How to Enjoy Natchitoches Louisiana Like One of the Steel Magnolias
Natchitoches is the location where the beloved movie Steel Magnolias was filmed. Although the city is not named in the original play or movie, the playwright, Robert Harling, was born there and many of the events of the play were inspired by real life events. Natchitoches is also the oldest city in Louisiana and a charming place to visit. To make things more fun, you can try to recreate some of the scenes from the movie when you visit and learn a little bit about this charming town at the same time. You can enjoy Natchitoches--the town that inspired Chickapin Parish--like a steel magnolia.
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Things You'll Need
- Map of Natchitoches
- A good memory of the play or movie
- A love of history
Instructions
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Stay at the Steel Magnolia House. This is the location of much of the filming of the movie. It is the fictional house of Drum and M'Lynn Eatenton. You can even order a Steel Magnolia Scrapbook with insider views of the filming and cast. The house was originally built in 1830.
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Go down to the Cane River. This river was featured in the Easter Egg hunt at the end of the movie. You know the scene. It's where Jack Jr. slapped Ouiser Boudreaux. If you hang around long enough, maybe you'll see a big rabbit riding on the back of a motorcycle.
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Visit one of the salons or local beauty parlors. You won't find Truvy's, which was central to the movie, but you'll find some interesting characters and if you drop a line or two from the movie, you'll most likely get some attention. Just ask them for the latest styles from "Southern Hair!"
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Go during the Christmas Festival--also known as the Festival of Lights. This is a great festival with a parade, great food and a fantastic fireworks display. The night of the fireworks display is the first Saturday in December. The city is decorated for Christmas November 21st through December 6th. Try one of the signature meat pies. To really get in the spirit of Steel Magnolias, bring someone who looks like Annelle Depuis (Daryl Hannah's part) and let them yell out at a strategic time, "Don't anybody move, don't anybody move. I lost my contact." The setting for this scene was the Christmas Festival. Just be sure if you solicit a local to do this that you buy them all the meat pies they can eat to make up for the stares the person receives.
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Delve into history. Natchitoches is the oldest settlement in the Louisiana Purchase and is even older than New Orleans. It was established in 1714. The town is known as the Bed & Breakfast capital of Louisiana. Visit the 33 block Historic District. The district was designated as a National Historic Landmark and it offers great architecture, shopping and good restaurants.
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Tips & Warnings
Natchitoches is one of the affordable top retirement destinations in the U.S.
Four plantations in the area are open for tours
Natchitoches is home to Northwestern State University
Natchitoches meat pies freeze beautifully and you can buy them in the frozen section of many grocery stores in North Louisiana
The Christmas Festival can get really crowded and the weather can turn cold so be prepared for any type of weather.
