Louisiana is a big winner at the JRNY America Awards, taking home three awards. Louisiana won for State of the Year, and New Orleans won for Best Food City and Best New Tourism initiative – the latter being for the new Amtrak Mardi Gras service. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says the Mardi Gras service, which connects New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama, with stops in Mississippi along the way, is something that he worked on and is something he’s very proud of.
“A great opportunity for us to move people along the Gulf Coast, to and from New Orleans. And we’re hoping that line will eventually expand into Florida,” Nungesser said.
Nungesser says the award for State of the Year is testament that while New Orleans is certainly a world class tourist attraction, there’s a lot more for visitors to see throughout the whole state.
“You got Cajun country over in Lafayette. you got Houma, where Tabasco is still made at Avery Island. And you’ve got Natchitoches, the oldest city,” Nungesser said.
Nungesser says Louisiana has some of the best outdoor recreation opportunities in the country, if not the world.
“Everyone should do a swamp tour of the Atchafalaya Basin, and we have the World Heritage Site at Poverty Point up in the northeast corner. All the bayous and rivers, the fishing is like nowhere else in the world,” Nungesser recommended.
New Orleans’ award for Best Food City needs no explanation.
