New Orleans epitomizes the concept of “living boldly.” With vibrant art scenes, a flourishing history of varying cultures, and delicious food, not to mention Mardi Gras, New Orleans can’t help but warm your soul.
One of my favorite things about visiting New Orleans was the unique array of foods you were constantly surrounded by. From Creole cuisine to fast food chains I had never been exposed to – being from NC – nothing I ate was lacking in flavor.
Favorite Foods to eat:
- Beignets! (be careful of the powdered sugar though)
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Gumbo (so good; I haven’t had a gumbo that stands up to it since)
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Red beans and rice (the perfect comfort food)
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Cane’s Chicken (um… AMAZING!)
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PJ’s Coffee (fun fact: there are more of these in New Orleans than Starbucks for a reason)
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Cafe Au Le (Morning Call serves great Cafe Au Les)
There is never a dull moment in New Orleans. This is not a city where sitting in the hotel room is an adequate block in the itinerary. If you need something to do, simply look out your window, or walk down the street. There are so many unique things happening at every hour of the day.
Places to go:
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French quarter
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Mardi Gras World
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NoMA
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Honestly just wander! It’s all amazing!
Audubon Crescendo: a Poem
Mighty Mississippi reflects portraits
of cargo ships painted in brushstrokes of primary color
Families wait in line on Peach Street
for snowballs drenched in lip-puckering syrup
Statues stand in gardens where
crowds of people grow slowly over time
Sprouting furrowed eyebrows and distorted mouths
Their expressions frozen, their poses obscure
Cafe O Le steeping in cups that read “Morning Call”
All contrasted by jubilant jazz playing
theme songs for lives
Of tourists, Louisiana natives, and students
Cigarette smoke resembles music notes
as it climbs the bars higher and higher
Beignets escape their paper bags and enter into
gaping jowls of street goers
Powdered sugar poofs out into the air forming clouds of laughter
Rot Iron snakes its way up the side of brickwork buildings
Mardis gras beads rain from the sky
waves of green purple and gold
Mechanized floats flood the streets parading
the krewe of Rex
so the city sleep walks to work
Down Zimple Street as lines of trolley cars float past
Beads, coconuts, and high heeled shoes litter the floor
if they are not already trophies on a mantle
Jazz plays softly in the breeze, never leaving the city
It lullabies people to sleep and wakes them up
when the moon rises in the east
the music never sleeps
The art scene in New Orleans is huge, so if you’re like me, take advantage of the opportunities to jot down inspiration or just absorb all the creative energies that flow through this amazing city.
I highly recommend adding New Orleans to your travel bucket list. You can make a weekend trip out of it or a longer excursion; either way, make good use of all this amazing place has to offer.
Photo courtesy: Emma Martin