The Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau welcomed several travel writers for a Media FAM Tour of Natchitoches during Fall Tour of Homes weekend. The group was guided by Arlene Gould, executive director of the Natchitoches CVB; Stephanie Rabb, NSU Hospitality Management and Tourism intern; and Johnny Wessler with the Louisiana North Tourism coalition. Travel writers who attended were: Robert (Bob) Bales from Texas, Carla Marie Rupp from New York, Warren Resen from North Carolina, Stacey Wittig from Arizona and Erin Fairchild from Nebraska.

The group hit the ground running, and after visiting Louisiana’s Oldest General Store: Kaffie Frederick, they enjoyed a guided walking tour of Downtown Historic Natchitoches, conducted by Cane River National Heritage Area’s Logan Schlatre. The travel writers enjoyed lunch and sampled meat pies at Lasyone’s Meat Pie Restaurant and then toured Melrose Plantation.

A reception and catered dinner awaited the writers as they visited the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum. They had the opportunity to preview Art Shriver’s documentary, “Clementine Hunter’s World,” before it was shown to the public.  The writers had the opportunity to speak with and interview Art Shriver about the making of the documentary that explored the life and art of Clementine Hunter.

The Candlelight Tour of Homes was one of the main features of their visit and they met Fall Tour Chairperson Barbara Bailey and her husband Doyle at Fairwoods Cottage. They also toured the Cunningham Law Office and ended the evening at Trinity Episcopal Church to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of APHN and meet members during a “Tasting of Old Natchitoches Recipes” in the courtyard.

A few of the writers decided to venture to Dark Woods Haunted Attraction on their way back to the hotel to get a unique, experience that’s already ranked Dark Woods among some of the nation’s top attractions in the haunt industry.

The travel writers continued the Tour of Homes the next day, visiting the LeMee House, Jeanne’s Country Garden and the Soldini House before departing for Shreveport to catch their flights to their respective homes. They vowed to return to spend more time in Natchitoches.

Louisiana North is a tourism marketing partnership among 29 parishes, including Natchitoches, to foster a spirit of working together to develop and implement programs that will grow the tourism industry.