New Orleans Trip Recommendations
Before the COVID-19 madness my husband and I were able to take a trip to New Orleans, LA! I feel so fortunate that we were able to do this with all the uncertainties that lie ahead. New Orleans is my favorite city to visit in the states! And I’ve only been there once. Needless to say, I would love to go back. In New Orleans you will find live music on almost any corner, good food, lots of history and more. In this post I’m gonna share some of the fun things I was able to do and hopefully will give you some ideas should you plan a trip to Nawlins’. Here are my New Orleans trip recommendations!
Place d’Armes Hotel
We stayed at the Place d’Armes Hotel for the whole trip. What I loved about this hotel is that in right in the center of the French Quarter, so it is walking distance to many sites. The facade and the interior brick was beautiful and the staff was very friendly and helpful. Complimentary breakfast is included. The only downside is that some of the rooms are windowless including the room we stayed in. It wasn’t a huge deal for us, but might be for some. The hotel is said to be haunted so you will occasionally see tour groups stopped at the entrance. Be sure to ask the front desk for the print out of the story. As for my husband and I, we didn’t experience anything out of the ordinary.
It’s just a few blocks from Jackson Square which houses the Andrew Jackson monument in the middle of the park. Jackson Square is steps away from the St. Louis church, as you see in the picture I took to the left and across the street from the Mississippi River. In this area there are restaurants, shops, artists, fortune tellers and live music.
Walking Tour
For our first night we did a walking tour. Specifically, a “haunted pub crawl”(https://hauntedhistorytours.com/our-tours/#all-tours).
It was a mix of history and legends. If you are staying in the French Quarters, I highly recommend doing a walking tour within the quarters your first night. You’ll learn a lot about the area from your tour guide and become more familiar with the area, which will help you plan out the rest of your stay. All in all the tour was entertaining and we got to see some really fun bars. Also, you are able to carry an open container of alcohol in New Orleans, so this is a simple but fun thing to experience while there. The picture to the right was taken at the Pirate Alley Cafe. And yes that is absinthe dripping onto sugar cubes.
Plantations
If you want to visit the plantations be sure to book this early on during your trip as they book up fast! We waited till our last day and with the help of the receptionist from our hotel (who made countless calls), we were able to find a tour that would squeeze us in! (https://toursbyisabelle.com/) They are a little pricey, about $100 per person, but totally worth it. The plantations are outside of the city so expect about an hour drive out.
Laura Plantation
The first plantation we visited was the Laura Plantation. This plantation was actually run by a Creole woman. It has a very interesting history behind it. During the tour we learned about the family who ran the plantation as well as ventured to the slave quarters. The history is very eye opening. We learned that one family remained in the slave quarters until (I believe) the 1960s. Although they were not slaves, this was the life and housing that they knew. I highly recommend this part of the tour for the history. I can’t speak for all the tour guides, but ours was very knowledgeable and passionate.
Oak Alley Plantation
The second plantation we visited was the Oak Alley Plantation. This tour incorporated some history, but most of the tour was to showcase the house and land. It was beautiful and lined with oak trees. Those trees were purposefully planted to create a tunnel of airflow from the river to the house for a cooling effect. I recommend this part of the tour, because it is very enjoyable but if you are interested in learning more history pair it with another plantation. Also, don’t forget to get a mint julep while you’re there!
Food
There is so much good food in New Orleans! If I reviewed every place I went to, I would be writing all night haha, so I will only review a few. Be sure to try the crawfish, beignets, alligator, and etouffee while you’re there. Also, I don’t have any pictures but be sure to grab a bite on Frenchmen street! Not so much for the food, but for the jazz music. You won’t regret it!
- Cafe Du Monde- The beignets! This cafe only serves beignets and coffee drinks. Beignets are a must try when in New Orleans. Be sure to try the Cafe au Lait as well.
- The Court of Two Sisters- It is worth it for the outdoor seating in the beautiful courtyard along with the live jazz music. The food is okay at this buffet styled brunch. When in New Orleans the cuisine is typically very flavorful and spicy, but it is not at this restaurant. However, if you need a reprieve from spicy food I would say this is a good option with the included ambiance.
- Acme Oyster House- I highly highly recommend the chargrilled oysters. I still get cravings for them! They are smoky and made with an herb butter sauce and cheese blend. Yum.
- Cafe Amelie- We went here on our last night and I am so happy we did. I unfortunately don’t have any pictures. The setting is very romantic so its perfect for a date night. The courtyard is gorgeous and the food is delicious. I recommend the duck.
Other highlights
There’s so much to see in New Orleans. I don’t think I can capture it all in this post. Here are some other things to check out:
- Creole houses in the French quarter
- Voodoo shops
- Lafitte’s Blacksmith shop bar
- Garden District- if you are interested in sightseeing beautiful neighborhoods. To be honest, I could’ve done without this part of the trip, but our entertaining trolley driver made it worth it. 🙂
- Jazz music on Frenchmen
- Bourbon Street- Did you really visit New Orleans if you didn’t at least step onto Bourbon street? haha.
Hope my New Orleans trip recommendations inspire you to take a trip to this amazing city! Looking for my travel tips? Check out my travel page here: https://lifewithbecks.com/category/travel/
