Happy Mardi Gras Y’all!
Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler! Let the Good Times Roll!
Even before I ever stepped foot there I knew I would love New Orleans. How could I not? Marching to the beat of its own drum, and moving at an unapologetic pace all its own, NOLA takes great pride in it’s uniqueness. It’s truly a you have to see it, smell it, taste it to believe it kind of a place. Words alone just won’t do it justice, because there simply is no other place like it.
Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?
I love the title of Louis Armstrong’s song because I absolutely do miss New Orleans. I miss it in the very same way that I miss a dear friend. The easy pace and friendly atmosphere, the glow of the gas lamps and the haze of humid nights, the architecture of the French Quarter and the Garden District, the galleries and, yes even the touristy shops, and of course those beignets I can’t stop talking about.
As you walk along, music floats through the air mixing with the chug chug chug of the street cars, the clippity clop of the donkeys and the horn of the riverboats creating the sweet sound of New Orleans.
Over the years I’ve taken countless photos in the Crescent City, and written a bit too (ha ha), but because not all the photos relate to a specific post many of them have gone unused. Well, no longer… Here for your viewing enjoyment are just a few of the many NOLA photographs that have been languishing inside my laptop.
Cafe Du Monde
The Aftermath
My Favorite View #2
Ghosts of the Past
Because One Is NEVER Enough
Moonrise
Christmas NOLA Style
Bourbon Street Boy
Remnants
Peek-a-boo
NOLA Nights
Our Trees Have Bling
Here There be Pirates
Faded Splendor
Royal Street Blues
Re(fine)ry
Standing Watch
Tune Up
Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler
Resting Place
“Charter” Street
Until next time New Orleans…
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Each and every time I go to NOLA I’m asked the same questions, ” Are you bringing the kids?”, and “Is New Orleans kid friendly?” The answer to these questions is a resounding YES! My boys have been four times, and if you ask them they’ll tell you it’s one of their favorite places!
Starting with the obvious, If you have animal lovers in your family then consider visiting any or all three of the 
The Street Cars in New Orleans, aren’t just for show, they’ve been used by locals and tourists alike for 150 years! The original, and my favorite, is the St. Charles line. As the name suggests its route is via St. Charles Street, and a ride on this line will take you through some of the city’s loveliest neighborhoods.
The 
A really nice way to see and learn about the city is to take a 
I loved getting a chance to see the streets of the French Quarter from yet another perspective.
The Presbytère
This is a fabulous and very worthwhile 
City Park is one of the oldest and most visited urban public parks in the United States, and after visiting a few times I can see why!
This should be your 
New Orleans isn’t just famous for food, music and art, it’s also haunted! Yep, that’s right, with 300 years of infamous history there’s bound to be ghosts. I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention the cemeteries, vampires, voodoo and other mysterious happenings, just waiting 
Running from Canal Street downriver to Leake Avenue upriver and stretching a distance of six plus miles, Magazine Street is a treasure trove of shops, restaurants, and bars with sections of residential homes interspersed throughout. Many of the establishments are one of a kind and you’re guaranteed to find something of interest, along the way.
Walking along a residential section of Magazine Street one afternoon I noticed remnant Mardi Gras beads adorning, gates, lanterns, doorways, telephone poles, and tree branches. They were everywhere!
Just downriver from the 
Keep on going past The Marigny and you’ll find yourself in Bywater. Colorful historic fixer uppers along with trendy new restaurants and bars are helping to breath new life into this longtime neighborhood.
I’ve been writing a lot about New Orleans lately, the food, the festivals, the family fun, but what about the French Quarter? While the Crescent City has many great neighborhoods the French Quarter is NOLA’s oldest and most well known, and in my opinion her crown. Also known as the Vieux Carré, the French Quarter is oozing with undeniable charm, a fabulous hodgepodge of fine art, grit, delicious cuisine, music, and art!
New Orleans is just shy of 300 years old and has a long and fascinating history which helps to make it one of the most unique cities in America. Because it was French and then Spanish and then French again, before it was acquired by the United States in the Louisiana Purchase, the Quarter has a vibe all its own. It’s hard to put a finger on it, it’s not quite European, and not quite American, but a mix of both and yet there’s something else there as well. Maybe it’s the voodoo? It’s definitely the Creole, but there’s more. As you wander the streets lined on both sides by the colorfully painted buildings indicative of the Vieux Carré Its impossible not to feel the history of this magical place the peeling paint and 300 years of grit only adding to its charm!
If the French Quarter is the crown of New Orleans, than the St. Louis Cathedral is the jewel in her crown. The St. Louis Cathedral is the oldest operating cathedral in the United States and along with the fleur-de-lis a true icon of the city.
Beyond great cuisine and the infamous Bourbon, Street New Orleans is famous for its music and art scene and rightfully so! There are many great music clubs, but no need to be so formal if you’re looking to hear great music, you really needn’t look much further than the nearest street corner.
I’ve been to NOLA 5 times and each time I’ve stayed somewhere new. This most recent visit found us at the 
Are You A Foodie?
As I’ve mentioned 
