Last September (2018) we took a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana for a long weekend to celebrate M’s birthday. In September, it was pretty hot, muggy (but not Thailand https://thedailyallis.com/thailand-trip/ in June hot and muggy-ha!) and rainy. It was Labor Day weekend and it was packed with people (I feel like this is the norm obvi) but extra packed because it was Southern Decadence. I’m assuming this was the second largest party in New Orleans outside of Mardi Gras…but don’t quote me. It was just THAT packed! Loved the experience, being there for Mardi Gras might scare me though.
We stayed at The Ritz Carlton which is located in the French Quarter about a block away from Bourbon Street. We chose this hotel because it was close to the main attractions we wanted to see and we were there for a short amount of time so it made sense. This. Hotel. Is. Beautiful. Simply stunning. Very clean, friendly and accommodating staff. We booked the hotel via expedia and they were very attentive when I emailed them about decorating the room for M’s birthday (yes, I’m one of those people). But incase you’re wondering, he was very surprised by his decorations 🙂 Below are pics of the elegant hotel.
Day One:
We landed and immediately went to find something to eat (LOL) and some drinks. We walked around the French Quarter, it was around 1000-1100 and we went to Cafe Beignet. We sat outside and enjoyed Andouille sausage omelettes with bloody marys and mimosas. Afterwards we walked around Bourbon Street, napped, ate again and experienced Bourbon Street at night. WOW. The BEST live jazz music on every corner and street. Tons of wrought iron balconies filled with amazing plants and flowers that hung over the balconies.
Day Two:
We explored the hotel (spa, workout room, inside pool—tiny—no outside pool and the bar/tea room. Afterwards we arranged to tour the Destrehan Plantation via groupon.com. We were instructed to meet at the Woldenberg Park to load our bus to begin our tour. We first went to the Destrehan Plantation which was about an hour bus ride to our destination. While we were en route, our tour guide provided us with interesting facts about New Orleans as we passed the landmarks on the bus. Very well thought out tour. If you do not know what the Destrehan Plantation is, google “plantation house where Beyonce filmed ‘Lemonade’ in New Orleans”…you’re welcome. PS I sat where she sat in the music video…I LOVE Beyonce. That is not what the Plantation is famously known for, obvi, but I thought I had to point it out that Queen B was there herself too.
After the Plantation tour, we went on a swamp tour in La Place, Louisiana (part of the groupon tour we booked). We originally wanted the swamp tour with the big fan boat, but we were able to kill two birds with one stone (am I able to say that?) with this tour so we went with it. The boat was large and sat around 20 people comfortably. We putted around the river and saw quite a few alligators (babies and adults). The tour guide was informative and happy to be there.
Day Three:
We ate brunch at The Court of Two Sisters. I HIGHLY recommend this place as it has an all-you-can-eat-buffet. Can you tell I love food yet? NOM. Afterwards we did a self guided walking tour of Jackson Square via Atlantis Audio Tours. It wasn’t the best, but it directed you to what you needed to see. This is where we saw (and ate at-LOL) Cafe Du Monde. We actually got a table and although it took forever for a waitress to visit us, we enjoyed some coffee and beignets. YUM, so worth the wait—-if there is one, we went at an off-hour and barely a line to get into the outside area. This tour also brought us to the Monteleone Hotel (fun fact: they have a carousel bar inside that actually moves and you can sit at…a must see/experience in my opinion).
We also found ourselves at the Faulkner House Books on our tour. This famous bookstore is also a must see. This is the house where William Faulkner wrote his first book. M bought a book here for a souvenir. He’s so cute, my little nerd.
Later we were directed to Pat O’Brien’s for a “hurricane” drink. This is the New Orleans version of a “long Island iced tea.” Very strong, but very tasty. After the tour we gambled at the casino a couple blocks from our hotel…we won some money, so therefore I love this casino.
Day Four:
We rode the street car and experienced the Lafayette Cemetery number one. This cemetery is located very close to the Garden District..and we’ll get to that next. When we entered the Lafayette Cemetery there was a free tour guide inside that was paid through the district we followed around. It was M and I with two younger aged college kids with our tour guide and we were all able to ask allllll the questions we wanted. It was great. If you go, find yourselves one of these tour guides. We tipped a lot because she answered all our annoying questions AND it was super hot and muggy. Afterwards we walked around the Garden District and basically drooled at all the amazingly beautifully designed houses. Also, just FYI, Beyonce also has a house here. Our self guided audio tour of the Garden District was worth it. We heard the history and got to see Colonel Robert Short’s house as well as Briggs-Staub House, The Women’s Opera Guild House, Bradish Johnson House and Louise S. McGehee School, Robinson House and last but not least, Peyton and Eli Manning’s childhood home.
We were pressed for time before returning to our hotel to catch our flight home, but we decided to spend our last hour and a half at The National WWII Museum. This is a very moving and emotional museum. A lot of personal belongings and letters, diaries and movie interviews you are able to see/watch. At the beginning the museum gives you a dog tag and you basically follow that person’s life in WWII. Very emotional but Worth. Every. Dollar. This is a must in New Orleans, if you are into history and have a couple hours.
Overall, New Orleans was a great experience and definitely do-able trip for a long weekend. M and I would like to go again, not just for the casino (LOL) but because the history is so strong and we felt like there is a lot more to learn.
Tell me, have you been to New Orleans? What was your favorite activity/experience? Looking to travel to New Orleans? Let me know what you are interested in seeing!
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—Please refrain from copying pictures, all pictures above are my own. Thanks!!
XO
