New Orleans, Louisiana

Back in early June I ventured to one of my favorite cities in the south for a dear friends bachelorette party  - which we named (#) the Summit of Free Spirits. I had not been to New Orleans since a girls trip in 2011 (!!), so it was really nice to return and soak it all in again. 

How badly do you want to dive headfirst into that plate of Beignets / that Sazerac / those broiled oysters topped with crab right now? The food in this city is something special. We had a lot of NOLA first timers and I was excited to re-visit some of the French Quarter musts with them like Hotel Monteleone's Carousel Bar, Pat O'Brien's courtyard, Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar and Cafe Du Monde. We hit up terrific restaurants as to be expected and visited some new neighborhoods that I hadn't been to. Here's the rundown: 

Brunch at The Ruby Slipper | Creative southern breakfast fare served in a lively cafe. My dish pictured is The Costa Rican - gallo pinto (slow cooked black beans and rice) over a warm tomato salsa, two fried eggs, spicy chorizo sausage, avocado + crispy plantains.

Dinner at Borgne | Coastal Louisiana Seafood from renowned Chef John Besh. My entrée pictured is the Angel Hair Pontchartrain - creamy shellfish broth, oysters, shrimp, garlic + bottarga. Other girls loved the Crispy Frog Legs over rice vermicelli and herb nuoc cham.

Drinks in The Warehouse District @ Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar and the brand new Ace Hotel rooftop pool bar Alto. We sipped Chica Chica Boom's (in the plastic pineapple pictured, so fun!) made with with rum, aperol, pineapple, orange, grapefruit and honey. I really enjoyed wandering the Warehouse District, it was refreshing to get out of the touristy French Quarter for bit and explore a low key but hip residential neighborhood.

Dinner at Bourbon House | Andd back to the heart of the French Quarter for some proper Creole fine dining on Bourbon Street. My incredible meal pictured: Charbroiled Oysters on the half shell in a creole bordelaise butter with jumbo lump crab meat and Gulf Redfish with new potatoes, balsamic glazed red onion + lemon beurre blanc topped with crawfish. 

Ghost Walking Tour in the French Q | On what was my second night and some others third night, this was the perfect low key group activity. It was easy for us to join a tour on a whim. Our guide was animated and knowledgeable; you learn a lot about NOLA history and the ghost stories are legit! Highly recommend.

Confederacy of Cruisers 9th Ward Bike Tour | I recommend this experience above the Ghost Tour if you had limited time. After cruising through the neighborhoods that were flooded under 10 feet of water during Hurricane Katrina, I am a changed person. Too see it all up close - the devastation and loss, the spirit and the rebuilding, and the adorable shotgun houses that still remain really made an impression. Photos here.

Be sure to check out my US Travel Page where you can find more NOLA Recommendations!

French Quarter Lust

Attention friends: this is my last NOLA post! It has been fun and exciting to recap the trip for you intermittently over the past few weeks. This final installment is a photo montage dedicated to the sites that make New Orleans, New Orleans. It is pretty much a compilation of miscellaneous photos that didn't make it into the previous posts. I hope you enjoy and thanks for letting me re-live this trip for as long as possible. Until the next adventure!The days spent soaking up the French Quarter on foot were truly memorable. This city is one of a kind.Prominent architecture includes fancy balconies where the delicate wrought iron weaves intricately over backdrops of richly colored pink buildings.Harsh weathered exteriors are a contrasting façade from those that are clean and polished. Where the balconies give off of a regal feel on one street corner, they are rough and worn down on the next.
The contrast between the two is ever so striking. The houses are often distinguished by wide paneling and painted shutters, I even spotted one with disco balls hanging from the roof! The Bourbon Street bars follow suit with weathered brick and balconies, adding flare with bright neon signs and lights, beads and bras, glitter and glitz.

Our hotel was an absolute gem. Below is the view from our 8th floor room at the Ritz Carlton, situated a block from Bourbon at 921 Canal Street. The courtyard was especially pleasant offering a serene atmosphere to relax. We didn't spend too much time here, just enough to order a bloody mary before venturing out one morning. We spent a little more time one evening in the Ritz's swanky Davenport Lounge where famous Jazz musician Jeremy Davenport performs on a regular basis. His show was a good time, the vibe is upbeat and everyone makes their way up to the dance floor sooner or later!Jackson Square is a charming section of the historic French Quarter. Be sure to wander over if and when you visit. A statue pays homage to our 7th President Andrew Jackson who (before his presidency) served as Major General leading a poorly equipped army to victory at The Battle of New Orleans on January 8th, 1815 against British troops that far outnumbered ours. This poignant victory marked Andrew Jackson a hero.

The St. Louis Cathedral is another well known landmark of Jackson Square.

Fountains grace the square along with artists selling their wares and donkeys offering carriage rides. The Fleur de Lis is a notable French icon. This stylized symbol is played up in all the shops and stores and below in lively Jackson Square artwork. If you haven't already, make sure to check out Tricia's Guide to The Big Easy over at Not All Who Wander Are Lost. She manages to wrap up the trip nicely in one post while still hitting the major highlights and offering some more in depth travel advice. They say the world is a book and those who do not travel only read one page. I feel it is a privilege to travel at all, and especially with these ladies. I can only hope the future has in store for us many more girls vacations!