N E W O R L E A N S

A friend of mine is about to get married in a few weeks, and in March I had the opportunity of being invited on a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana for her Bachelorette Party. While I will NOT disclose what antics took place as that would break Bachelorette Party Girl Code (BPGC), I will definitely speak on my time there in general: the places, THE FOOD, the tours, the people etc. ; and share my recommendations of all our great experiences, so if you’re planning a trip there too, you can enjoy yourself just as we did!

- Q U I C K P O I N T S -

Mardi Gras:

I know the first thought to cross your mind about New Orleans is probably Mardi Gras. We did not go during Mardi Gras, we actually went AFTER, and we realized it was the better decision. Unless you’re going specifically for Mardi Gras, we were told about 3 million people visit the city (with a population of approx. 400k people), which renders it impossible to walk, drive, or bike anywhere. Getting an Uber isn’t realistic, and the residents there actually prepare ahead of time by racking up on supplies and food just to avoid going into the streets and stores for things they need during this time.

Bead Myth:

Another thing to cross your mind will be the beads, and if you only get beads by flashing someone. A lot of people asked me this when I got back. This is NOT true!! Everyone is constantly throwing beads over there for no specific reason, so they are very easy to get. They are hanging from every porch, balcony, window, door knob, and they are all over the sidewalks and streets- I actually slipped on them a few times. The more basic looking ones are the ones you’ll find everywhere, but the stores have beads with more colors, sizes, and even shapes- I bought some beads with pink crawfish on them! If you’re in a flashy mood, by all means, but you’ll get beads either way ;)

- B A C K T O T H E T R I P -

As soon as we got off the plane, the airport was beautiful, but it was really late so everything was closed. We got an Uber, and headed to the Air BNB. Our driver was really nice, and the first thing he said after we told him we were from NY was “New Yorkers aren’t very friendly, huh?” I thought about it… and I had to agree, though I know it’s because we are automatically defensive thinking someone wants something from us. He also pointed out that we would gain about 14 pounds from the trip.. and advised us not to weigh ourselves when we got back.

New Orleans is heavily influenced by Creole and French Culture due to the history of the State, and there are even some houses designed under the influence of Spanish architecture. They were all gorgeous and painted lots of different colors with elaborate balconies. If you’re into that sort of thing, you won’t know where to look first.. you’ll literally be surrounded by it. I’ll include photos in my gallery and try to edit them as little as possible so they can remain close to how they were in person.

The city is also beneath sea level, which is why they get hit so hard during hurricane season. Our tour guides mentioned a lot of the tragedies left behind by Katrina and Ida (which is why those names have also been retired for future hurricanes). I won’t go into that detail here, but I will say I definitely felt the pride and kindness in all the residents we spoke to, especially in every “Hey baby, good morning, how you doin’?”. Southern Hospitality isn’t just a saying. I couldn’t help but appreciate how kindly they treated their tourists compared to how New Yorkers avoid Times Square like it’s the plague.. but when the shoe is on the other foot, you walk differently.

Below are links to categories of our trip:

- O U R A I R B N B -

We stayed at an Air BNB on St. Ann Street, which is a few blocks away from the French Quarter. There are a few blocks in the French Quarter and Bourbon Street that are basically the party strip of the city, and let me tell you, it ain’t called Bourbon Street for no reason!! New Orleans has a 24/7 A-OK drinking law. You can carry your drinks all over the city- from your house, to the bar, to the clubs and back, and nobody cares. They even have DAQUIRI DRIVE-THRUS!! Yes, you read that correctly. The number 1 “rule” all our tour guides told us as we walked around was to be very careful crossing the street, to avoid any drunk drivers. I somehow managed to summon the courage to ask one of the bartenders if they can make a virgin drink for me… the look I received… I like my virgin Pina Coladas and I am NOT ashamed of it!

*Fun Fact- (Yes, I googled it)- Historical Reason as to the Name of Bourbon Street: Bourbon Street got its name in 1721, when French engineer Adrien de Pauger first laid out plans for the then-fledgling New Orleans and named its central avenue after France's royal family at the time, the House of Bourbon.

