The state proudly associates itself with many distinct cultures, such as the Louisiana Creoles (descendants of colonial French Louisiana) and the ethnic Cajuns (descendants of the Acadian people) which dominate the southern region of Louisiana. Also part of the culture is the Isleños people (of Spanish background) who settled in modern-day St Bernard Parish.

The National D-Day Museum is the official World War II museum of the USA and features historical artefacts and interactive exhibits. The Audubon Zoo in New Orleans is home to 2,000 animals. Also in the city are the New Orleans Museum of Art (housing European paintings and sculptures dating back to the sixteenth century) and the picturesque Garden District.

Louisiana hosts over 400 festivals annually and promotes itself as the Festival Capital of the World. The ancient Mardi Gras celebrations takes place 40 days before Lent, while the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival is organized over Labour Day weekend and is the state’s oldest harvest festival. Also witness Lafayette’s Festival International de Louisiane (a renowned French heritage event), Independence’s Italian Festival, the Oktoberfest at Gonzales and the Louisiana Renaissance Festival at Hammond.