What better way to start a travel blog about NOLA than a little LOLA?

I recently spent three days in New Orleans, Louisiana. I had never been there before, and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to experience the sight, sound, and taste of this fabulous city.

Before my departure, I received mixed reviews from those I spoke with about my upcoming trip. Some loved New Orleans and some said, once was enough. I actually loved it and would go back if I had the opportunity, but maybe not before I visit other places on my wish list.

I hope you join me as I share my short trip to NOLA with you. I’ll divide my travel blog into three categories:

The Garden District The French Quarter The Plantations

The Garden District

New Orleans is a hopping place and hotel reservations can be hard to come by. If you have time to plan in advance, do so. I think you will find it easier to make reservations and pricing will be more competitive. I booked our hotel about a month before our departure, so my options were limited, based on my price point. Here’s something I learned that will give you some insight for your future travel.

Some websites have a no-refund policy. If you had to cancel your reservation, you would be charged for your full reserved stay. I was uncomfortable with this policy since I have situations that could force me to interrupt my travel plans. As a new consideration for me, I went to a local AAA office. There I met with an agent that helped me research a bunch of hotels. One of the benefits of being a member of AAA, they booked the hotel and didn’t charge my credit card at the time of booking. I was able to cancel my reservation up to 72 hours before arrival, without being charged a penny, which gave me some degree of security in my decision to book with AAA. I chose the cheapest membership option, and was able to use my membership for discounts at various sights during my trip. I also was sent home with a bunch of maps and tourist literature.

I was traveling with 2 cousins from Norway. We were mindful of cost, and wanted to share a room, so the requirement for us was 2 queen beds. It certainly was nice to divide the cost of a hotel room between the three of us. We stayed at Maison St Charles for our three nights in NOLA. It’s not easy finding the right place to stay, especially if you have never been there before. I’m always debating between old and charming versus new and modern. I truly tend to lean towards old-charm, but after our visit to New Orleans, I think, moving forward, I might switch gears a bit. As I am getting more mature in my tastes, I think I would rather have neat and clean instead of older and needs updating. Let me explain.

As we all know, a picture says a thousand words, but a picture can also be deceiving. I too can edit a photo to enhance the image. I think the main reason for editing is you want to transfer the feeling and the emotion of the live shot. I want the viewer to get the best glimpse of what I’m trying to portray. That being said, websites often focus on the positive and fail to enhance the negative, can’t say I blame them.

Our room turned out to be fine and adequately met our needs, but it had a few flaws. Upon arrival, I felt the bathroom wasn’t properly clean. The staff quickly came to re-clean it, which was excellent service, but even after it was cleaned, it had the appearance of looking not-so-clean because of the workmanship. It may not be fair to comment that the room wasn’t clean, but the appearance made it feel that way. It’s hard to make sloppy grout look clean.

The beds were quite comfortable with nice linens. The outdoor space was a bit drab, but the season was changing, so it wasn’t as colorful and lively as one might expect in New Orleans. However, I have to remember it was the end of October. I feel more attention could be placed in maintaining the outdoor space as well, especially in the off season. I did see streets being hosed-down in the French Quarter one morning. I suppose that’s out of necessity, but I think if that was done a bit more, the outdoor space would feel fresher. Times have changed, and it’s probably an unrealistic expectation.

When traveling to a city via car, it isn’t unusual to have to pay extra for parking. The highest price I saw was $30.00 per day. Of course you have to factor in parking as part of your expense, but I wouldn’t make the parking fee be the determining factor, meaning don’t choose your hotel by the cheapest parking option. Pick your hotel based on what pleases you and hopefully the parking won’t be too costly. We basically parked the car and left it in the lot until our trip on Sunday to the plantations. Other than a tip for the bell-hop, it didn’t cost us anymore if we needed the car throughout the day. We just went to the concierge desk and the car was collected for our use.

The Garden District was a fine location to stay, especially since you have direct access to other areas of New Orleans via the streetcars. I love them so much! I wish my hometown, Wilmington, NC and every town for that matter, would have streetcars. They are aesthetically adorable, rather affordable, and quite convenient. I believe it cost $3.00 for 24 hours for on and off travel via the streetcar. You can’t beat that!

The Garden District has its own unique appeal and with the opportunity to hop on a Streetcar, you can access the French Quarter with ease. So, if you don’t want the noise and the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter, the Garden District is a very good option. 

So what’s in the Garden District?

The Lafayette Cemetery is a must. Unfortunately for us, it was closed do to necessary repairs, but one can tell it’s a fascinating place to visit. Here’s a little peek.

