Our guide to Mardi Gras, the authentic Louisiana experience, will help you find the best there is to celebrate this special time of year. It's more than just a party!

Before visiting this area, we were under the misconception that Mardi Gras was simply a huge wild party involving a parade, food and lots to drink over a few days in New Orleans, mainly in the French Quarter. And, while there's certainly nothing wrong with a huge party, parades and drinks, we had no idea there's so much more to it, and it can be very family-friendly.

It's a time celebrated across the state, seeped in culture and time-honored traditions observed for centuries. Mardi Gras in Louisiana is a one-of-a-kind celebration.