Christmas parades. The university that my friend teaches at puts on Christmas shows every year for several weekends, and every performance is completely sold out! While I told many locals that I’d have to come back and see it, I chuckled at how many responded by admitting they try to avoid downtown that time of year due to the tourism it brings. It’s generally pretty quiet there, and people like it that way.
Unfortunately for me, I didn’t realize just how quiet it can be on Sundays. There is a strong religious presence in Natchitoches, so Sunday is a day of rest taken very seriously. Pretty much nothing was open, and finding a restaurant was tough. I ended up going to Flying Heart Brewing & Pub, a pizza spot built into an old cotton gin that brews their own craft beer. It was one of the only restaurants open on Sunday, but still closed at eight, earlier than their normal hours.
The real highlight for me on the whole trip was the Steel Magnolias house. I am a big fan of the 1989 film starring Julia Roberts, Sally Field, and Dolly Parton, but I had no idea that the movie/play it’s based on is set in Natchitoches! Two doors down from my Airbnb was the Steel Magnolia house where they filmed some scenes in the movie. It was full of cute memorabilia and merchandise, and it was so interesting reading about the real story Steel Magnolias was based on. If you are also a fan of the movie, the house is a bed and breakfast, so you can actually stay there! The owners and managers of that house also owned my Airbnb, so I was able to go over each morning and have a prepared breakfast.
My last few hours before my flight on Monday were spent shopping in some of their cute small businesses, of which there are many. My favorite place was Tres Bien Antiques, which was filled with beautiful glassware, vintage linens, and even had things like a phone booth and Coca-Cola machine. My favorite part of the store was the record section in the back (I swear, I would have left with a Bowie album if I knew I had room in my suitcase). Apart from shopping, I took a peek inside the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, a church that was built in the 1850s and had beautiful stained glass, and strolled down by the Cane River that runs right next to the town and houses many gators (or so I was told . . . I guess swimming isn’t popular there).
PROS
The atmosphere in all of Natchitoches is incredibly laidback. I texted Ryan when I was driving to the Airbnb that the vibe felt like Port Orleans Riverside in Walt Disney World; you could literally smell summer with the river and magnolia trees. But aside from just “vibes,” since I was there during an off season, it was very quiet. If you want to plan a trip that requires virtually no agenda, this is the perfect spot. You can get up, decide what you want to do the day of, and take your time. Want to stop in some shops? You can do that for a couple of hours. Want to just sit and read on a rocker on the porch? Sure, why not? It’s the perfect little town to simply unwind.
Also, Northwestern State University, my motivation for traveling, is a lovely campus. When I saw their musical the first night I was there, I was incredibly impressed with the grounds, auditorium, and the show overall. I think that even if you don’t have a student there or know anyone involved with their musicals, their shows can provide some fun nighttime entertainment!
Now, I can’t accurately report on this due to not having many restaurant options open on Sunday, but there are a lot of seafood and creole cuisine restaurants in that area. Plus, there are several restaurant options right on the river where you can get all the Southern and Cajun food you desire. Due to being so close to Texas and Mexico, there’s also plenty of Mexican options as well, and the first night I was there after I landed, I ate at El Nopal and had delicious veggie fajitas. I wouldn’t say that the food there is why you should travel to Natchitoches, but there are plenty of options right in the downtown area that accept walk-ins, so you will have no problems finding somewhere to eat.
CONS
I’m sure that the craziness during Christmas isn’t the only reason people travel during December: the weather is probably significantly better. I was there for a couple of days, and the heat was oppressive. By the time it was mid-morning, the sun was high, the air was moist, and the temperature was already in the 80s (Fahrenheit). And it was April! I can only imagine what the temperature will be like in June or July when it’s the peak of summertime. If you can’t handle heat, I would suggest you visit Natchitoches (or any of Louisiana, really) during the fall or winter.
Also, the trip there is a bit of a doozy. There aren’t direct commercial flights to Natchitoches, the two closest airports being Alexandria (52 miles away) and Shreveport (75 miles away). I flew to Shreveport, but had a layover in Houston, and when I finally did get to Louisiana, it was an hour drive to Natchitoches. So, as far as convenience goes, it is a little out of the way and definitely pricey if you are getting a rental car or a ride share service from the airport.
FINAL THOUGHTS
My personal opinion of Natchitoches is that while I had a nice time, I’m not rushing back. I am being truthful when I say I want to see how they do Christmas, but generally, I’m the type of traveler who prefers crowds, busy night life, and larger cities. Very rarely throughout the year do I plan a vacation just to lounge and have no agenda (I do have a favorite spot for that though . . . you can check that out in our Midwest section). But, if you are the type of traveler who really just wants a place to relax, take in some beautiful scenery, and maybe even get a dash of history while you walk around, Natchitoches is a wonderful spot for that. It’s up to you! You’re the traveler, after all. :)
Ryan and I always hope that by writing these blog posts, we can help make your travel decisions a little easier. Hopefully by reading this, you can determine whether Natchitoches, Louisiana is your next weekend getaway.