Adam and I wanted to do a quick trip together before I started my new job (TOMORROW!), since I will be starting out with zero vacation hours (but am getting back my 400+ hours of sick leave since I will be a federal employee again!)....so to New Orleans we went!
The lesson of this post: EVERYONE MUST VISIT THIS CITY! Seriously. It is freaking awesome and amazing and all positive descriptives that you can think of. We had a fantastic time, and there are a billion different things to do, not matter what you like to do!
We, of course, did the Anthony Bourdain approach to food, and the full on tourist thing.
When you go to New Orleans these things should be on your list:
To Eat:
Restaurants we LOVED-
a Mano: for the aperol spritz
Cochon: for anything you want (of note, I would kill to have the horseradish potato salad again)
Napoleon House: again, any of it, it was delicious
Cafe duMonde: beignets
Meals from the Heart (in the French Market): BEST BREAKFAST EVER
Pat O'Brien's Piano Bar: the Hurricanes (and you get to keep the glass) are tasty
Food to try-
Po' boy
Muffuletta
Alligator (it's REALLY tasty)
Jambalaya
King Cake
Pralines
Bananas Foster
Seafood Gumbo
To Do:
Old New Orlean Rum Distillery tour (the rum cake has some serious kick)
Cajun Encounters swamp tour
New Orleans School of Cooking class (this was an absolute and delicious blast!)
Visit a Farmer's Market (and run into ANDREW ZIMMERN from the Travel Channel like I did!)
To See:
French Market
Bourbon Street (day and night), go out at night to see the street performers!
Waterfront
Any of the live music...every single bar had a live band EVERY night
So yes, this is definitely on our top favorite cities list, right along with San Francisco. It was just really fun and relaxed, so much to see and do and enjoy. It was a contrast to see the areas that weren't very affected by Hurricane Katrina, to those that are still in ruins, and to see how much work has been done to recover from the devastation. This city definitely has a heart and personality that many places lack. We will be going back!
The lesson of this post: EVERYONE MUST VISIT THIS CITY! Seriously. It is freaking awesome and amazing and all positive descriptives that you can think of. We had a fantastic time, and there are a billion different things to do, not matter what you like to do!
We, of course, did the Anthony Bourdain approach to food, and the full on tourist thing.
When you go to New Orleans these things should be on your list:
To Eat:
Restaurants we LOVED-
a Mano: for the aperol spritz
Cochon: for anything you want (of note, I would kill to have the horseradish potato salad again)
Napoleon House: again, any of it, it was delicious
Cafe duMonde: beignets
Meals from the Heart (in the French Market): BEST BREAKFAST EVER
Pat O'Brien's Piano Bar: the Hurricanes (and you get to keep the glass) are tasty
Food to try-
Po' boy
Muffuletta
Alligator (it's REALLY tasty)
Jambalaya
King Cake
Pralines
Bananas Foster
Seafood Gumbo
To Do:
Old New Orlean Rum Distillery tour (the rum cake has some serious kick)
Cajun Encounters swamp tour
New Orleans School of Cooking class (this was an absolute and delicious blast!)
Visit a Farmer's Market (and run into ANDREW ZIMMERN from the Travel Channel like I did!)
To See:
French Market
Bourbon Street (day and night), go out at night to see the street performers!
Waterfront
Any of the live music...every single bar had a live band EVERY night
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| Your can rent a balcony for Mardi Gras |
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| The infamous Bourbon Street |
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| Bourbon St. during the day |
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| They have some serious coffee |
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| Location of the best breakfast ever! And some cool shops... |
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| Mmm, beignets! |
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| Getting ready for Mardi Gras |
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| This cat garnered more attention than the art work |
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| We took a cooking class! |
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| And learned to make chowder, gumbo, pralines, and bananas foster |
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| Harriet...our teacher. Hilarious and awesome. |
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| Time to make the rum! |
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| The aging of the rum |
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| See the wood? See the white tag? Water line from Hurricane Katrina |
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| Time to sample the rum! We came home with 2 of them. |
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| The most tasty rum cake you can imagine, with kick! |
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| Bourbon St. at night |
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| So many street performers! |
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| The mighty Mississippi |
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| Ferry boat on the river |
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| Cable car |
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| A nice morning stroll |
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| Inside the French Market |
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| Every building in the French Quarter has a balcony |
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| Really excited for Mardi Gras! |
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| Time for a swamp tour! |
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| A cruise up the river |
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| Really excited to see some alligators! |
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| A turtle |
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| Leveled by the hurricane |
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| Can you see the alligator? |
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| No? Because he sees you... |
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| A shrimp boat relocated from the Gulf by the hurricane |
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| Alligator sunning |
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| Log of alligators |
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| Now do you see them? |
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| Pretty bird...many Blue Herons |
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| Hundreds of beer steins decorated the ceiling at Pat O'Briens |
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| Who doesn't love a good piano bar?!?! |
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| We love a good piano bar! |
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| Bourbon St. handgrenades |
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| Bourban St. at night |
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| Old New Orleans Rum Distillery tour |
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| We had alligator...it was tasty! |
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| Ran into Andrew Zimmern at the Farmer's Market. Watch for us on the Travel Channel |
So yes, this is definitely on our top favorite cities list, right along with San Francisco. It was just really fun and relaxed, so much to see and do and enjoy. It was a contrast to see the areas that weren't very affected by Hurricane Katrina, to those that are still in ruins, and to see how much work has been done to recover from the devastation. This city definitely has a heart and personality that many places lack. We will be going back!