Our Top 10 Favorite Places We Visited in 2019

We took a lot of fun road trips in 2019 and will end the year with a tribute to our Top 10 destinations. The selection process started with a review of our fond memories of the locations and then came down to which ones we would strongly recommend visiting. We’ll start with No. 10.

10. Natchitoches, Louisiana

Cane River Lake provides a beautiful setting for the city’s impressive historical district. Other cities we’ve visited have picturesque shorelines or attractive river walks, but Natchitoches might be the prettiest.

9. Devil’s Den, Arkansas

We visited the Devil’s Den in Arkansas on a day when it lived up to its ominous name. Hours of torrential rain turned the usually calm creek running through it into a raging river. Stone stairs on hiking trails looked more like waterfalls, and picni… — We visited the Devil’s Den in Arkansas on a day when it lived up to its ominous name. Hours of torrential rain turned the usually calm creek running through it into a raging river. Stone stairs on hiking trails looked more like waterfalls, and picnic tables became islands.

8. Natchez, Mississippi

Natchez sits on a 200-foot bluff overlooking the Mississippi River and has been rated by Architectural Digest as the prettiest town in Mississippi. It includes more than 45 antebellum and Victorian mansions and inns, with many of them on the Nationa… — Natchez sits on a 200-foot bluff overlooking the Mississippi River and has been rated by Architectural Digest as the prettiest town in Mississippi. It includes more than 45 antebellum and Victorian mansions and inns, with many of them on the National Register of Historic Places. If you’re like us and enjoy walking through vibrant and attractive downtown areas, you’ll love this city.

7. Petit Jean, Arkansas

Petit Jean translates as “Little John” in French, but the Arkansas state park with that name is big enough for even the most adventurous travelers. We hiked some of the park’s more than 20 miles of trails and checked out all its special features. Ou… — Petit Jean translates as “Little John” in French, but the Arkansas state park with that name is big enough for even the most adventurous travelers. We hiked some of the park’s more than 20 miles of trails and checked out all its special features. Our stops included a pair of lakes, Rock House Cave, Bear Cave, Turtle Rocks, waterfalls, overlooks, stone bridge and the grave of the legendary Petit Jean.

6. LeFleur’s Bluff, Mississippi

The Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks describes this state park perfectly: “LeFleur’s Bluff provides a lush green spot in the heart of urban Jackson.” It surprised us to find a park near a city center. The park also is next to the Mississipp… — The Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks describes this state park perfectly: “LeFleur’s Bluff provides a lush green spot in the heart of urban Jackson.” It surprised us to find a park near a city center. The park also is next to the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science where alligators and turtles follow the rule to not eat your friends.

5. Avery Island, Louisiana

Snowy egrets perch on platforms surrounded by water at Bird City, part of Jungle Gardens at Avery Island. Check out the label for Tabasco brand pepper sauce the next time you’re adding a little kick to your jambalaya. In between where it says McIlhenny Co. and Tabasco, the logo lists the source of the sauce in red type—Avery Island.

4. Atchafalaya Swamp, Louisiana

We’ve stood at the edge of many Louisiana swamps and strolled through small sections of them on boardwalks, but we didn’t get the full sense of what they have to offer until taking a swamp tour with McGee’s near Henderson. We loved it and so did our… — We’ve stood at the edge of many Louisiana swamps and strolled through small sections of them on boardwalks, but we didn’t get the full sense of what they have to offer until taking a swamp tour with McGee’s near Henderson. We loved it and so did our visitors from Utah (Dina Draper) and Oregon (Deana Grosse) who joined us for a 90-minute entertaining and educational boat ride through the Atchafalaya Swamp (also known as the Atchafalaya Basin).

3. Lake Ouachita, Arkansas

We’ll never forget Lake Ouachita State Park in Arkansas, not because of its amazing beauty but due to it being the setting of a simple 4-mile hike that turned into a frightening adventure. Our visit became an episode of “Lost” that took place on the… — We’ll never forget Lake Ouachita State Park in Arkansas, not because of its amazing beauty but due to it being the setting of a simple 4-mile hike that turned into a frightening adventure. Our visit became an episode of “Lost” that took place on the lake’s scenic shores.

2. Chicot State Park, Louisiana

Beautiful. Lovely. Amazing. Stunning. Spectacular. Gorgeous. Dazzling. What’s the best word to describe Chicot State Park? We couldn’t decide after seeing the park’s 6,400 acres of rolling hills and water. While struggling to describe its unforgetta… — Beautiful. Lovely. Amazing. Stunning. Spectacular. Gorgeous. Dazzling. What’s the best word to describe Chicot State Park? We couldn’t decide after seeing the park’s 6,400 acres of rolling hills and water. While struggling to describe its unforgettable beauty, we found it easy to achieve consensus on one description—it’s our favorite state park in Louisiana as well as in Arkansas and Mississippi.

1. Sea of Galilee, Israel

A pair of boats sit peacefully in the Sea of Galilee at sunrise. Going to Israel was an unforgettable experience with this scene being our favorite memory. Lori Seals captured the moment in a painting that we’ve displayed in our dining room.

Honorable Mention: Richmond, Virginia

Ms. Arla Boudreaux, our travel companion, liked our choices, but she begged us to mention her favorite travel adventure—the VIP tour she received of the Richmond Main Library in Virginia. Natalie Draper, manager of the library, provided the tour tha… — Ms. Arla Boudreaux, our travel companion, liked our choices, but she begged us to mention her favorite travel adventure—the VIP tour she received of the Richmond Main Library in Virginia. Natalie Draper, manager of the library, provided the tour that included a behind-the-scenes look at “the Chimney” where many thousands of books and artifacts are stored.