A few weeks ago I visited New Orleans, LA, with my boyfriend, Evan. We stayed at The Old No. 77 Hotel and Chandlery. While we did not experience any paranormal activity ourselves, a former employee (bartender at a neighboring hotel) told us a tale that some guests who had stayed on the third floor asked him about horses running on the roof… interesting, I know.
That said, we spent three full days in New Orleans. We had a chance to explore some of city’s main attractions and indulge in some of its finer cuisine. We even took a trip out to the Bayou and hung out with some gators. We experienced versatile weather, from humidity the first few days, to some overcast/rain showers the last few days. Still, we didn’t miss a beat. We were able to get plenty of steps in and enjoy all that the Big Easy has to offer.
For reference, I will list the various locations we visited in New Orleans each day.
Day One:
- Jazz Brunch “Court of Two Sisters“ – we enjoyed a nice buffet breakfast and sat outside to enjoy the local jazz and Spring wisteria above us.
- St. Charles Street Car – Trolly-type of transport that can be made from the French Quarter to the Garden District.
- Garden District – we walked around the Garden District and enjoyed the residential architecture. One of the local houses was even used as partial inspiration for the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland (though we didn’t actually stumble upon it… I think).
- Compere Lapin – we made dinner reservations at this restaurant, and a bonus was that it is located within The Old No. 77 Hotel and Chandlery (the hotel we stayed at). Ah convince at its finest! Not to mention, the food was pretty bomb too, as it specializes in different meat cuts (so not vegetarian friendly).
- Preservation Hall – who doesn’t love a little New Orleans jazz? We purchased tickets ahead of time to guarantee admission to this intimate and cool space. We got to experience everything from Blues to Jazz, and it was the perfect introduction to those NOLA vibes.
Day Two:
- Cafe du Monde – Best beignet spot in all of New Orleans! It is advised to get there early (between 7-9am) and to have cash handy (cash only). Don’t be too restrictive with the powdered sugar… treat yo self!
- Cafe Beignet – while we did not order any beignets here, it is another stellar spot for affordable breakfast, not to mention very picturesque.
- French Quarter – again, it is good to get to the French Quarter early to beat the crowds. In fact, New Orleans is known for its French Quarter, as the French and Spanish architecture is often depicted on movie screens. This area is home to Jackson Square, Royal Street, Bourbon Street, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 (Marie Laveau’s Tomb) and 2, and the Pharmacy Museum, to name a few.
- French Market – this is a must while in the Big Easy. The French market has food tastings, lunch (I ordered a Po’ boy), drinks, and local art vendors.
- Mississippi River – The Mississippi River flows through New Orleans. Customers can also book a steamboat tour, and enjoy a jazz brunch or evening jazz dinner cruise on this water. The Steamboat Natchez seems to be a popular option (if we had more money to spend, we would have totally done this).
- Commander’s Palace – A staple in New Orleans! This is a great spot for a jazz brunch over the weekend, but they also provide an extravagant dinner. This restaurant needs to be booked ahead of time (brunch was already filled when I went to make a reservation) and it is expected patrons will dress in their best business attire.
Day Three:
- Swamp and Bayou Sightseeing Boat Tour – We booked this bayou tour through Viator, where we received roundtrip transportation from/to New Orleans and the Bayou. It was such a cool experience being able to drift through the lush greenery and see a handful of alligators (gators can be more apparent and aggressive during the warmer months… so perhaps it was in our best interest of going when it was cooler out).
- Carousel Bar & Lounge – The Carousel Bar & Lounge offered such a unique and fun twist to having drinks! Who needs a carnival when you can order a drink at a moving carousel lounge.
- Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop – this joint has been serving drinks since the 18th century, back in the Spanish colonial period. Today, this place is known for its purple Frozen VooDoo Daiquri. Be careful, this drink sneaks up on you quickly, so it is best to not drink on an empty stomach.
- Haunted Ghost, Voodoo, and Vampire Tour – Can you really say you’ve been to New Orleans if you haven’t explored its more supernatural side? After all, New Orleans is one of the most haunted cities in the US, and the tour really gives you explanation for why that is. Fun Fact: you get to visit the house where “The Originals” was filmed (which is based on New Orleans’ very own vampire).
Additional Day: make sure to check out and tour The Pharmacy Museum, enjoy and picnic at City Park (Langles Bridge), indulge in a food tour, or walk on the wild side with a cemetery tour (you need a licensed tour guide).
As a final note, during pandemic times, you will absolutely need to carry a vaccine card or a negative covid test (taken within the past 72 hours), as many establishments require this to enter the premises. New Orleans can also be very humid, so it is best to pack light/airy clothes, and perhaps bring a sweatshirt in the event you get some cooler weather. Nola is a place of history (mostly twisted), music, and celebrations. They are also known for their good food and drinks, and I promise you will leave more full (figuratively and literally speaking) then when you first arrived.
Thanks for reading my blog, and make sure to subscribe. If you want to look more closely at the itinerary I created, I included it below.
