South - Resorts/Lodges near New Orleans?

Hi

I am planning on visiting New Orleans this September with my family. We would like to spend maybe 5 days in New Orleans & another 5 days in a resort or lodge within a few hours drive. We are flying into ATL so if there is anything on the route between ATL and MSY that could also work.

So far all I have managed to find is the Marriott Point Clear, does anyone else have any other suggestions? We don't mind renting a vacation home also but would rather not rent one on the beach as I have already looked quite extensively and there doesn't seem to many good options left. There will be four people travelling & both my children enjoy kayaking a lot.

Thanks for helping :)

Callaway Gardens is only an hour drive southeast of ATL and may suit you.
http://www.callawaygardens.com/

Here is a list of plantation country bed & breakfasts.
http://www.louisianabandb.com/plantation-country/bed-and-breakfasts.html

The Beau Rivage hotel in Biloxi is quite nice. Kayak Biloxi Bay, Black Creek or Pascagoula River marsh.
http://www.dmr.ms.gov/Coastal-Ecology/GEMS/Pascagoula-River.htm

The Sandestin Hilton is a beautiful resort not too far off your ATL-MSY route. Kayak in the gulf or Choctawhatchee Bay.

Marriott's Grand Hotel is quite beautiful. I've dined there many times years ago, but never overnighted. I don't see croquet on their amenity list - they had and hopefully still have a magnificent croquet lawn.

Alabama has some great state parks. We really enjoyed a family stay at Lake Guntersville.
http://www.alapark.com/Resorts/

Point Clear is probably your best bet. The Beau Rivage is the typical mediocre casino hotel.

Grew up in Mobile and now live on the Northshore (New Orleans), so I know a lot about this area. I would not recommend the Beau Rivage for kids. It's a very nice casino, but I would reserve it for an adult trip. The Grand Hotel (Point Clear) is very nice, but with kids and at that time of the year, I'd stay at the Gulf. You should be able to get some great deals this time of the year. There are some new condos on the Alabama side (you can call one of the rental agencies in Gulf Shores to reserve.) Our favorite place to stay (have stayed here for years) is Eden Condominiums, right across the Florida state line in Perdido Key. They have a website- it is a fabulous resort-most of their units do not lease out. If you prefer to stay in a hotel, I can also recommend the Hampton Inn in Orange Beach. It is new and very nice. If you do decide to go that route, let me suggest a few places to eat: Cosmos (Orange Beach, Al) has the best crab cakes you will ever have anywhere. Cobalt (near the bridge in Perdido Key, Al) has excellent osyters and fish. As you're going through Mobile on your way to New Orleans, plan to have lunch at the Original Osyter House on the causeway. Everything is excellent here, and outstanding service. This is where the locals eat, but now others have discovered it too. Plan for a little wait at all of these.

Would like to also recommend Lake Martin in Alabama near Alexander City. You would get off the interstate at Auburn, and it's around a 45 minute drive. There are some very nice rental homes in this area (you can get more information by contacting a rental agency in this area-can be gotten off the internet), and plenty of activities for the kids. Many homes are right on the lake with docks, boats and other equipment. If no boat, one can be easily rented. Decent choice of restaurants in Alex City, as the locals call it. We love this area too. Somewhat depends on how close to N.O. you want to be. The Gulf is approx. 3.5 hours while Lake Martin is 5.5 hours from N.O.