Well, yes ... the River Road runs from New Orleans to Baton Rouge [and, ultimately, to Minnesota and on into Canada] ... along the levee ... along the River ... and is still a picturesque, albeit time consuming, drive to BR because it follows all the bends in the River but allows one to view the extant old plantation houses along the way. Circa 1940 +/- the Airline Highway [U.S. 61] was built which significantly reduced the time to travel between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Of course, later on the Interstate [10?] was built which is even quicker.
When I mentioned the Cote des Allemands [German Coast] along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge ... I failed to mention that Acadians settled along there, as well. The Papa Noel bonfires are an Acadian [Cajun, if you must] custom.