Testimonials

The highest compliment our guests can give us is to refer their friends and family. We sincerely thank you.

Thank you for your time yesterday and a wonderful tour. I appreciate you sharing your home with us and it was a pleasure meeting your husband. We will be back. I am already getting inquiries about our tour and sharing your information.
It is difficult to chose which part of the tour is a favorite. I am impressed how well informed and educated you are on your community’s history. Next visit I hope my parents can be with us. I know they would enjoy. You are a 5 star part of Natchitoches. Thank you again

Joe and Marlene 

For an unforgettable experience of Natchitoches , LA, book yourself with “Tours Natchitoches with Barbara”. It is a day that you will not soon forget! Whether your interest is “Steel Magnolias” or the Creole plantations, or both, Barbara is both knowledgeable and personable. She will schedule your tour based upon the interests and time of you and your group. Barbara’s family has lived in this area for many years, and she is aware of local history and personalities that truly enhance your Natchitoches experience. This spring was my second tour with her, and I learned even more. I hope to take additional friends to this history rich area, and hope that Barbara Bailey is available to guide us.

Pamela (Texas)

The three of us (my sister, a close friend and myself) recently took a trip to Alexandria, Louisiana to visit another close friend. We had heard of and was very interested in taking the Steel Magnolia Tour and called ahead and booked a time to meet with Barbara.
Barbara was very informative about the history of the story, the original play, the true life family and the filming of the movie. She was pleasant, warm and told parts of the story in a very humorous way.
She rode along with the 4 of us in our vehicle and directed us where to drive while describing the events of the movie and at some of the locations we were able to get out and take pictures. She had a very good rapport with the present owners of the homes where the movie had been filmed. We could tell she was well liked and respected.
The tour was very reasonably priced. The four of us enjoyed the tour immensely and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area.

Note to Barbara: A few days ago the thee of us from Indy got together and watched the movie again. It was neat and fun to watch it again after knowing all the facts and stories that you had told us during the tour and we also had all the pictures that we had taken during our tour to look back on.
We want to thank you again Barbara for a very enjoyable and memorable day.

Nina Whiteland, Debbie Fairland, Becky Greenwood (Indiana), Bernice Alexandria (Louisiana)

Thank you very, very much for guiding us on tours of Oakland and Melrose plantations last week. We learn more about our Louisiana history on a tour like this than we do out of history classes.
The history of Cane River is intriguing and worthy of intense study!
Thank you again for your time, expertise and patience, especially patience!!!

James E. Devillier, Ph.D (Louisiana, 56 guests)

I just wanted to say thank you again for all you did for us yesterday. You really made our trip a wonderful, informative and very memorable experience that we all will treasure for years to come. Remember you are part of our sisterhood now so whenever you travel to Lake Charles, DeRidder, Leesville, Bossier or Alexandria please come and see us we would love to visit with you. 

I will be getting back with you to book a tour for my Mom and Granny I would love for them to be able to experience Natchitoches the way we did yesterday.

Carrie

We appreciated all the hard work you went to to provide us with a perfect stay in your lovely city. It was a huge effort on your part to schedule the buses, trolley, give us your city’s history and take us to so many fabulous places with a running oratory. The luncheon and fashion show were super and Sam and I wanted to thank you for all your efforts.

Ginny & Sam (Illinois)

Today you are enjoying your cruise. I hope that you are having as much fun there as we had with you in Natchitoches. Everything was just great and we so very much appreciate your moving our outdoor luncheon to the warmth of your home. It was wonderful to finally meet you and I will certainly be recommending you and Natchitoches to all.

Sarah

As a transplanted Southerner now residing in Oklahoma, a trip back “home” as a birthday present during the Christmas Festival in Natchitoches was the best one that I ever received. Not only that, my husband, who planned this all out, had heard over and over of my love of the movie Steele Magnolias and found that there was a tour that highlighted it since it was filmed in Natchitoches, LA. We were lucky and overall blessed to meet Barbara and Doyle as our guides for the Steele Magnolia movie and location tour. Their knowledge of the movie, sets, and some of that “back-ground” information was wonderful. I could have listened to them all day long.

I would highly recommend anyone that has a love of the movie or just Louisiana culture to take this tour. My family and I are planning on making this an annual Holiday event — and are looking forward to not only attending more tours with the Baileys, but to just see them again as they are now very special to us all.”
Again, thank you for your wonderful tour, hospitality and positive spirit.

Jill Almond (Tulsa, Oklahoma)

I wanted to take a minute to tell you how special you made our visit to Natchitoches. This was a Sisters Trip we will never forget and you were a huge part of making it so Special. I loved your passion during the tour as if it were your first time giving the Steel Magnolias Tour. My favorite part of the tour were the personal facts about the Real Family Behind Steel Magnolias. Thank you again for helping me give my Sister the Best Birthday Gift Ever! These Texas Girls can’t wait to get back to Natchitoches and we will definitely be in touch…

Trenette (Frisco, Texas)

Thank you so much for taking us through Natchitoches! The kids learned so much and have been buzzing about it ever since.
Thank you again!

