Traveling Down the Sunflower Trail

If you are looking for a home away from home while you travel the Sunflower Trail in north Louisiana, Minden Stays offers cozy, southern-style accommodations for your short-term rental needs.

Uniquely designed, each cottage offers guests a space to relax, unwind and take in all that beautiful Minden, LA has to offer.  So if you’re headed to the Sunflower Trail this year (June 15th, 2024), we’d love to have you!  Come see us, and why not stay a while?

Post originally published by Sara McDaniel on simplysoutherncottage.com

Oh my goodness you guys! If you haven’t hopped over to the Dixie/Belcher/Gilliam area of northwest Louisiana, please get there as fast as you can! Every June, millions of sunflowers spring up along Louisiana Highway 3049, transforming a stretch of country road into a magical Sunflower Trail. It really is a sight to see, dotted with plantation houses, old churches, quaint country stores and acres of farmland!

Growing up near the area, I had NO IDEA this even existed! Then I took my first trip over a few years ago. And I was FLOORED that for the first 38ish years of my life, this dream of a place eluded me! Usually on the 3rd weekend in June, Gilliam, Louisiana, rolls out the red carpet for the Sunflower Festival! Thousands of people visit the quaint little downtown area which comes alive with amazing food and artisan vendors. My mom usually travels the trail with me and we start our journey early in the morning with a stroll through festival. My favorite part is the local farmers who have fresh vegetables for sale! Gilliam basically sits on the banks of the Red River, so vegetables grown in this area are incredible and a sight to see! I’m always floored by the selection and I just want to buy every single vegetable in sight!

After walking through festival we always love to stop and take a quick stroll through the old general store. Every time I’m in there, I feel like I walking into an episode of Little House on the Prairie when the Ingalls would visit the Oleson Mercantile. I mean, it looks EXACTLY like that! It’s like stepping into ye days of ole!

Now, the fun part of the journey begins—the drive down the trail towards Shreveport. And y’all there are honestly no words to describe it. Literally sunflowers so close to the road, you can almost reach your arm out and grab them! And the best part is that anywhere along the trail, the sunflowers are free for the picking! So duh, of course, we stopped and picked a bushel! And we’ve learned to come prepared because those jokers DON’T WANT TO BE PICKED! Ha. We bring shears for snipping and a tub of water to sustain them for the drive home. And we ALWAYS are on watch for snakes! The sunflowers are THICK and you never know what you might step on!

Moving along down the trail, we approached Belcher which is ABSOLUTELY a hidden gem in northwest Louisiana. I mean, the windy road in the middle of the little community has massive oak trees and historic homes literally feet away from the car. It truly rivals anything you would see in south Louisiana.  Again, the first time I saw this, I was like, “HOW DID I GROW UP AN HOUR AWAY FROM HERE AND NEVER KNOW ABOUT THIS?!” I have loved old houses since 4th grade and the charm of this little community should not be underestimated.

In Belcher, there was another vendor area set up near The Wild Petunia (a DARLING event venue/tea room) so of course we took a quick stroll here. We also stopped at the local grocery store for fresh homemade ice cream and IT. WAS. INCREDIBLE.

After leaving Belcher, we made our way toward the Dixie area to tour the STUNNING Northrose Plantation. I’ve toured a TON of old houses, but was seriously impressed by every single detail this amazing house presented. The nearly 7000 square feet is decorated with fine antiques, gorgeous draperies and a kitchen that any gourmet cook would DIE for. BUT, what I was most impressed with was the grounds. OH MY GOSH y’all. Probably two acres of FLAWLESSLY manicured gardens, pools and even a small lake! The property also features a guest AND a pool house. It truly was incredible. And it just so happens to be for sale!

After leaving Dixie, and oooing and ahhing over a few more houses (that I would LOVE to get my hands on), we continued along the trail and eventually landed in Shreveport. And every year, once we hit I-220 to make the trip back home, my heart leaves full from experiencing a drive that transports me back to a time and place I was definitely born to be a part of— a place with a slower pace of life, country roads enveloped with towering sunflowers, historic homes reminiscent of days gone by and country folk kind as the day is long. I beg you! Take a morning or afternoon and travel up or down Louisiana Highway 3049 during the month of June. You will leave inspired and hopeful, rested and rejuvenated, and filled to the brim with joy from timeless treasures, reminiscent of days gone by. (And rest assured, you’ll also leave with sunflowers.)

All Minden Stays properties are located about 45 minutes from the trail in either direction. You will enjoy a relaxing scenic drive along the route to the start of the trail.

If you go (from Red River Crossroads Historical Association):
From downtown Shreveport, drive north on Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway. Just north of the casios, Clyde Fant veres to the left and changes name to Grimmett Drive. From Grimmett Drive turn right onto LA Hwy 3049 (Dixie Shreveport Road).

An extra treat along the trail:
Turn right at Old Dixie Gin and Sentell Road and drive the loop around the levee. Sentell Road circles back to Highway 3049 at Cornerstone Baptist Church, just north of Dixie. This drive features several sunflower varieties, and a field of wildflowers. Sunflowers along the Trail are expected to be in full bloom.

Who has traveled the Sunflower Trail? What did you think?  Are there any secret places along the way I maybe don’t know about?  I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! Tell me all about your sunflower adventures!