Ahhh, New Orleans. My trip to NOLA was absolutely incredible. New Orleans is a city rich with history and culture and has been on my bucket list for quite some time. What also made this trip great, was that I traveled alone. Yes, for the first time I visited another city by myself, not by choice though. Unfortunately, my friend that came on the trip with me had something come up last minute and had to leave after the second day. I was a little disappointed at first but I decided to make the best of it and realized that traveling alone was always something I wanted to experience.
So, for the next few days, I stuck to the itinerary and got out of my comfort zone. I spent 5 days and 4 nights in the Big Easy and I learned something new each day. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through all my adventures, including the restaurants, tours, history, music, and culture I experienced during my trip. And as a newly pescatarian, I still got to enjoy some of NOLA’s best dishes.
I stayed at The Old No. 77 Hotel + Chandlery, which was conveniently located just 3 blocks from the French Quarter. My room wasn’t anything luxurious but it did have a vintage feel to it, which I really liked. I had no plans on spending much time in this boutique hotel so the room I had did the job.
Below are some of NOLA’s best eats and tours to experience:
PLACES TO EAT
1. Warehouse Grill on Magazine Street for some tasty NOLA bar food:
Great restaurant with a variety of beers from Louisiana. I had the crawfish quesadilla and my first oyster po-boy!
2. Cafe Du Monde for Beignets and Hot Chocolate:
Now, I’m going to be completely honest and some may disagree with me, but the beignets were a tad bit overrated. Don’t get me wrong here, they’re good but there was nothing amazing about them, it was like taking a trip to dunkin donuts but waiting in a really long line. Nevertheless, that is my opinion and you should still go and try them out for yourself.
3. Three Muses on Frenchmen Street for Dinner, Drinks & Live Jazz Music:
You cannot visit New Orleans and miss out on some live jazz music. Three Muses was great, a little crowded but the ambiance was nice and the food was also great. If you’re in the mood for something light, definitely try the fish tacos.
4. Ruby Red Slipper for Southern Brunch on Magazine Street:
I stopped here on my last day for a mouthwatering breakfast. Unfortunately, my options were limited as most of the dishes included meat. So, I ordered scrambled eggs served with black beans, corn tortillas, topped with habanero salsa, sour cream and an avocado slice with a side of créme brulee pancakes. Not so bad for a meatless brunch!
EDUCATIONAL TOURS AND ACTIVITIES
1. Voodoo Tour, French Quarter Tour and Garden District Tour:
If you really want a lesson on history, you have to book a few tours on your trip. The 3 tours that I booked were the Voodoo Tour, French Quarter and the Garden District Tour. The Voodoo was interesting, to say the least, there was a lot of history involved and our tour guide was very animated. We learned about Marie Laveau — the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans and visited a voodoo authentica. The French Quarter Tour gave a great general lesson on the history of NOLA like — the effects and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, how Mardi Gra originated, most famous restaurants, Jackson Street, Bourbon Street and more. Last but not least, the Garden District Tour guided us around some famous celebs homes — such as Brad Pitt, Nicholas Cage and Sandra Bullock, as well as a tour of Lafayette Cemetery.
2. World War II Museum and Film on Magazine Street:
I always had an interest in World War II and after reading so many positive reviews online, I decided that I had to stop by this museum while visiting. This can definitely turn into an all-day activity, especially if you decide to watch the “Beyond all Boundaries” film. Beyond all Boundaries is a 4d journey through World War II and is narrated by Tom Hanks. This is a must-see if you’re going to the museum.
Traveling alone was an interesting experience. I looked around and wondered what others thought, not that I personally cared, but it was intriguing to observe others’ reactions. I felt more independent and really enjoyed my own company. Traveling with a significant other, friend or family member is great, but sometimes, solitude can be nice as well.
AND now, I can cross ‘traveling alone’ off my bucket list!