Brianna (STEEL MAGNOLIAS TOUR FOR HIGH SCHOOL THEATER CAST PERFORMING IN TEXAS COMPETITION)

Thank you so much for the Steel Magnolias Tour this past Wednesday. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute! I would pay the money to again. Like watching the movie, I’m sure I’ll learn or see something I didn’t notice before. Your tour was very informative and insightful. I also enjoyed your company. You were very receptive and kind to me as a stranger and patron. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge. I would highly recommend the tour to my friends and family if they are ever in the area. You and Mrs Barbara keep up the good work!

Elton

Just a quick note to say how much we enjoyed your tour. And to share this with you. In the Steel Magnolias scene where Sam Sheppard is asking Truvy what the hot wax is for and he is moving it with the stick, right next to the wax is a vase of a lady’s head. My sister has the exact vase which belonged to my mother. A meaningful coincidence! Have a great day and again, Thank You for the special tour.

Betty

Tour leader extraordinaire!
Barbara, you are knowledgeable, present the info well, well spoken, warm and friendly, plus passionate about your area. I enjoyed being with you and learned from you. Thank you immensely.

Joanne M.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for the wonderful tour you gave to my family during our stay in Natchitoches. It was very enjoyable and my family thoroughly appreciated the extra time and attention as well. I wish you all the best in the future.

Dennis Lauscha (President, New Orleans Saints)

Sandy & I were in NATCHITOCHES on Dec 30, 2013-Jan 2 2014 on a personal mini-vacation. Because we do bus tours for groups we have learned the value of having a tour guide to give us the interesting background facts and stories about any area we visit, so we called you and asked if you did tours for as few as 2 people. You did, and for a very reasonable price.
I think we contracted with you for the 2 hour package, but I am sure you spent almost 4 hours with us. You even invited us to see your amazing home. We felt that we had had a visit with good friends by the time we parted. You and Doyle made our visit very entertaining and informative, and you were more gracious and generous with your time than any other tour guides in our experience. In our business we have had experience with many docents and tour guides. On a scale of 1 – 10 you truly deserve a 10.
Thank you again for your true southern hospitality.

Bryan & Sandy Campbell

Barbara, thank you so much for giving us your precious time and vast knowledge of everything Natchitoches yesterday. I am hopeful that my husband, John, and I will have an opportunity to return and take one of your tours! You are such a wonderful ambassador for your community.

Virginia (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

You and Doyle were so gracious to invite us into your home! That was very special. I want you to know that my group totally enjoyed you and thought you were top-notch! Thanks again for helping me plan my trip.

Carole Harris

We were delighted with both the tour and with our hostess. Your knowledge, insight, additional background and sharing of your history made us feel we had not “hired a guide” but were sharing an experience with a friend. Thank you!

Chuck & Sandy (Marshall, Texas)

I really enjoyed our tour of Steel Magnolia sites and the Melrose plantation last week. You shared the perfect mixture of historical facts and local color and it is easy to see the pride you have in the area and your own personal heritage. Thanks again for spending two days herding our group of East Texas cats.

Sharlotte Hyde

When our group of six friends set out for the Steel Magnolias Tour we had no idea what a special day it would be. Who knew that we would meet such a knowledgeab;e, clever, fun new friend as you? Riding around with us you helped us all fall in love with Natchitoches. You wrangled our meandering group ever so gracefully and entertained us with wonderful stories. And we all will never forget our very special time in the Immaculate Conception Basilica. You earned a special “feather in you cap” when our husbands decided to come on the Melrose Plantation Tour to see it’s treasures. And you have a treasure of your own in your sweet creole cottage. What a pleasure it was to tour your home and meet Doyle. We all want to move next door so that we can spend more time with the Baileys! Thanks for making our visit one we will never forget.

Martha Walker (Tyler, Texas)

Thanks again for your great tours. We really have enjoyed spending our week with you!

Kathy (Texas)

Thank you so much for taking the time to come to Lasyone’s on Friday and speak with our board. You answered a lot of questions that they had about the town and the larger area. It was kind of you to adjust your busy schedules and meet us at the last minute to field questions for our group; what a delight it was to meet both of you.

Gene Krane (Texas Historical Foundation)

Just a quick note to say thank you…for the hospitality you showed to our students. I have your card and plan on using your services again.

Damien for Victory Academy Parents and Students

I cannot thank you enough for the fabulous “Steel Magnolias” tour! I had so much fun with you, especially quoting all of my favorite dialogue from the film! Natichtoches is itself endearing, but your guidance and explanation of the history of the city was a delightful bonus!