There were also a lot of nice hotels in the area, but staying at an Air BNB just worked better for us financially, since there were 7 of us in total. The location was really convenient too because it was only 20 mins from the airport by car.

The Air BNB was a 3 bed/2 bath two story house, and two of the bedrooms had two beds in them so we all fit comfortably. We had some groceries ordered the day we arrived, so we were set with quick snacks and breakfast. We planned to eat out most of the time there anyway for lunch and dinner because everyone knows the food in New Orleans is worth the trip alone.

- T H E F O O D -

*Warning: Mouth Watering and a Spontaneous Trip to Louisiana may Occur. Side Effects Include but are not limited to: High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Weight Gain, Finger Licking, and the “ITIS”*

The House of Blues

Our first night there, we ate at the House of Blues. Again, there were 7 of us, we all ordered drinks, entrees and some sides. Our waitress didn’t write ANYTHING down, and we all questioned if our order was going to come back correctly.. AND IT DID! She made it seem so easy as if we all ordered 7 burgers and 7 fries.. and she did it all with such grace and kindness lmao! Proved us all wrong, and she topped everything off with 7 separate bills for what we ordered without us even having to ask.

The food itself was sooooo delicious.. (you’ll notice me say this over and over) in case you didn’t know they don’t shy away from the salt and butter down south, which is why everything is so tasty. They “Put their Foot in Everything” as they say.

I had the Cajun Chicken Pasta, and the other girls tried the Shrimp and Grits, Gumbo, Fried Chicken, Jambalaya and the Mac and Cheese, and they all had good reviews on the food, too. The aesthetics of the restaurant reminded me a bit of the Hard Rock Café, but everything was a little more casual and laid back, hence the House of BLUES, and they also had live concerts/performances. The night we were there, there was actually a performance happening by K Michelle. Definitely recommend, and make a reservation before you go!

Link to their website here.

Parkway Bakery & Tavern

This spot was recommended to us by a local, who was actually one of our tour guides. Everyone knows the locals will know the best food spots, and he was SPOT ON, pun intended!! The place is super casual with long portable tables and portable chairs set up like when you were a kid on a field trip at school or camp, and for lunch you sat at these tables that are set up “cafeteria” style, if you know what I mean. They also had fans blowing in all directions to help with the heat/humidity. They have old signs, stickers, posters and T-Shirts decorating the walls, and they call out all the orders on a loud-speaker. Definitely a vibe. We all got Po’Boys from this place, and we left out of there ready to take a nap!! I had the Deep Fried Creole BBQ Shrimp Po’Boy with Sweet Potato Fries- is your mouth watering yet?? Highly Recommend!

Link to their website here.

Café Du Monde

euigerfhfih enfih fuejwf – AKA I don’t even have the words. We came here specifically for beignets since they are famous for them. When I tell you they are perfectly crispy and covered in powdered sugar on the outside, and the softest, warmest stretchy dough on the inside… the words don’t even compare to the taste. Yeah, I know how I sound, and I don’t care. I paired this with a hot chocolate, and it was the richest, creamiest most perfect hot chocolate I’ve ever had.

What I WILL say, is that we went to Café Du Monde in the City Park Conservancy, and there were minimal people at about 5pm. There was also no line, and they had a gift shop that had just closed when we got there. We went to another Café Du Monde the next day on Decatur Street, and that one had a line down the block and around the corner by about noon… so I would recommend going right when they open if you opt for the French Market location, or just go to the one in the park. They were both big and had a lot of seating, but the French Market location is a much busier area in general, and the park was more peaceful, so you can actually savor what you’re eating. The beignets deserve your full, undivided attention.

Yeah, again, I know how I sound, still don’t care.

Last thing I’ll add, after a long night out, these still hit the spot at 5am…12 hours later.

Link to their website here.

The Court of Two Sisters

We had a brunch reservation here at 10am and almost didn’t make it in time due to the escapades the night before, but because this place has such a reputation… we all managed to somehow get up on time- looking tore up from the floor up and tired- but we made it with zero minutes to spare, and it was definitely worth the experience!

