new orleans

A few months ago we headed south to explore the city of New Orleans. I spent a few days there in 2009 and have been wanting to go back ever since. The attention to detail on the old buildings is so stunning, and it made we wonder what it must have been like to live there back in the hay day. We took our time wandering through the city, strolling along the Mississippi River and through squares and tiny alleyways. The French Quarter took my breath away with the bright colors and beautiful plant filled balconies. The Voodoo Bone Lady Ghost Tour was touristy but fun! We had dinner and amazing cocktails (virgin for me!) at Kingfish. Everyone raves about this place and for good reason. We sat at the bar and got to watch all of the incredible drinks being made. I’m still dreaming about the café au lait and beignets from Café Beignet. Their cute little patio is not too shabby, either. We spent some time exploring the Bywater area. Some parts were a bit run down but still the neighborhood was very charming with a hipster vibe and a younger crowd. We ate breakfast at the lively and eclectic Elizabeth’s and lunch at The Joint. We spent an afternoon taking in the Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond Exhibit at the Presbytère. It was so fascinating to hear the stories and remember what people went through. The whole exhibit was very eye opening. We took the streetcar to the Garden District which was a great area to wander around. It was so nice walking down the streets and admiring all the lush green and stately southern homes. We popped into a few shops on Magazine Street. I could have brought home an entire extra suitcase full of hats from Goorin Bros and Defend was two tiny rooms filled to the brim with hip t-shirts, bags and posters. Before heading back to our hotel, we grabbed a few treats from District Donuts. January was definitely a good time of year to visit. It was 60s and sunny, the city was calm and we didn’t have to worry about making hotel and restaurant reservations a year in advance. New Orleans was as beautiful as I remembered it, and it was fun exploring new places with Marc.