NOLA ~ MOre than just Mardi Gras
What is the first thing you think of when you think of New Orleans? Thousands of people, colorful beads, and wild floats winding down Bourbon Street? That’s true and it happens every year for Mardi Gras. But New Orleans (or NOLA) has so much more to offer. It is a city that is rich with history and tradition. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of fun to be had, but it’s the “more” that I really love about the city.
I’ve been to NOLA many times. A couple times I tagged along when Scott had work trips. Those were my first experiences, when I was young and had some party stamina. I’ve gone for work conferences that were maybe not as “fun” with more work than play. I’ve gone on a great girls trip with Cori, Erica and Cori’s mother- and sister-in-law. Nothing beats a good girls trip, especially with that group!! Every time I’ve gone, I’ve always tried to go to one new area, restaurant, or landmark. Let’s just say, I could go many more times and probably not cover it all. Today, I’m going to give you my favorite places. Those places that I would say are a “must see or do”. Once you are there though, don’t be afraid to try something different. And then report back and let me know what I’m missing!
Cafe Du Monde – First and foremost, this is probably one of the most if not the most popular place for visitors to go. Why? Because it is delicious there!! It is where everyone goes for Beignets, a fried dough with powdered sugar sprinkled on top. They also have their own coffee which people love, but I can’t speak to that as I’m not a coffee fan. It is also a great place to people watch. Now, I wouldn’t go first thing in the morning or you will be waiting for hours (yes hours), for this treat. Try to go on an off hour for a snack. You should be able to get a table.
The French Market – If you are in the area of Cafe Du Monde, you can walk over to the French Market. It is similar to a flea market on steroids that is under cover. You can find almost anything in the market from jewelry, to clothing, to souvenirs to food. It gets very busy, especially on the weekends, but is another great place to shop and people watch.
Cathedrals/Churches – If you are into history and architecture, then touring the many churches in New Orleans could fill up a day. The archdiocese of New Orleans has cathedrals and parish churches that are old and beautiful. To an outsider, it probably seems so strange that New Orleans, known for such decadence, would also be such a faithful city. Check out St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square. It is in the heart of the French Quarter.
Tours – There are many ways to tour the city and surrounding area. There are walking tours (mostly cemetery or voodoo), riverboat cruises/tours, and swamp boat tours to name a few. For our girls trip, we planned on purchasing a ticket for the Hon-On-Hop-Off bus. It is a tour bus that runs constantly around the city in which you can get off and on when and where you want. In my mind it would be the best of all worlds. We spoke to our concierge at the hotel and she suggested a private tour. My first thought, “oh here we go, she’s trying to sell something more costly to get more of a commission”. The more she told us about it, the more I liked it. Less people, more interaction, and our tour guide would be able to give us more than a canned story. We went for it, and it was the best decision! Our guide was born and raised in the area and gave us a lot of great info that I don’t think we would have gotten anywhere else. We visited two cemeteries, the New Orleans Sculpture Garden, Lake Pontchartrain, the Lower 9th Ward (Katrina damage), and the Garden District. We had a blast and found a few other places we wanted to check out in more depth.
Bourbon Street/French Quarter – No trip can be complete without going to the French Quarter. I love to people watch, and boy can you see some interesting things in the French Quarter. Just remember though, a lot of the “fun” comes with a price. For instance, my daughter saw a lady dancing in the street with a feather boa, funky sunglasses, and beads. Erica decide to join her in the “fun” and I took a picture of them. As Erica walked away, the lady tapped her on the shoulder and held out her hand. The photo wasn’t free. She wanted a “donation”. I gave her a dollar and she was satisfied. That is pretty normal, especially on Bourbon St.
If you love music, you can wander into almost any door and find live music. There are jazz halls, blues bars, and cover band places. My favorite for cover bands is The Famous Door. You can go from open to close (which is basically 20 hours) and watch live music. I’m not sure what it is about this place, but I always have the best time there.
Want to go somewhere with some cool atmosphere? Go to the Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone. It has an actual carousel in which you can sit at the bar and spin around. Don’t worry, it doesn’t go very fast, but depending on how many drinks you have, you might want to be careful getting off!! While you are there order a Sazerac. It is New Orleans version of an Old Fashioned. It is a combination of bitters, rye whiskey, a splash of absinthe and garnished with a lemon or orange peel. It’s a little drink with a big punch (remember that when getting off the carousel!).
Need a snack? Like oysters? You can get these on every street corner (literally). There is no shortage of places to go for oysters whether raw, fried, or sauteed. Whether it is Acme, Felixes, or The Corner Oyster House, you can’t go wrong. The lines may be long, but worth the wait!
I could go on and on, but would love for you to explore the city on your own. It is a one-of-a-kind city. When you get home, let me know what are your favorites!!