The best way for me to describe this restaurant is… you feel as though you’re visiting your rich grandma out of a fairy tale and meeting her for tea in the garden (so… maybe Princess Diaries-esque?). In adjective form: STUNNING, fairy-tale aesthetic, garden vibes. The birds are chirping, the trees you’re eating under look as though they have seen many a brunch and dinner served there and are still thriving.. the other trees in the city are green with envy to trade places (you like what I did there? ;). There are also small lights woven through all the foliage, so I can only imagine how it looks at night.

There’s a large tiered fountain, surrounded by grapevines and plants, a water well, statues, a spiral black iron staircase.. oh and live jazz playing as you eat. With the sun shining through all the nooks and crannies of the trees, leaves and vines, casting perfectly random shadows on the cobblestone ground and creating the perfect amount of shade to eat comfortably; in 80 degree weather and that aesthetic- I still don’t even know how we managed to get up and leave at some point.

The food was again, delicious, and it was actually a BUFFET for $33! When you first walk in, it seems like a really fancy restaurant with white tablecloths, wine glasses and candles, and then they had the buffet set up towards the back with so much food, and an egg station- made fresh to order regardless if you wanted them simple and scrambled or a fancy omelet with a lot of fixings. After the buffet was the garden, where the brunch was taking place. The staff there was also so kind and professional, greeting everyone as they naturally do, not because they had to as part of their job. One of the waiters even said “My Lady” to one of our girls and it made her swoon so bad she said it darn-near almost made her move there.

Highly recommend… and make a reservation before you go, a table is really hard to get! It’s also conveniently located in the French Quarter.

Link to their website here.

Original Pierre Maspero’s

On our last night, we stopped in here to grab dinner, and it was also one of the few restaurants conveniently open past 9pm. As a New Yorker, once you leave the state it comes as a shock when places close at 8/9pm.. as if it’s disrespectful. It’s definitely something we take for granted. Again, southern hospitality was on point, and the food.. do I even have to say it again? Amazing. I had the Blackened Chicken Jambalaya, and I don’t think they even had to wash the plate after I was done. The girls opted for Chicken and Waffles, the Crescent City Sampler, Red Beans and Rice, and Crabcakes. I think they’re still sleeping actually..

Link to their website here.

- T H E T O U R S -

The Whitney Plantation Tour

The Whitney Plantation Tour and Swamp Tour was a 2 in 1 deal we booked through Crescent City Tours. Our tour guide was LOADED with jokes and had the most crazy, contagious laugh you've ever heard. The first stop was the Whitney Plantation. We all went into the Plantation tour not knowing what to expect aside from the obvious; we were somber going in, and even more somber coming out.

The tour experience I’m used to was not at all what we experienced. For one, there was no tour guide walking you from station to station explaining everything. This tour was really quiet. They provide you with these devices that look like cordless house phones, and the tour is all on that device, pre-recorded. So, as you take your time moving from station to station, you hold it to your ear and listen, literally like a phone. This was the first time I’ve ever experienced a tour that way, and I think it paid great respect to the peace and purpose of the visit in general. The planation was BEAUTIFUL.. but though it seemed peaceful and serene, it did give me an eerie feeling at the same time when you learned and thought about what happened there all those years ago in juxtaposition. I wasn’t really sure how to feel, but that’s what came to me naturally.

If you are interested in going, I would say while it’s very insightful, it isn’t for the faint hearted, and may make you emotional. It’s very intense and brutal at some points, but a great and humbling experience overall.

Link to their Website here.

Swamp Tour

I have to be honest and say I was REALLY looking forward to the Swamp Tour. I had no idea what was going to happen or what to expect, but the unknown adventure of it really excited and intrigued me.. and boy was it a treat!! They also have you sign a waiver before riding the air boats and going on the tour, so I knew it was legit. If you’re not an adventurous person, don’t sit in the front of the boat.. because the tour guides lure the alligators onto the boat and FEED them RAW chicken right in front of you!! I ran to the front row once we boarded to ensure I didn’t miss a second of that action. The tour guides also seemed like they genuinely enjoy their job and what they do, which is a personal goal of mine- to have work not feel like work, but something you can enjoy- so that was nice to see.