Stephanie (Granbury, Texas)

My friend Pat and I cannot stop singing your praises. We raved about you to our breakfast partners at the Judge Porter House (each of the three mornings we stayed there) and mention your tour to everyone who has asked us about our trip since we returned to Texas. Thank you for bringing Natchitoches’s and the Cane River/Lake’s history to life. Your love for this special place is evident and your knowledge of the region is amazing. Not only did you feed my passion for history but you have that inviting sense of style that exudes from a true Southern Lady. When the tour was over we felt as though we’d spent the afternoon with a dear friend. It was delightful.

Kay W (Texas)

Sheila, Hanah, Monica and I want to thank you for the wonderful tour you gave us yesterday. It was so awesome! You took us around to places and gave us information that a public tour could never come close to. You told the stories so enthusiastically and in such detail. Again I can’t thank you enough. And you were so kind to ask about Sheila today. I haven’t seen her yet but I know she is so appreciative. No other tour guide would have ever done that. And thank you for offering to let us call back anytime to ask any questions we may have. I am telling everyone I know about our tour. Again we say THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Pattie (Texas)

I just wanted to thank you again for a wonderful tour yesterday!! We had an absolutely lovely time and it was a pleasure meeting you and spending time with you. We truly loved Natchitoches and are looking forward to a return trip in the fall (& to see the rest of the Steel Magnolias sites – Annelle & Sammy’s house, … and the wedding church). We ended our day shopping and browsing and then eating at Merci Beaucoup. 🙂
Thanks again, we had a wonderful time & you are truly a great ambassador to Natchitoches!

Susan & B.J.

Just wanted to thank you for an amazing experience on the Steel Magnolias Tour in Natchitoches yesterday. It was a perfect addition to our “girls weekend.” It was so fun and interesting learning about the back story of this timeless movie. We also enjoyed learning about all the town history that you pointed out along the way. The time with you just flew by! Thank you for allowing us to book on such short notice. We will remember it forever. I can’t stop talking about everything that you showed us. I have already highly recommended your tour to several of my coworkers.

Kristen (Texas)

My friend and I just spent a wonderful day in Natchitoches with Ms. Barbara Bailey! Barbara is warm and extremely knowledgeable about the entire area. We felt “right at home” and she was a wealth of information on the settlement, history and culture of the Cane River area and its people. We strongly recommend letting Ms. Bailey put together a tour for you and or your group. She is highly adaptable to any group of people and has kept current with all new developments in the area, as well as bringing in the history of the various settlers and settlements. We now feel that we know all we ever needed to know about The Steel Magnolias! For an enjoyable and informative visit to this beautiful area, do not hesitate to contact Ms. Bailey-it will be well worth your time.

Pamela & Margie (Texas)

Thanks for making our Christmas ride to Natchitoches a big success. Without the help you gave us this would not have been possible.

COWBOY HONDA RED RIDERS

Thanks for the Great Tour in Natchitoches. We will be back for more.

Jim Hawthorne (Director of Broadcasting, LSU)

Barbara, I just wanted to thank you for making our trip to Natchitoches so informative and just plain fun! I came home ready to watch Steel Magnolias again with new eyes. Your knowledge of the area along with your eagerness made this adventure so sweet. Thank you so much for sharing with us. By the way, meat pies are wonderful & Clementine Hunter is my new favorite artist!

Jan (Alba, Texas)

Our group took the Steel Magnolias tour with Barbara and had such a wonderful time! Barbara is full of knowledge of all things Nachitoches and it’s easy to see that she enjoys relating that information to you. Barbara is enthusiastic, warm, engaging, and downright entertaining. You’ll feel like you’re seeing one of the most beautiful towns in America with your favorite aunt or best friend, rather than someone you just met. Our only regret is that we didn’t book her for the entire day!

Chrissi (Texas)

I just wanted to thank you again for the wonderful time we had on our tour in Natchitoches last Friday! All the highlights from the filming of the movie were so interesting and fun to see, and your inclusion of a lot of the history and sights of Natchitoches was just the icing on the cake. It was grand. And, may I add, it was a pleasure meeting you. We all agreed we must come back—so ‘hope to see you then!

Sherry (Baton Rouge, Texas)

Charlotte and I want to again thank you for a delightful tour of historic Natchitoches. Even though our time was limited, we thought the sites you selected and the information and insights you shared gave us an clear overview of the history, culture and romance of this wonderful community. Thank you again.

Don (Colorado)

Thank you so very much for the informative tour to Steele Magnolias on March 25! My best girlfriends and I had so much fun and your tour was the icing on the cake during our recent visit to Natchitoches! When we come back, we will call again!

Karen

We just wanted to send a note of thanks and let you know how much we enjoyed your Tour, especially our time spent with y’all and being able to Tour your beautiful Home. Thanks so much and we hope to see you again on another of our trips to visit.Keep up the great work.

Bernadette, Kathy & Lance

Thank you for the Tour of Natchitoches of the Filming History of Steel Magnolias. Eventhough it was raining, my daughter Shelby and I enjoyed the stories and history you shared with us. A Big Thank You and Hug for trusting us. You provided us with a Tour and we paid later! We really enjoyed ourselves in Natchitoches.

Teressa & Shelby (Tennessee)