Glamazons, I kid you not: I had the most amazing birthday. Between my thoughtful friends and my loving family, I’m surrounded by people who made sure I felt loved and blessed last weekend – and I had a lot of time for self-reflecting too. Believe it or not, the midnight toast, dinner and brunch were only the start of the celebration. This weekend, I head to Nola for a fun-filled getaway and I’m sharing New Orleans travel tips.
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Now I’m not sure if I shared this before, but Nola is one of my favorite cities in the U.S. Let me count the reasons.
Here are 4 tried-and-true New Orleans travel tips:
1. Eat to your heart’s content.
From the city’s famous po boys at Mother’s Restaurant to the delicious Creole cuisine at Mr. B’s Bistro (I always order the shrimp and grits which are magnificent!) to the best burgers in the land at Port of Call to the catfish and grits at Ruby Slipper (above), I plan to dig into some of the best food New Orleans has to offer. If you want food options outside the French Quarter, I love to eat the amazing BBQ salmon at Cavan in the Garden district when I’m ready for a splurge. For a more affordable but equally delicious meal outside the Quarter, head to Morrow’s, which is black-owned and Commander’s Palace which famously sells (strong!) martinis for 25 cents (yes, you read that right: $0.25) during happy hour.
2. Party at Bourbon Street at least once — before heading to Frenchmen Street.
No party in the world compares to the nightly festivities on Bourbon Street. I love to hop in and out of Nola’s hottest clubs and bars — like Saints & Sinners which is owned by Channing Tatum — while enjoying some of my favorite drinks like the city’s famous hand-grenade and fishbowl below (I will pay anyone who can tell me what the recipe is! I’ve asked bartenders and they say it’s a city secret). And if you’re into karaoke, don’t forget to stop by The Cat’s Meow.
I can’t wait to dance on the street and just soak up the positive vibes and carefree spirit of the city. Go to Bourbon street at least once, but I do prefer the vibes of Frenchmen Street better, and that’s where most locals go.
3. Take a walk through the French Quarter.
The beautiful French Quarter is one of my favorite neighborhoods to wander through. The scenery is exquisite with color-rich walls and roofs and elaborate balconies, all a nod to 18th century architecture. It’s also home to a New Orleans staple, Cafe du Monde, which is about 150 years old. I could eat beignets and people watch there all day!
4. Be sure to stop along the way and enjoy the music.
The streets of New Orleans are always bursting with energy and creativity. I love live music and it’s customary to hear a band in street clothes playing beautiful music on the sidewalk. Since Nola is historically considered the mecca of jazz, it’s great to see the city will never lose its love of music.
5. Take a tour of the city.
One thing I’m trying to do more of when I visit New Orleans is taking advantage of all the fun tours the city offers. From the swamp tour (above) where I held a baby alligator to the haunted house tour, there are so many themed excursions that will help you get to know the city on a deeper level. I usually book through my hotel or through Viator for options that come highly recommended.
Have you been to New Orleans? Why do you love it? Where should I visit while I’m there? Tell me in the comments section.
So excited!
Kisses,
Glamazon Jessica
Great post! I’ve been to NOLA plenty of times, but this got me excited all over again!
Author
That’s awesome! Nola is one of my favorite cities. Thanks for reading =)