The swamp tour was awesome, I definitely recommend it if you’re an adventure person. I was able to get great videos and photos of the gators, and the experience was like none other. To top it off, once we got back to the dock there was a cute little garter snake I ran to hold and get a photo with. Yes, I know you can find one of those anywhere, but after going through a swamp, and having alligators fed right in front of you, it just added to the vibe of being in their habitat firsthand. There were also cats wandering the premises, which was really cute.. but no chickens. Go figure.

Link to Crescent City Tour website to book the Tour Package here.

Cemetery Tour

This was another really interesting tour. I was expecting it to be spooky and ghost related, but it wasn’t.. it was more eye opening and insightful than anything else, that would be the best way I could describe it. This was more of a detailed walkthrough of 3 ACTIVE small cemeteries (we did not know all cemeteries in New Orleans were active when we booked the tour): The Masonic and Free Mason Cemetery, the St. Patrick Cemetery, and the Catholic Cemetery.

The tour was a great mix of history and burial traditions tied to the different eras dating back to the 1800’s. We were told of the “methodical” burial procedures that enabled them to fit countless bodies in the above-ground tombs, copings, oven vaults and society tombs, the difference between perpetual care tombs vs. non-perpetual care tombs, and stigmas to this day surrounding what cemetery you were buried in, and what type of grave you had being “socially acceptable”- all to fit financial standards. Our last stop was the Hurricane Katrina Memorial, which was beautifully built, and in my opinion the victims were definitely honored respectfully; both who were found and identified, and also those who were found and unable to be identified. This is one of those things you just have to see for yourself.

Link to their website here.

Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Tour

Another thing I have to be honest about, I LOVE anything spooky and a good ghost story, so this tour was another one right up my alley that I was really looking forward to. The tour took place in the evening, so it was dark, starting at 7pm and ending at 9pm. Within a span of a few blocks, we heard the great ghost stories of Muriels Restaurant, the Pharmacy Museum, the most Haunted House in America- LaLaurie Mansion, the Cornstalk Fence Hotel, Laffite’s Blacksmith Bar, haunted Cathedrals and Convents, and other urban legends. Our tour guide Mac was a great story teller, and he also pointed out some of the locations we were touring are actually from very well-known songs, shows and movies, like The House of the Rising Sun, American Horror Story-Coven and the Originals, which was pretty cool.

Link to their website here.

-Site Seeing-

Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street is a huge local and tourist spot both day and night. It’s actually mostly residential and really chill, but there are a few blocks of Bourbon Street that are specifically for partying, full of vibrant shops and bars/clubs.. which turns it into a whole other world. We saw all kinds of people, of all backgrounds and ages, representing different genders, sexualities, talents and fashions.. we even saw people in suits! As if they just got off the clock from their jobs on Wall Street and said “Hey man, you wanna hit up Bourbon Street, like right now?”. The diversity and acceptance was genuine and wholsesome, which was a breath of fresh air.

*Side Note: All over the city they had the usual street signs displaying the street/avenue names, BUT, the names were also etched in blue, yellow, and white tile and inset on every corner of the sidewalks like in the photo above. How cute is that?!? New York, can we do that too?

The strip is lined with tons of shops for souvenirs, beads, masks, costumes, art, and so much more. Countless bars, clubs playing all kinds of genres of music, entertainers, and people with their trained pets ready to take photos. Late nights after the restaurants are closed and all of Bourbon Street is open, the only places there are to eat are pizza spots that will charge you an arm and a leg for a slice (+/-$8 for regular cheese!). The pizza is just OK, don’t expect much, but after a long night of partying it will do what it’s supposed to do.

