The air is thick and sticky, making it difficult to breath deeply. The smell of vomit and sewerage is so pungent that you gag with each step. Drunken tourists slur and stumble past you, their heavily beaded necklaces clanking together. Some pudgy guy haggles you to enter the strip club he’s promoting by offering 2 for 1 drinks. The music from the bars are all competing for your attention, aggravating your already pounding head. You have blisters from your flip flops and you have completely sweated through your shirt. The sugar rush from your frozen drink has gone to your head and you are dizzy with intoxication. But you are on Bourbon Street. And you are blissfully happy.
New Orleans is a beast. It’s loud and boisterous, drunken and crass. The streets are filthy and sinful and the food will put you at risk for a heart attack. But the city is alive and vibrant. The music, the culture, the history… it’s unparalleled by any other place I have visited in my life. I encourage everyone to put Nah ‘Leans at the top of their travel bucketlist. And immediately. New Orleans will be a culture shock, but if you survive, you’ll emerge all the better.
I’ve got quite a lot to say about this city. Here is my quick list itinerary of the perfect long weekend. Below please click on the links for full reviews of hotels, restaurants and activities.
DAY 1:
Check into Windsor Court Hotel
Lunch at Mother’s
Walk to Bourbon Street, get a frozen daquiri and/or hand grenade and soak in the action, stroll through surrounding streets
Go to Mardi Gras World
Dinner at G.W. Fins
Hurricanes at Pat OBriens dueling piano room
DAY 2:
Ride the street car to Commanders Palace for Brunch
See uptown, walk through the cemeteries, check out Audubon Park/Zoo
Dinner at Clancy’s
Drinks at Le Fete
DAY 3:
Beignets to go from Cafe du Monde
Rent a car
Bayou Fan Boat tour to see some Gators!
Dinner at Nolas
Drinks in French Quarter
DAY 4:
Breakfast at Windsor Court
Drive north to see Laurla Plantation, Oak Alley, Houmas House
Late Lunch at Oak Alley Plantation
Back to airport for late flight home.
CLICK HERE for WHERE TO STAY in NEW ORLEANS!
CLICK ME for WHERE and WHAT TO EAT in NEW ORLEANS!
