The South has a number of plantations along the Mississippi River, from the famous Oak Alley plantation, to the Laura plantation some miles from New Orleans. The family at Nottoway Plantation built a grand house with some very modern touches including a bowling alley for the children, flushing toilets (!!) and servant call-bells (like those used in Downton Abbey). It was pretty interesting to walk through the house, and learn about the history of the house and the family and how it survived through the civil war. Growing up abroad, I was never fully aware or educated about the slavery experience in the United States. Touring these southern plantations allowed me to catch a glimpse as to what that time period meant for slave-owners, traders, slaves, soldiers, ladies and families in the South.