LaPlace

LaPlace is a town on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the historic "German Coast" section of the Acadiana region of Louisiana. It is just a short distance west of Greater New Orleans. LaPlace is the largest community in St. John the Baptist Parish.

Around Mardi Gras time, the hotels in New Orleans, Metairie, and Kenner may be booked up, so LaPlace is a good alternative, 20 minutes drive from Kenner and Metairie, about 30 or 35 minutes from New Orleans.

Until Katrina hit this was a relatively small town, had a few high schools, a Wal-mart, some strip malls, and one or two good places to eat. Not to mention the two drive thru-daiquiri shops, and now (2007) new business' are opening up everywhere you turn, and the Wal-mart has been upgraded to a Super-Wal-mart! If you come to LaPlace, though, there will not be much to do.

• Woodland Plantation, old plantation house. The plantation was the birthplace of jazz pioneer, trombonist and bandleader Kid Ory.

• Mabile's, 1124 W Airline Hwy, ☎ 985-651-2893. Lunch. Great seafood and roast beef po-boys. Daily plate lunches are cheap, filling and delicious. $5-10.

Beer

• Best Western La Place, 4289 Main Street, ☎ 985-651-4000, www.bwlaplace.com. Near the airport, pet friendly accommodations, free breakfast, swimming pool, free Wi-Fi.
• Suburban Extended Stay, 111 Jean Street, ☎ (985) 651-1799, www.suburbanhotels.com. checkin: 3pm; checkout: 12pm. Kitchens, a fitness center and an outdoor pool.

• great food. not a real clean town though. • Rusty A.
• I realize that you can't base your views of a city on one stay - but if I did I would call Laplace a complete dump. The hotel we stayed in was horrid. We woke in the middle of the night to the toilet flooding all over the floor. You could hear "something" in the walls chewing. The carpet was filthy … • Beverly C.