Peppy's Dream Moving Adventure Blog

We got up really early this morning to head to OAK ALLEY PLANTATION in Vacherie, LA, about an hour outside New Orleans.  It was another place that Sergio and Lourdes recommended very highly.  I told Sergio that he and Lourdes should be tour guides themselves, as they know all the best places to go!

We were really sad to leave New Orleans.  It has been the most beautiful three days and we enjoyed every minute.  If you’ve been to New Orleans, you know what I’m talking about, and if you’ve never been – you simply MUST go!

We got to OAK ALLEY in time for the Plantation Planter’s Breakfast, which included two eggs, grits, a biscuit and ham or bacon with coffee or juice.  They also had beignets, but I figured I shouldn’t have them three days in a row!

After breakfast, we went into the gift shop which was huge and brimming with beautiful things, including Christmas ornaments, decorative items for the home, books, clothing, candles, sauces and spices, postcards (I got some!) and other gifts.  A great place to shop!

Then, we took the walk to the “big house” where the tours are held.  The twenty-eight live giant oak trees in two well-spaced rows of 14 comprise “Oak Alley.”  They were planted in the early 1700’s.  This shaded path of oaks leads to the mansion that Jacques Telesphore Roman, a wealthy Creole sugar planter, built for his young wife in 1839.

Lovely ladies in period costume give the tours and our tour guide, Darlene (on the left), did a great job of telling the history of the house, the people who lived there over the past 170 years and what life was like when it was first built.  The mansion has been beautifully restored and every room is filled with authentic antiques.  Of course, this thrilled me, as I got to see the most beautiful furniture, accessories, paintings and chandeliers.

After the tour, we walked the grounds, looking at the antique cars in the garage, and visiting the cemetery of the last owners, who lived in the house during the 20th century.

We hit the road around 2:00pm and drove to the SWINGING BRIDGE RV PARK in Jackson, Mississippi.  The campground is right behind a shopping center, so there are restaurants and stores within walking distance.  That’s a treat!  We had a great meal at EL SOMBRERO Mexican Restaurant and then parked the RV.

My Mom called us a few minutes ago to tell us that my Aunt Lillian, my father's only sibling, died today, after a long illness.  Our thoughts are with our cousins, Ann, Pete, Lindsay, Timmy, Larry, Debbie, Michael, Chris and, of course, our Uncle Frank.

Eric's sister, Robin, had her second hip replacement today.  We are waiting for my niece, Melissa, to call and let us know how it went.  We wish her well!

Today is my sister, Audrey's birthday.  We hope it was wonderful and wish her all good things in the year ahead!

Tomorrow we will get to Memphis.  We are really looking forward to GRACELAND and plan to spend the weekend there.