In February of 2017 I jumped on a plane and headed to New Orleans for an overnight stay, I just didn’t want to spend my weekend in Orlando. New Orleans was bustling preparing for Mardi Gras! It very much reminded me of my hometown of Pasadena right before the Rose Parade.

Instead of taking a shuttle I decided to use the local bus line to venture to the French Quarter from the airport. It was only a couple of dollars and took less than an hour. I got to see parts of town that only the locals do and what a bargain!

My first stop was Willie Mae’s Scratch House on the outskirts of downtown. I had seen this place on both Food Network and The Travel Channel so I felt it was a stop I should make. To be perfectly honest the food was good but in my opinion not worthy of being showcased on multiple television shows.

Next, it was off to the French Quarter. The architecture and atmosphere here are amazing and the best part it all the music! I was told by a local that the city pays the musicians a monthly stipend to encourage them to come out and play on the streets. I think this is a great way to support the arts and showcase some of the amazing talents this city has! I also love how the architecture of the French Quarter contrasts the skyscrapers of downtown showcasing two centuries colliding.

For my overnight stay, I chose the Hotel Royal in the French Quarter. The location was great, and it was on the far end of the Quarter so it was quieter. This former townhouse turned hotel was an amazing place to stay. You really got a feel for what it might have been like to live here in its heyday. The staff could not have been more helpful and I loved how I was escorted to my room and shown all the features by a member of the staff. There is a coffee-house across the street on the corner where you can grab a cup of morning brew and some King Cake!

For my dinner that night I chose to visit Deanie’s Seafood and I let me tell you this place is amazing! The service was top notch and the food was great! I loved how they brought you a plate of small boiled potatoes with Cajun seasoning as a starter instead of bread. The dessert was out of this world. I will definitely come back here on my next visit.

On my second day, I decided it would be fun to take the streetcar all the way through the Garden District to the end of the line and then catch the local bus from there back to the airport, and it worked out beautifully! The streetcars were so much fun to ride and the Garden District was beautiful. I loved how so many homes were decorated for Mardi Gras almost as much as some might decorate for Christmas!

New Orleans can be an easy day trip or a couple nights stay. Obviously, if you like to drink and party this is a perfect destination as well, but don’t forget to enjoy some of the amazing sights the city has to offer!

#neworleans #mardigras