NOLA

NOLA!

Before the movie “Girls’ Trip,” but well after “Double Jeopardy” I had always fantasized about visiting New Orleans. Thanks to Bey and Jay’s tour stop in New Orleans, my friends and I not only had the chance to be up close and personal with the power couple, but we also got to explore the charming city.

I honestly didn’t know much about New Orleans until some of my family was displaced by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. That year, I was a sophomore in high school consumed by self, classes, and basketball. I wasn’t fully aware of the extensive damage it had done to everyone and everything there. My cousins came and stayed with us here in Louisville, but I didn’t really understand it all. Now having visited the city several years later (“post-Katrina” as the locals dubbed it), mature me is able to empathize with their grievances.

While the city continues to be in ‘rebuild and recover’ mode, the locals we interacted with maintained friendly and welcoming energy. From our waiters at restaurants, our Air Bnb host, and our lyft/uber/cab drivers, I can honestly say that everyone was very friendly and hospitable.

A glance at our three day trip (minus 1 for OTR II):

Bourbon Street

Cafe DuMonde (Obvious choice here are the Beignets and Frozen Coffee)

Frenchman Street

The Ruby Slipper Cafe (Put your name on the Yelp waitlist at least 2 hours in advance!)

Lafayette Cemetery No.1

Magazine Street

Garden District

Jackson Square/St. Louis Cathedral

Royal Street

Mr. Ed’s Seafood & Oyster House (Ask for Roqkie! Order the Charbroiled Oysters)

Lula’s Restaurant Distillery (Ask for Sayeed! Order the Crab Guacamole)

NOMA’s Besthoff Sculpture Garden

Solange’s House

Louis Armstrong Park

Street Car Ride (Opt for the $3 day pass-good for 24 hours)

Mercedes Superdome

I will go back to any place that welcomes me with open arms, has amazing food, and is easy to get around. My biggest tip would be to go during the fall, when there is a break from the heat and humidity and it’s not hurricane season. You will also likely be walking around a ton and taking in any of the ghost/plantation/swamp tours they have to offer so keep that in mind!

Not digging New Orleans? Go check out my previous blog on my cross-country road-trip here!