THE ROUTE OF JEAN LAFITTE

Galveston to New Orleans • December 9-16, 2008 • 8 Days • 459 River Miles
Inland Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Atchafalaya and Lower Mississippi Rivers

A charismatic and daring buccaneer who helped defeat the British in the Battle of New Orleans, Jean Lafitte is one of history's most colorful and misunderstood characters. From his base at Grand Terre Island on the edge of the expansive Barataria Swamp, "The Gentleman Pirate" commanded a force of over 1,000 privateers and fifty ships. Sought out by Andrew Jackson, who promised Lafitte and his men American citizenship in exchange for their help, the Baratarians' superior cannon skills were a deciding factor in the Battle of New Orleans.

After the battle, most of Lafitte's men settled down becoming trappers and fishermen, whose descendants still live on these shores. But Lafitte was restless; he chose to travel south along the coast toward Texas and Mexico in search of more adventure. Rumor has it that he buried troves of treasure along this route. Many have searched, but Jean Lafitte's treasure has never been found. Until now. We have found the long-searched-for treasures of Jean Lafitte along the Louisiana and Texas gulf coast. It has been here all along, disguised in the form of the beautiful places and incredible scenery witnessed on The Route of Jean Lafitte.

Feel the excitement from the moment you come aboard. This is an excursion unlike any other, featuring exciting vistas that can only be experienced from the R/B River Explorer, our exclusive mode of travel.

BOARDING LANDING
This 8 day The Route of Jean Lafitte adventure begins with an overnight stay in Galveston Island, Texas, one of the most historic and picturesque cities on the Gulf Coast. We dock close to the action in the Port of Galveston at the foot of the island’s famous shopping and entertainment district, the “Strand.” Antique and gift shops, museums, restaurants and wonderful Victorian architecture are yours to see and explore. Arrive early and experience the Texas Seaport Museum, home of the celebrated 1877 tall ship Elissa.

Walk the decks of this floating National Historic Landmark and imagine the days when daring sailors challenged the world’s oceans. The museum also tells the story of a rich legacy of seaborne commerce and immigration. Visit Pier 21 and see The Great Storm, a powerful, panoramic documentary that recreates the devastation of the deadliest natural disaster in United States history, the 1900 hurricane. Or, step back in time to the age of pirates with The Pirate Island of Jean Lafitte. This film chronicles the adventures of the pirate who called Galveston home and seeks to explore the questions of his character.

Visit the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum at Pier 19 that is dedicated to expanding the awareness of the vast energy resources beneath the world’s oceans. Step on board the drilling rig and see equipment exhibits, interactive displays and videos that show the day-to-day excitement of offshore drilling and production. Our second day in Galveston will be a treat. We’ll take a motorcoach to Houston, Texas to visit the Space Center Houston. At Space Center Houston, guests can understand the past, experience the present and be a part of the future of the space program. We’ll also visit Moody Gardens where the possibilities to learn and have fun are endless.

BARGING
Built to provide a protected inland coastal route from Texas to Florida, the Texas-Louisiana Inland Gulf Intracoastal Waterway is a striking feat of modern engineering. But, the most impressive thing about the Intracoastal is the way it blends into the scenery. Freshwater swamps, brackish marsh, lakes, bayous, canals and rivers combine to make this Galveston to New Orleans route interesting. Sizable tracts of land along this route have been set aside as wildlife preserves — keep your stateroom binoculars handy!

There’s plenty of wildlife to see, from alligators to white-tailed deer and several species of migratory waterfowl. Traffic on this nature-lovers route includes other barges, pleasure boats, commercial fishing vessels, crewboats and industrial watercraft. We will traverse Calcasieu and Bowman Locks, which prevent saltwater from entering freshwater areas. For a short while, we’ll travel on the beautiful Atchafalaya River, which is part of the Atchafalaya River Basin, a scenic semi-wilderness area of hardwood forests, cypress stands, marsh and bayous. It is one of the largest great river swamps left in the nation.

Bayou Sorrel Lock is located on the Port Allen Alternate Route near the lower Grand River in Iberville Parish, approximately 15 miles southwest of Plaquemine. After passing through the Port Allen Lock, we’ll begin barging on the Lower Mississippi River, where we’ll share the river with gigantic ocean-going ships that carry cargo to and from the four corners of the earth. Antebellum homes peek over the levees along the river’s east and west banks and giant industrial complexes light the evening skies, contrasting sharply with these antique marvels of bygone architecture. Our arrival into New Orleans is an incredible sight.

HOST LANDINGS ALONG THE WAY
Our stop near New Iberia, La., puts us in the heart of Cajun Country. The French-speaking natives here welcome you to a place where counties are called “parishes” and where “passing a good time” is the order of the day. We’ll treat you to a visit to Avery Island, located on a salt dome that is the highest land in Louisiana and home to Tabasco brand Pepper Sauce. See how Tabasco Sauce is made and visit the 200-acre Jungle Gardens. Situated on the banks of Bayou Teche, set among towering live oak trees draped with Spanish moss, is Shadows-on-the-Teche.

