Hey there princess!
To celebrate the end of one crazy year, my husband and I took a trip to New Orleans in the week between Christmas and New Years. Neither of us have ever been to New Orleans before (I am a native Texan and have never been to Louisiana before!). This trip was so needed and so much fun for the two of us after a year of being shut up in the house staring at the computer screen.
Before leaving for our trip, I polled my family to ask for the best places to stay, shop, and eat at in NOLA and boy did they come through!
We stayed at the Hyatt Centric French Quarter, which ended up being really close to a lot of the things that we were wanting to do. A lot of places were closed due to COVID, but there were fewer crowds on the street, and we were able to enjoy walking around the city without the typical hustle and bustle. If you live in our neck of the woods and are looking for a short get-away - I would highly recommend going now!
I had so much fun walking up and down the beautiful streets full of history. The brisk air was perfect, and the weather was absolutely beautiful. Now that I am home again, I want to buy some books about the history of New Orleans. The French Quarter is full of an incredible mix of both modern and classical architecture.
There are towering Magnolia trees and sleepy Spanish moss lining the narrow walkways framing the houses that look like they have stood there for centuries. The breeze coming off of the Mississippi River was cool and refreshing in the warm afternoon sun as we made our way around Jackson Square. All around are beautiful sights, delicious smells, and the sounds of lively jazz music.
Some of my favorite places were food-related (can you blame me?).
Both mornings of our stay, we ate breakfast at the fabulous Cafe du Monde where we each got hot and delicious beignets positively drowning in powdered sugar. My mouth is watering now just thinking about it! All of the dining is outdoors, and the seating looks out at Jackson Square on one side and the Mississippi on the other side.
We were also lucky enough to get to hear some incredible jazz musicians playing while we ate our breakfast and enjoyed the morning. New Orleans is the birthplace of Louis Armstrong, and the birthplace of jazz. Sitting back and listening to these incredible artists play "What A Wonderful World" while eating a delicious breakfast was the exact medicine I needed to recover from 2020.
Another incredible stop on our trip was Bourbon House, where we were able to enjoy a quiet dinner (I had shrimp and grits, and it was delish!). I would totally recommend stopping here if you haven't been here before. It was so quiet, especially for a Sunday night. The atmosphere was warm and friendly, and was located directly across the street from our hotel on Bourbon Street.
The absolute highlight of our trip, however, was a dinner at Court of the Two Sisters. This stop required a reservation, and it was honestly so much fun to get dressed up for dinner! I can't remember the last time we went out to eat and had to look somewhat presentable (maybe our honeymoon?).
This place was packed with history and charm, not to mention some of the best food I have ever had! Our salads were mixed in front of us, and we were so impressed with the food and the atmosphere.
The building, as it currently stands, was erected in 1832 by Zenon Cavalier (what a name!) a financier of note in the early day s of Louisiana history. Prior to this, the location was the residence of Sieur Etienne DePerier, Governor of the French colonial period (1725 - 1733). The restaurant is called Court of the Two Sisters because the space was previously a fancy variety shop owned by two sisters who were members of an aristocratic family of Old New Orleans.
Basically, I can't wait for our next trip to New Orleans! There is so much more that I would like to do and see now that I know what to expect. Do you have any recommendations for me? Have you ever been to New Orleans? I've about halfway decided to sign up for a Krewe and ride in the Mardi Gras parade. Maybe a bit too much....
