Louisiana has a fascinating history, having “belonged” to Native Americans, France, Spain, England and finally the United States. The state is best known for the grand old city of New Orleans, home of jazz and Mardi Gras, which is still struggling to recover from the devastating effects of hurricane Katrina. The Acadian, or “Cajun”, culture, with its unique Franco-American music, language and food survives in Louisiana, and no trip to the state is complete without a bowl of gumbo, a Zydeco tune and a kayaking trip through the state’s famous, alligator filled wetlands.