This carefully restored southern plantation is a National Trust Historic Site. We’ll also visit St. Martinville, La., known as the “birthplace of Acadiana.” Between 1895 and 1902, St. Martinville established Evangeline Oak Park on the banks of Bayou Teche and designated one of its trees as the Evangeline Oak. The oak came to be promoted as a “sacred relic” of Longfellow’s poem, Evangeline and the Acadian exile. You’ll enjoy our visit to the capital of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, a town that has beenruled by seven different governments — Great Britain, France, Spain, the Confederate States of America, the Republic of West Florida, the Republic of Louisiana and the United States of America.

Baton Rouge is 230 miles upriver from the Mississippi’s mouth and is the nation’s fifth largest port. Visit the USS Kidd and Veterans Memorial, the Nautical Center, the beautifully restored Old State Capitol, the Louisiana State Museum and Magnolia Mound Plantation, where you’ll learn how Creole families lived, dined and ran their businesses out of these grand homes.

DESTINATION LANDING
This excursion ends with an overnight stay in historic New Orleans, La., America’s most European city and home to the largest and longest port in the world covering 233 river miles. New Orleans was founded in 1718, by Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville and named for the regent of France, Philippe II, duc d’Orleans. It remained a French colony until 1763, when it was transferred to the Spanish. In 1800, Spain ceded it back to France. In 1803, New Orleans, and parts of what would become 13 states west of the Mississippi, was sold by Napoleon to the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. We conveniently dock near the French Quarter next to the Riverwalk Marketplace. Enjoy great shopping and entertainment.

You’ll receive a pass to visit Mardi Gras World. See how the world-famous Mardi Gras floats are created. Take our complimentary shuttle with stops including the historic French Quarter, Harrah’s Casino, and the Canal Street Ferry. New Orleans is known as the Big Easy, so take your time and enjoy the good food, music and people of this great city. At our journey’s end, we will send you off with a special Louisiana tradition, the hallmark of every RiverBarge Excursion. It’s called Lagniappe, and it means “a little something extra.” Upon disembarkation, a narrated limited city tour of New Orleans will be provided on the way to the airport for those guests with flights 1:00 p.m. or later. We’ll show you where the locals go and thank you for letting us show you the sights of New Orleans. If you’re staying over, we’ll return you to the R/B River Explorer, and bid farewell there.

GALVESTON TO NEW ORLEANS DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
DUE TO VARYING RIVER AND WATERWAY CONDITIONS, SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Day 1 - TUES - 12/9 - Boarding in Galveston Island, Texas, begins at noon. Your stateroom is available at 3:00 p.m. You’ll have time to enjoy this quaint town that is full of charm and excitement. Visit The Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum at Pier 19 before 4:00 p.m., the Texas Seaport Museum, home of the Elissa before 5:00 p.m., and the museum at Pier 21 before 8:00 p.m. All of these attractions are within walking distance of our docking location.

Day 2 - WED - 12/10 - Galveston Island will be the springboard for our trip to Houston, Texas, where we’ll visit Space Center Houston. Today, we’ll also visit Moody Gardens in Galveston before our late evening departure.

Day 3 - THUR - 12/11 - Enjoy an entire day of barging on the inland Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Your day will be filled with interesting scenes as we barge on this nature lover’s route with a midday passage through Calcasieu Lock an a late evening passage through Bowman Lock.

Day 4 - FRI - 12/12 - We’ll have an early morning arrival in New Iberia, La. and visit Avery Island, Shadows-on-the-Teche plantation home and St. Martinville, La., before our late evening departure.

Day 5 - SAT - 12/13 - We’ll exit the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway early this morning and begin the next leg of our barging adventure on the Atchafalaya River and Port Allen Alternate Route. This morning, we’ll pass through Bayou Sorrel Lock and later the Port Allen Lock, which will take us onto the Lower Mississippi River. We’ll have an early evening arrival in Baton Rouge, La., where we’ll stay overnight.

Day 6 - SUN - 12/14 - While in Baton Rouge tour the USS Kidd and Veterans Memorial, the Nautical Center and the beautifully restored Old State Capitol. We’ll also visit the Louisiana State Museum, Magnolia Mound Plantation and enjoy a city tour before our late evening departure.

Day 7 - MON - 12/15 - Enjoy a final morning of barging before our midday arrival in New Orleans, La., where we’ll have an overnight stay. Your excursion includes passes to Mardi Gras World. Take our complimentary shuttle from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. with stops including the historic French Quarter, Harrah’s Casino, and the Canal Street Ferry.

Day 8 - TUES - 12/16 - Enjoy a hearty breakfast before your morning disembarkation that includes a narrated limited city tour of New Orleans on the way to the airport for those guests with flights 1:00 p.m. or later.