18 Natchitoches, Louisiana
If you want to experience all of what New Orleans has to offer without all the overcrowding, Natchitoches is the place for you. Just like The Big Easy, you'll find deep-rooted French Creole heritage saturating every street corner of its lively downtown scene, with riverfront strolls, and of course, all the gumbo you can eat. Just make sure you pronounce it right: locals call their beloved hometown Nack-a-tish.