Safety: Since we were a group of 7, and all women, we looked out for each other at all times and committed to a buddy system, so nobody went anywhere alone at any time. Two of us were also non-drinkers (me being one of them) so the others were able to enjoy themselves and be in good hands. We did experience some sketchy people at times, but I think that’s something you experience anywhere you are. Again, there’s safety in numbers, so if you’re going with friends just stay together. We also did not wander the city super late at night, we always took cabs together.

City Park Conservancy

After we stuffed our faces with Po’Boys, we somehow managed to walk it off and visit the City Park. Larger than Central Park at 1,300 acres, the trees are endless, enormous and ethereal, with huge trunks and knots that will make you drop everything to climb them. The thickest roots introducing themselves to you above ground; ducks, birds and ponds full of turtles and fish, gorgeous bridges and benches, beautiful landscaping, and a small trolley train that runs through the park with an actual “CHOO-CHOO” horn that made us all stop and gasp at how adorable it was, like out of a storybook.

Aside from the scenery, we also walked past a yoga class that we were tempted to join (how can you not, when you’re surrounded by the Garden of Eden?) and saw a cute kids birthday party. The whole scene was very relaxing and humbling as the sun was setting, reminding us that the best things in life are free.. like nature, love, and having a good laugh with your gal pals <3.

Link to their Website here.

Jackson Square and the Mississippi River

We visited Jackson Square (named after Andrew Jackson) at about 12 noon, and it’s like a street fair x 10. FULL of people, countless shops and tables with clothes, art and souvenirs for sale, food vendors, people sitting with their typewriters to write poems for you on the spot, entertainers- we literally saw a woman doing a marionette with a puppet that was an artist, and she was painting canvases THROUGH the marionette doll!! We saw the statue of Andrew Jackson from a distance as we climbed the steps to the Mississippi River. Another must see, though a bit eerie after going on all our tours and knowing what went down in this river, but I don’t think our visit would have been complete without seeing it. Definitely a beautiful site to see.

VooDoo Authentica Shop and Boutique du Vampyre

New Orleans is really big on voodoo, ghosts, vampires and hauntings in general. We actually visited Voodoo Authentica as part of our site seeing. There were shrunken heads and voodoo dolls everywhere, jewelry, incense, carvings and other things. There was even a section of the shop where someone was actually making a mixture of something for a customer.

If this is up your alley, I recommend it. Link to their website is here.

Another shop we visited was Boutique du Vampyre.

They had a lot of cool things too: bat paintings and other art posters, little poison rings, an empty wooden coffin to take photos in, vampire rubber duckies, goth themed makeup, books and journals, custom fangs, vampire bite temporary tattoos, candles, tarot cards. Just for the aesthetic in the store alone, I’d recommend the visit even if you don’t plan to buy anything; the photos are worth it. Directly next door to the boutique, is the Vampire Café. While we ran out of time to give this place a try, it definitely seemed… tasty ;). They had lots of wine options named after the aesthetic of the boutique and café, and their Fangria was really popular, being served in a to-go IV-blood bag.

Link to the boutique’s website here.

Link to the café's website here.

- R E G R E T S ? -

My only regret is that we didn’t have enough time to check out Frenchmen Street, which was recommended to us by locals also. Apparently, it’s another party-designated spot but with a more mature crowd, vs Bourbon Street which attracts a younger crowd. Next time we’ll plan to see what that vibe is about.

New Orleans is a city rich with history and culture; I learned so much and I was only there for 3 full days. The vibe from the people was so welcoming, polite, and friendly, and the residents there are so proud to live there, with all that the state and city have experienced in the past and even up to current times. Everyone is there to have a good time; they don’t care if you wear a sack and are barefoot, as long as you come ready to eat and party, you’ll blend right in. We’ll be back sooner rather than later, and while we managed to do a lot, I’m sure there is still so much more to explore and experience.

NOLA- We Came, We Saw, We Conquered, and now I’m beyond exhausted.. I was ready to tape my eyelids open on the plane ride back home like in Tom and Jerry..

But how can you sleep when you have a view like this from your window seat?

Stay Peachy, and Until the Next Adventure Guys! xo

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