Port Hudson and Baton Rouge
I had pretty much seen what I wanted to see on the trip, so I started my way back to New Orleans.  My first stop was at the Louisiana welcome center along US 61.	I stopped at the Audubon Historic Site again, but their tours are only on the hour, so I drove on to Port Hudson State Historic Site, which commemorates the Civil War battle/siege at Port Hudson, Louisiana.
As at Vicksburg, the course of the Mississippi River has changed at Port Hudson, so there is no town of Port Hudson anymore (just like Grand Gulf, Mississippi), and there is very little to see in this state historic site.  I watched the visitor center's movie, walked through its historic displays, and then set out to see the recommended Fort Desperate earthworks.	I chose the walk to Fort Desperate because the lady at the visitor center said it was the best-preserved of the park's earthworks, it was a relatively short walk, and the trail was paved (perfect after yesterday's all-day rain).  It was a pleasant, if eerie, half-mile walk.  No one else in sight (as it was Christmas Eve)!
The Fort Desperate earthworks have a raised boardwalk around them and some interpretive signs.  Very evocative!	It was underwhelming, but it did combine three things I enjoy (history, earthworks, and nature walking).  A well-spent half-hour!
My next stop was Louisiana's capital, Baton Rouge, to visit the state capitol!	Parking was free, and entry into the capitol was free.  They were open on Christmas Eve, too!
Visitors can see the two legislative chambers, the location where Huey Long was shot, the governor's special elevator, and even go to the 27th floor and out onto the observation deck.  What a great view!  (Yes, it was windy up there!)  This reminded me so much of going up the Empire State Building, only it was free, there were no bars, and I was the only one there!	From the capitol, I walked through the downtown, had lunch at Faye's (a yummy grilled chicken sub and a lemonade), and made my way to the old state capitol.  They were showing the movie White Christmas on an outdoor TV!
Just like most of downtown Baton Rouge on Christmas Even, the Old State Capitol was closed.	One of my last stops in Baton Rouge was to walk through the construction area to see this beautiful waterfront recreational trail along the top of the levee.
From Baton Rouge, I took I-10 back to Kenner, returned my rental car, and caught the hotel shuttle to the Hilton Garden Inn ($86, including tax but not breakfast).	From the hotel, I walked up the street 15 minutes, ordered this pizza from Papa John's, shopped at Winn Dixie while it was cooking, walked back to the hotel, and enjoyed half of the pizza while watching CNN (I can't remember--it was either an Anthony Bourdain marathon or the excellent documentary Dinosaur 13).  [As this hotel did not include breakfast but did include a microwave and fridge, I ate the second half of the pizza for breakfast the next morning!]
	On my final morning (Christmas Day), I caught the 9 am shuttle to the airport and flew home.  One sight I was able to see was the Lake Pontchartrain causeway!
I had a wonderful trip and hope to visit the area again in the future!