Trail Blog

August 22, 2011

Friday: Alexandria and Natchitoches

Three-day weekend: Red River Riches Trail Itinerary

Work up an appetite:Indulge your wild side at the Alexandria Zoological Park (http://www.thealexandriazoo.com). The zoo, which celebrates its 85th birthday this year, has more than 500 animals, including African lions, Bengal tigers, monkeys and more.

Lunch:Atwood’s Bakery is one sweet spot for lunch (http://bakingmemories.com/). Start off with a soup, salad, sandwich or wrap but heed our advice: Save room for dessert. Atwood’s Bakery is best known for its irresistible confections such as hand-dipped chocolates, brownie towers, tortes, cookies and custom cakes.

Work up an appetite:Step back in time and experience life on a working plantation from 1795 to 1855 at Kent Plantation House (http://www.kenthouse.org). The grounds surrounding the home include several outbuildings that tell the story of how foods once made their way from the farm to the table. In the milk house, learn how dairy products were once made and stored. There’s also an operating reproduction of a circa-1840 sugar mill. (Visit the plantation in early November after the cane harvest for demonstrations.)

Dinner: Hop on 1-49 North to Natchitoches, where you’ll find a great selection of locally owned restaurants in the city’s picturesque historic district. At Merci Beaucoup Restaurant, the Cajun potato topped with crawfish étouffée is a specialty (318.352.6634). The Landing Restaurant and Bar is another popular choice, serving a variety of seafood dishes and yummy bread pudding (http://www.thelandingrestaurantandbar.com/). Start your meal with the blackened alligator appetizer.