Just a few of many things I love about New Orleans, Louisiana. Now, I know I have written a few posts in the past about my beloved NOLA but I thought since I had visited recently I would write a new and improved entry on my latest visit.
****Hey Readers! Fun and exciting news: I have booked a trip to Costa Rica for next month! I have wanted to visit Costa Rica for so long and am really looking forward to being able to share my trip with you guys!
Okay – now back to New Orleans 🙂
Where we stayed: The Pelham Hotel ; Our stay was about 90$ a night for a 2 bed room (I am pretty sure) somehow divided up between the three of us (Chestine, Emily and I) it was 67$ each. The room was really nice and a very short walk from Bourbon Street and the French Quarter.
Where to… EAT and DRINK:
Mother’s: I have come here on past trips to New Orleans and personally I find that the roast beef Po’ Boy is one of the most amazing things I have ever eaten. I’m practically drooling just writing about it.
Oceana: This restaurant ended up getting super busy – there was a long line when we were leaving, but we went to eat for an earlier dinner so we were sat right away. We ordered Oysters Rockefeller, Jambalaya, Gumbo and Red Beans to share. Delicious and pretty inexpensive!
Cafe Du Monde: If you’re heading to The Big Easy, chances are you already had in mind to go to Cafe Du Monde and order a beignet. The line can get pretty dang long during peak hours but we went later at night for dessert!
The Ruby Slipper: SO GOOD. We had breakfast here before going to the ‘Gator tour and I had the eggs cochon egg benedict and I don’t normally eat pork. Like ever. But it was so so so good. It was so good that I, who does not like or eat pork ATE IT.
Gumbo Shop: I have visited The Gumbo Shop in my past trip to New Orleans and it was just as good then as it is now! I highly recommend this place; the gumbo is amazing and the jambalaya is really good too.
Felix’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar: Honestly, I wasn’t to keen on this place. We ordered oysters, jambalaya, soft-shell crab, and gumbo. I had a hurricane here and I really didn’t it. Maybe that ruined the entire meal for me I am not sure.
Southern Candymakers: YESSSSSSS! I love Pralines, if they wouldn’t rot my teeth I would probably eat them everyday… No shame.
The Big Easy: These are everywhere, I just really liked getting the frozen hurricane drinks to run around the city with. It tastes like a slushee… I am ten years old again.
Little Tropical Isle: Home of the Grenade – or as I would like to describe it a tide pod in a drink! My friends forced me to drink a Grenade and honestly I am not fond of the flavor
Meauxbar: A friend recommended this place, it had really great cocktails and from what I have read in reviews the food is really good too. It’s french-inspired and has a chill, intimate vibe. The service was also fantastic. 🙂
What to Do/See:
GATOR TOUR: This may be one of the best moments of my life no joke. We booked a tour with the Louisiana Swamp Tour. It was 52$ per person for a large boat that took us out in the swamp for approximately two hours. At first the guides screwed up and put Emily, Chestine and I on a small fan boat and we were terrified but excited. But, soon after they realized they put us on the boat and pulled us off while a line of people were shaking their heads disapprovingly at us… we weren’t trying to sneak on, we swear! The boat was really fun and the guide was hilarious. We even got to hold a baby gator!
ST LOUIS CEMETERY NO. 1: In the past I have visited the cemetery and been able to just waltz right in. But, due to people coming into the cemetery and graffitiing and defacing Marie Laveau’s tomb you now need a tour guide to enter the cemetery. So we had to pay 20$ at the entrance BUT it was cool to have a guide to point out all of the other tombs and learn new information I did not before.
VOODOO SHOPS: There are several around the French Quarter, they have a cool vibe and lots of interesting books, candles and crystals. Visit Marie Laveau’s Voodoo shop.
JACKSON SQUARE: In the past when I visited Jackson Square there was a guy with a chicken and a snake and he was having people hold them. This time he was not there and I don’t know why I remember him so vividly but I just think that Jackson Square is such a beautiful area with the church and everything.
- Outside of Jackson Square there are a bunch of horse-drawn city tours, our first night we were so exhausted we went on one. It was interesting. Our driver got into a fight with a biker and they almost ran each other off the road. It was a lot to deal with after a long, and tiring day of drinking.
FRENCH MARKET: This was a cute little market filled with food and shops, we walked through it on our last day; we had already eaten but if we had found it earlier we definitely would have had lunch here.
BOURBON STREET: Okay, I doubt I need to tell anyone to go here because chances are you were already planning on it. Go get drunk on the streets but be warned… we witnessed a bar hosing down the street because a bum went to the bathroom outside of it.. and it wasn’t pee.
Overall, I love New Orleans so much, there is so much to do in this city – I wish we had more time there! For my next trip back I hope to go on a murder tour, visit some of the museums like the voodoo or murder museum and maybe even go to a Vampire club. I also would’t mind going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras again because honestly, it was a blast… and of course, I will definitely be back for the food.
Runaway Blond 