I’ve been too busy after my vacation to talk about my vacation but it’s never too late to remember a good trip. There’s plenty to keep one occupied in New Orleans and if you’re there for a week you also have some time to take it easy. It is The Big Easy afterall. The weather in May gave us a good combination of sun, humidity, and downpour. For chill time while sunny one can spend a little time at The Country Club for a little pool with a side of food and bevvies. Or stop by The Spa at Windsor Court for a spa treatment with a side of lounging by the pool with a few bites and bevies. Not bad.
You can’t do the city without catching some Jazz and a little am rain couldn’t keep us away from a Saturday at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Some of the best music wasn’t the headliners like Donna Summer but the smaller tents for some swing and some singer songwriter action. And while you can find jazz everywhere for a little more chill vibe make it a point to hit Bacchanal Wine where you can buy a bottle at the counter and head out to the backyard and with any luck some space at a table to enjoy, and while you’re there a surprisingly good dinner menu.
The French Quarter is filled with the overwhelming Bourbon Street but worth a pass one can stop at bars like Cafe Lafitte in Exile for a quick round of Wheel of Fortune (call out the winner and get a free drink) or the oldest bar around Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. And of course you can stop by The Carousel Bar & Lounge, just don’t expect to snag a seat at the rotating bar itself. If you need to get yourself to a more traditional sit down spot we found success at Sobou or Arnaud’s French 75 Bar which had not only a great bar program but some snazzy monkey lamps.
Heading over to the warehouse district The Ogden Museum of Southern Art brings a great selection of both permanent and and changing exhibitions. If it happens to be Cinco de Mayo you might be lucky enough to catch some Mexican wrestling at Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar and while as a California girl I wouldn’t go out of my way for Mexican food and margaritas it makes for a festive atmosphere. And though it was a bit of a chain-like feel had a great stop in for food at Meril followed by a nightcap at charming Loa Bar.
And while you’re on Magazine Street, which is a little longer than one can necessarily conquer, you should allow yourself a little shopping. Be it Billy Reid or White’s Mercantile there are plenty of options to pop into. And of course with shopping comes the need to pause for a snack, and while there was some question as to which of the split chef’s restaurants to go to all I can say is a meal and beverage at Shaya was well worth a stop.
Plenty of sites to be seen from the garden district, beautiful old cemetaries, and a bit of voodoo. Or just grab breakfast at Ruby Slipper or head out to Willie Mae’s Scotch House for some fried chicken. All in all a pretty fun way to spend a week.
