It has been an emotional and large year for me, so I decided to take a trip to a place where everyone can leave their worries and celebrate. New Orleans has a custom where you can celebrate anything - no need for a reason. Its beauty ranges from the French Quarter, the Garden District, all the way to the swampy wetlands. There's history everywhere and the food is hearty and full of soul.
Located in the French Market is a cute little cafe with traditional Louisiana cuisine that's made entirely healthy: Meals from the Heart. It's a hidden gem in a middle of a city that's known for their fried, buttered, and salty foods. All of the menu items are gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian friendly.
Some of the most well-known places in New Orleans are Cafe Du Monde and Acme Oyster House. Cafe Du Monde is very cute and super easy to get settled in. You just grab any seat you like and a waiter/waitress would come up where you can order from their simple menu (you'd always have to order beignets there, of course). It's a great place to people watch as it's right by Jackson Square.
Acme Oyster House usually has a line but we manage to get seats at the bar. They are known for the chargrilled oysters so we got a half dozen on chargrilled and half dozen of raw. Our bartender was friendly, as are every local in New Orleans.
Waking up after a night in New Orleans always calls for a fabulous and hearty brunch spot. Ruby Slipper Cafe is made just for that. It only opens during breakfast/brunch time. The cool, rustic, and high ceilings make this place a little hip but comfortable enough to feel right at home.
A couple miles away from French Quarter and the Central Business District (CBD) is a quaint neighborhood called the Garden District. We took the historic St. Charles Street Car to get here. The Garden District known for its lavish 19th century architecture and where many celebrities live such as Sandra Bullock, Jon Goodman, Peyton Manning, and films are made, like the Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Interview with a Vampire.
The pulse of New Orleans is its jazz music, which is everywhere if you consider the numerous street performers. But at the heart of the French Quarter is the historic Preservation Hall, where live traditional jazz is played every night. That night, Stephen Lands was on the trumpet, and the whole band was amazing they did "Ain't She Sweet" and "Saints". I thoroughly enjoyed the whole atmosphere and music.
A little ways out of the city is Slidell, a town by the bayou. I absolutely loved listening to our bus driver. Not only was she funny with her Nawlin's sassiness, but she was also touching and personal while telling us her story of how she rounded up her family and evacuated the lower 9th ward right before Katrina hit. She pointed out the devastation that remained and then the rebuildings from residents who returned.
Everyone can relate to the thought of nearly losing something. This act of coming back and rebuilding is simply human courage - to find where you belong. It's not that hard to fathom after seeing the beautiful wetlands and all the animals that reside there.
Walking around the city is a day-long activity too. We caught the 4-D World War II movie narrated by Tom Hanks in the National WWII Museum. We went antique and art shopping on Royal St. And then at night, after getting the famous Hurricane drink at Pat O'Brian's, we strolled on Bourbon.
(Before heading to the airport, we sneaked in another meal at Cochon. We had to get fried alligators there before we leave NOLA. Everything was amazing.)
