our day-by-day travel advice

A cowboy on horseback welcoming us with his Texas hat. A musician playing the saxophone on a street in Louisiana. A Pueblo Indian who proudly carries on the traditions of his people in New Mexico. The three major states in the southern United States are the promise of significant meetings that at times seem straight out of an American movie.

All claim their own cultural identity as we discover from town to town, traveling along roads filled with enchanting landscapes during this intensely fast-paced two-week road trip.

Road trip in the southern United States: the map of our route

Step 1: New Orleans

3 days – Culture

After a long flight with a stopover from Paris, we arrive at Louis Armstrong Airport in New Orleans, the largest city in Louisiana. We collect our rental car and head for the center of this legendary city, the cradle of jazz, which continues to resonate in its colorful streets where we enjoy strolling.

• Stroll through the Vieux Carré, the French Quarter, to admire the remarkable architecture of its buildings with wrought iron balconies;
• Stroll through Jackson Square and immerse yourself in the city’s musical world in the Tremé district;
• Take a walk on the Moon Walk, which runs along the Mississippi River, where the paddle boats parade as they sail through the heart of the bay;
• Experience the nightlife of New Orleans in the lively clubs of Bourbon Street.

BOOK A JAZZ CRUISE EVENING

Step 2: Lafayette

1 day – 218 km – 2h30 drive – Culture – Nature

Head east to Louisiana to reach Lafayette, a city with a French-speaking soul and the beating heart of Acadian country. On the way, we stop in Baton Rouge to discover the state’s dynamic capital.

• Visit the Louisiana Capitol in Baton Rouge and board the USS Kidd, a World War II torpedo boat now converted into a museum;
• Get lost in Lafayette’s charming streets and enjoy gumbo, jambalaya and other Cajun cuisine specialties in the Breaux Bridge District;
• Take a kayak into Atchafalaya bayou, located 30 minutes from downtown.

BOOK AN AUDIO GUIDED TOUR

Step 3: Houston

1 day – 349 km – 3h30 drive – Byglæde

We leave Louisiana to reach the state of Texas, whose vast territory is crossed by two time zones. We pack our bags in Houston for a day to discover the must-see attractions in the nation’s fourth largest city.

• Admire the moon rocks on display at NASA’s Houston Space Center;
• Stroll through the Sugarland, Woodlands and Old Marquet Square neighborhoods;
• Relax among the vegetation of Hermann Park.

ADMISSION TICKET TO THE SPACE CENTER

Step 4: San Antonio

2 days – 317 km – 3 hours driving – History – Shopping

A road crossing green hills connects Houston with San Antonio, famous for its Fort Alamo, one of the most visited sites in the country, but also for the Spurs, its basketball team, where French national star Victor Wembanyama now plays.

• Visit Fort Alamo, scene of a legendary battle between Texans and Mexicans in 1836;
• Take a stroll along the River Walk, a 15-mile promenade lined with museums, shops and restaurants where you can enjoy Tex-Mex specialties;
• Experience the largest Mexican market in the United States and shop in the city’s malls.

RIVER WALK CRUISE TICKET

Step 5: Austin

2 days – 127 km – 1h15 driving – Relaxation – Street food

Our road trip continues in Austin, the capital of Texas. Located on the banks of the Colorado River, this lively and cosmopolitan city can be discovered through its lively neighborhoods where students, musicians and executives from the largest American technology companies rub shoulders.

• Walk to the Lamar Street Bridge for a great view of Lady Bird Lake;
• Admire the works on display at the Blanton Museum of Art and sample snacks from around the world at the myriad of food trucks dotted around the city;
• Bathe in the warm waters of Barton Springs, the natural swimming pool in lush Zilker Park.

GUIDED WALK IN THE CITY

Stage 6: Carlsbad & Alamogordo

2 days – 743 km – 7h30 driving – Nature

We take the road towards New Mexico, where mountains, deserts and forests create landscapes of wild beauty. We take advantage of this stage to discover the Carlsbad Caverns, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before heading to Alamogordo (238 km), the gateway to the pristine White Sands Desert.

• Marvel at the impressive stalactites of Carlsbad Caverns National Park caverns;
• Admire the white sand dunes of White Sands National Park, the largest gypsum desert in the world.

GUIDED TOURS BY CAR AND HIKING

Step 7: Santa Fe & Taos

2 days – 349 km – 3h30 driving – History

Head to the northern part of the state to visit Santa Fe, one of the oldest cities in the country, before heading out to explore Taos (70 miles) and its Pueblo millennium, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Stroll through the historic center of Santa Fe and discover the Governor’s Palace;
• Admire the adobe houses Pueblo of Taos, founded by native Indians in the 13th century.

RIO GRANDE WHITEWATER ADVENTURES

Step 8: Albuquerque

2 days – 102 km – 1 hour drive – History – Culture

Located at the foot of the Sandia Mountains and the crossing of the Rio Grande, Albuquerque is the last stop on our road trip. We discover its rich past by strolling through the old town and explore its surroundings by driving the legendary Route 66.

• Stroll around Plaza Vieja and visit the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center;
• Travel to Petroglyph National Monument, one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America, to discover thousands of designs carved into volcanic rock by Pueblo Indians and early Spanish settlers.

TAKE A HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT

The return to Paris is from Albuquerque airport, where we board a long flight with a stopover after returning the rental car.