Known worldwide from photos depicting the alley's 28 live oaks leading to the plantation house, Oak Alley remains a major tourist attraction in Southern Louisiana and a popular stop for riverboats, which tie up at its levee.
The graceful house, which has columns on all four sides, is a star -- many movies have been filmed here, including, "Interview with the Vampire" and "Primary Colors."
Until recent years, the mansion tour was a tribute to the Stewart family, which saved and restored the house in 1925. However, a recent restoration, which brought in period furniture early owners might have used, prompted a change in the program; it now focuses on the plantation's history, especially on Jacques Roman, who built Oak Alley in 1839.
In 2013, six reconstructed slave cabins were erected on the grounds, with exhibits about life and work for the plantation's 200 slaves.
There are eight overnight cottages with porches. Behind the main part of the property, Oak Alley also has a large gift shop, restaurant and cafe. You can visit the shop and restaurant without paying an admission fee to the grounds.
Oak Alley is midway between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, an hour's drive to either one.
