New Orleans- Seafood and More

I am a member of several travel groups and New Orleans comes up in discussion quite often, so when I saw a pretty good deal on TravelPirates for a trip there, I booked it.  My sister and girlfriend and I try to take at least one trip together each summer and none of us had ever been to NOLA.  I did some research of things to see and do there and places to eat and created a list so that we would have choices.  This trip would be different than our usual trips to an island and beach so I wanted to ensure we wouldn’t get bored.

Logistics: We flew on Spirit Airlines.  I’ve heard horror stories about flying Spirit Airlines so I was really nervous but surprisingly we had really good flights.  It’s a cheap airline so you have to pay for everything including water and checked luggage.  Good thing I belong to #teamcarryon, so I’ve gotten better at light packing.  {Time for Kennesha’s 5 cent advice (K5¢): Airline workers don’t really bother you when it comes to carryon luggage when you use duffel bags that are easy to bend and stuff, or book bags when it comes to personal items.}  BTW My girlfriend won 5,000 miles just for having the designated lucky seat on the Spirit Airlines plane.  We stayed at the AC Hotel by Marriott New Orleans Bourbon, which was only 2 blocks from the main Bourbon street area which put us within access of everything.  It was a nice hotel and I would stay again.  Anywhere we didn’t walk, we used uber to get to.

 

Food: In true Ericka, Michele and Kennesha style, the first thing we did when we got to the hotel was find something to eat.  We followed the recommendation of the front desk and ate brunch at Domenica.  I had oatmeal with berries, maple syrup and almonds and a crab cake atop spring vegetables.  The vegetables were cold and I almost sent them back until I tasted them and figured that they were meant to be served cold because they were so delicious.  The crab cake was okay and the oatmeal was great.

 

We enjoyed dinner at Dragos so much that we ate there twice.  I tried the two salads topped with crab and lobster, the lobster one was my favorite.  It’s a simple salad but with the lobster and dressing it was delicious.  I also recommend the Herradura Shrimp- sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts and onions, deglazed with tequila and seasoned to perfection served with a grilled portabella mushroom.

At the recommendation of some locals, we checked out Neyows.  They said their charbroiled oysters were the best and when in NOLA, you have to eat oysters.  I even got the girls to try oysters for their first time.  The charbroiled oysters did not disappoint.  The appetizers from this place were the highlight.  We did not enjoy the main dishes at all.

 

While in New Orleans, you know I had to try out the vegan food scene and again I dragged these girls along to try something new.  We ate at Sweet Soulfood.   It’s a soul food buffet and they enjoyed the food here too.  Sorry no pictures of the food.

Finally, do not leave New Orleans without making a trip to Cafe Du Monde.  Everything I read before going to NOLA suggested this place.  So of course we went.  You can’t get a whole breakfast there but what you can get is a small piece of heaven.  The beignets are amazing as well as the cafe au lait.  The cafe au lait is coffee with chicory but I had mine black with sugar.  The beignets are like small funnel cake pillows topped with powdered sugar.  You can’t share them; you must get your own!

 

As far as drinks go, I tried an Abita beer and I didn’t care for it but do have a ‘hand grenade’ and pace yourself.

 

And yes, I know I speak of being vegan in many of my posts but I was showing off on this trip.  I ate lots of seafood, #YOLO!

Things to do and see: Of course no trip to New Orleans is complete without a trip down Bourbon street.  Honestly, it smelled really bad like old bar and vomit.  But we still enjoyed seeing the young people beating rhythms on the buckets, popping in and out of the numerous bars and shops and people watching.

Definitely take a trip down Decatur street and to the French Market, where you can shop for New Orleans spices, hot sauce, clothes and more and check out some sights.

 

If you are a strong person, I recommend a plantation tour.  I used Grayline New Orleans Tour  and did a double plantation tour.  I went to the Whitney Plantation and the Oak Alley.  I went to Whitney for the history and to pay homage to my ancestors and to Oak Alley for the beauty.  I enjoyed them both.

I enjoyed New Orleans but 4 days definitely was not enough time to see all that it had to offer.  We drove past the graveyards many times and learned that burial plots are shallow in New Orleans because the water table is very high.  If you dig a few feet down, the grave will become soggy, filling with water and the casket will literally float.  I think I would have liked to tour one of these graveyards.  We didn’t get to party or go to a piano bar because everyone wasn’t feeling that.  We didn’t make it to Faubourg Marigny or to take a ride on the St. Charles street car.  We didn’t stroll Royal street, or explore the sculpture garden in Audonbon Park.  I really wanted to tour the Hurricane Katrina area as well.  Oh well, I guess I have several reason to return.

The New Orleans food scene is amazing, that’s all I have to say.  I would go back just to eat and that sounds really PHAT!!!