Last week I talked about my visit to the capitol of the state of Louisiana. Now we are on to the most visited city in Louisiana, New Orleans. Mardi Gras is this month and this weekend the Rock n Roll New Orleans Marathon weekend.
Mardi Gras in New Orleans is one big party and the place to party when in New Orleans, no matter the time of year is Bourbon Street.
Even if you aren’t into partying, New Orleans has so much to offer. A stroll down Bourbon Street is a great way to check out the beautiful architecture and also a great people watching opportunity. There are numerous places to listen to some live jazz music along Bourbon Street. Also located on Bourbon Street is the Musical Legends Park which features statues of some of the most famous Jazz artists.
Need a break from walking, you can take horse drawn carriage ride down Bourbon Street or take a ride aboard the Steamboat Natchez down the Mississippi river. There are also numerous tours that you can take, including walking tours and food tours. New Orleans is a big foodie city known for such dishes as Jambalya, Gumbo and Po Boys.
New Orleans is also the home of Pat O’Brien’s where the famous cocktail Hurricane was invented. This bar has a beautiful outdoor seating area with a flaming fountain. The perfect atmosphere to enjoy a cocktail on a nice day or in the heat of summer, it’s a great place to check out after the sun goes down.
Looking to check out some history, Jackson Square is located in the heart of the French Quarter and is the site where Louisiana was made a United States territory back in 1803 pursuant to the Louisiana Purchase. This is such a beautiful area of the city, it’s definitely a great place to take some photos.
Another historic place to check out is Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. It’s one of the oldest bars in the United States as it’s been serving drinks since the 1700s. Since I love history, it was definitely one of my favorite places in New Orleans. When sitting in there I felt like I was transported back in time. They have done a great job in preserving the building. Even if you aren’t a big drinker, it’s definitely worth going in a checking it out especially if you love history.
While visiting New Orleans, I took a city tour to see the area outside of the French Quarter. I visited in the summer and was amazed as we drove down the street and there were still
Mardi Gras beads hanging in the trees from earlier in the year. The tour also took us by one of the Levee’s they have to stop the flooding during storms. After seeing just how large the Levee was, it gave me a new perspective as to just how much flooding they had during Hurricane Katrina. The highlight of the tour was when we stopped at one of the cemeteries. Due to the low lying land and risk of flooding, the cemeteries features graves that are built above ground, it’s definitely different than the cemeteries most of us are used to.
Have a sweet tooth? A visit to Cafe Du Monde is a must! They are known for their Beignets and they are by far the best Beignets I’ve ever had anywhere. A great place for an afternoon treat or to start your day with a coffee and some beignets for breakfast.
I definitely recommend New Orleans as a great long weekend trip. The summer month’s can get quite warm and there are the chance of afternoon storms and of course hurricane season is from June – November. So keep that in mind when planning the tim
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