THRILLING ADVENTURES, INTERESTING HISTORY LESSONS

 

One of my most memorable experiences in NOLA was when we putted through the bayou and were surrounded by hungry alligators. This might sound insane to most, but for someone who enjoys experiencing the unusual (like myself) this was so exciting! Don't worry, it's safer than it sounds. Most swamp tours offer tourists the chance to learn about the famed bayou and its inhabitants, feed alligators marshmallows and raw chicken, and hold a live adolescent gator! An important tip: New Orleans is very humid, make sure to opt for an airboat so you can enjoy a slight breeze while you speed  through to your destination. (Try AirBoat Swamp Tours or Jean Lafitte Swamp Tour).

 

History is what makes us who we are and this statement is truer than ever in New Orleans. Unfortunately for the people of NOLA, it can get dark. Plantations once thrived in the area, relying on the back-breaking work of slaves. The history of the plantations are absolutely heart-breaking - disgusting acts of violence and hate against innocent people, a different skin colour was their pathetic justification. We can't change the past but we can do our part to be informed and to give back to the community by taking one of the historical tours. The guides do a thorough job of explaining what went on in the main house, the working fields and the outdoor housing units which belonged to the slave population. We went to the famed Oak Alley Plantation but there are several notable others that can be found via this website: http://neworleansplantationcountry.com/plantations

 

Other Must Do's:

 

- Eat at the Court of Two Sisters Jazz Brunch (make sure to reserve a spot on the garden patio!) 613 Royal St

 

- Visit the Famous Café du Monde, must try their popular café au lait and French-style beignets 800 Decatur Street

 

- Enjoy the variety of French Quarter buskers on every corner

 

- Check out Jackson Square, the historic park in the French Quarter, and enter the St. Louis Cathedral for a memorable choir performance 700 Decatur St

 

- Walk and learn through the (free) Garden District Tour with Lafayette Cemetery http://www.freetoursbyfoot.com/new-orleans-tours/walking-tours/garden-district-and-lafayette-cemetery-tour/

 

-  Brave the New Orleans Haunted History Ghost Tour http://www.hauntedhistorytours.com/ghost-tour.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOLA NIGHTLIFE & BEST RESTAURANTS

 

You can't walk down Bourbon Street and be a fan of blues music without wandering into the Funky Pirate Blues Club. The mighty voices booming from the stage will have you running into the club and ordering a nice cold hand grenade before you can even ask the name of the band. The famous Funky Pirate's house band features the internationally acclaimed “Big Al Carson” (495 pounds of pure New Orleans Blues) & The Blues Masters, along with other local blues and jazz talents such as Marc Stone, and Mark Pentone. The atmosphere is warm and sexy - that's what Bourbon Street is all about after all!

 

There are numerous bars and clubs on Bourbon street and the best ones stay open past 2 AM - even during the week! Read up online for information about the bars before you head out to get a sense of where you'd like to go. Bourbon Street gives a whole new meaning for "there's something for everyone": drag queens, mechanical whales, karaoke contests, quaint courtyards and dueling pianos. Read ahead to be safe or if you want some real fun, pick the club at random and see what kinds of crazy stories you inherit.

 

For Italian cuisine lovers like myself, this gem of a restaurant will become one of your favourites if not the favourite. The food at The Mona Lisa is delicately created and filled with either creamy sauce, giant meatballs, crispy breaded chicken and lots of cheese! The wine menu is expansive and the Paneer Chicken was to die for. Enough about the food though - even if you aren't a fan of Italian you will surely fall in love with the quirky decor. The restaurant offers patrons the chance to draw their version of the mona lisa which will end up on their walls along with thousands of others. The creativity here is endless. There are mona lisas of the vampire, celebrity, exotic dancer, transvestite, zombie and cat variety, among anything else you can imagine.... Visit this place for the entertaining community artwork but also for the food that will fill your stomach in the best way. Found at 1212 Royal St.

 

Getting your fancy on in the French Market calls for a reservation at the upscale and mouth-watering restaurant, Dickie Brennan's Tableau located at 616 St. Peter Street. Every course is cooked to literal perfection and the crème brulé is bigger than your head! If it's your birthday they even let you wear a chef's hat!

 

The dimly lit Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar is one of the oldest bars in North America (possibly THE oldest according to locals), and has been serving beer and frozen drinks since the 1700s. You can find it at 941 Bourbon Street with patrons ducking in and out of the tiny establishment. Ask a friendly bartender or local about the bar's rich history.

 

Willie's Chicken Shack is above-average fried chicken (seriously the best you will ever taste) and the place to hang out on Bourbon Street once the bars close for the night. Don't expect too much from it other than a great quick bite to eat and possibly one of the best prevention methods for that Bourbon Street hangover in the morning. 630 Bourbon St

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another music hub, less known and arguably better (definitely cleaner) than Bourbon Street, is Frenchmen Street. The three-block section in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood is the place to hang out, and holds the most popular live-music venues including Snug Harbor, the Spotted Cat, Bamboula's and the Maison.

 

Also notable is Frenchmen Street's outdoor arts market that draws in crowds to the local vendors showing off their Hurricaine Katrina candid-portraits, handpainted masterpieces, sculptures, innovative jewelry, soaps, accessories and anything else your wild imagination can think of. Located at 619 Frenchmen St and open super late, this is a definite must stop. Support a local independent artisan after engaging in conversation about their art, their life, their struggles. Everyone is very friendly here. They string up pretty outdoor lights and offer chalk for visitors to draw on the pavement in the center of the market, allowing them to contribute to the positive, dreamy, supportive tone of the market.