There are plenty of shops along Magazine Street. We visited a few shops that were super cute as we meandered in and out hoping to find the perfect gift for either self or someone else.

As far as restaurants, we ate at two in the Garden District. Both had delicious food, but one stood out as far as ambiance. The first night we ate at Basin Seafood and Spirits. I had the seafood gumbo. I can’t describe the flavor of the broth, but it was so dark, rich and delicious. If only I could recreate that soup! Apparently the secret is in the roux. Below is a picture of the seafood gumbo and the chef in the kitchen.

The second restaurant we ate at in the Garden District was called Coquette. The setting was classy and elegant. It felt like old-world nostalgia. I loved the space and the food was fantastic. The chef was able to develop dishes by using spices and herbs creating unique flavors that enhance one's palette. This was the same for our meal at the Basin. My taste buds experienced new flavors in New Orleans. 

The Garden District offers one an opportunity to walk the streets and not be overwhelmed. You don’t feel rushed. You walk and gaze and take in the lovely homes and pop in and out of shops when you land at their steps. You don’t feel as if you have to catch every site. The energy is more subdued than the French Quarter, along with a more relaxed and tranquil experience.

The French Quarter

Ahhh, the French Quarter, there’s so much to say. It’s a sight, sound and taste experience, at least it should be.

Sight

This section of the city is loaded with intricate architecture and beautiful style and color. It clearly feels older than the Garden District, which it is. It certainly is interesting to walk the streets and just look up and down and left and right. You don’t need an agenda, you just need time to gaze and explore. Like most places I’ve been to, the more you prepare, the more likely you’ll meet your goals. However, if you just want to meander, that’s fine too, because that might be just as much fun as having a set agenda. It opens your day to whimsy and possibility. Here are a few places we happened upon.

Sometimes you really don’t know what to expect. You just need to take a step, head down Bourbon Street and enter the French Quarter and start the experience.

Arcadian Book Shop and Print This is the Jenga of books. It may appear to be unorganized, but don’t let that fool you. The owner has a rather keen concept of where every book is- if not the exact locale- close enough to find a book for you. If you like quirky book stores, this is for you. Don’t go if you’re claustrophobic, clumsy or want to order a nice latte while you peruse. That’s not happening!

Jackson Square is a beautiful park to walk and admire the sights and sounds of the French Quarter. The park is flanked by local artisans displaying their inspirations and anchored behind the park is St Louis Cathedral and towards the front is the mighty Mississippi River.

Sounds

Even in the morning, there was a hustle and bustle about the quarter. Music was offered by those in the street as locals and tourists gathered to listen or just pass on by. There was always some form of entertainment to catch your eye or ear.

Tastes

There is no shortage of food options in New Orleans. We had lunch near the river and I was fortunate to have a fabulous meal at the famous Brennan’s while attending a New Orleans style wedding celebration. It was quite a memorable occasion. I’m sure I’ll never experience anything like that again!

An absolute must is a stop at Cafe Du Monde for beignets. The wait may be long, but they are open 24 hours per day. There you will find warm, doughy, sweet goodness that should be enjoyed in a quantity greater than one. To fully get the full flavor of New Orleans, you need to enjoy some fresh, warm beignets. I suppose it’s the French version of the Italian zeppoli-if that helps you out?

The Plantations

The plantations were about a 40-minute drive from the Garden District. We knew we weren’t going to see all of New Orleans in just three days, and since we didn’t know if and when we would return, we decided to make the trip to see the plantations. We visited two: Oak Alley Plantation and Laura Plantation. Both were wonderful and completely unique.

Oak Alley Plantation was grand. The grounds were lovely with a walkway which once lead you from house to river lined with 200 year old Virginia Live Oak trees.   The plantation is a contradiction. On one end you have a huge, white mansion. On the other end of the property, you have rugged-rough wood slave cabins. You got to see the extreme contrast between wealth and poverty and comfort and despair. Your emotions go from the beauty and wonder of a particular era with the architecture and decor to the harsh reality that the plantation-owners dwelling was all a result of their slaves. Some images caused me deep discomfort and sadness, as it should.

Laura’s Plantation was completely different. The style and color were in stark contrast to the grand white Oak Alley Plantation. We were on a guided tour for over 2 hours. It was very informative as the guide introduced us to the life of the original owners and the generations that followed. It was presented as life according to Laura.

There is so much to see and do in New Orleans and the surrounding area. There truly is something for everyone.

If you love American history, this is a place for you.

If your preference is tasty food, this is the place for you.

If you enjoy to people-watch, this is the place for you.

If you like a variety of architecture, this is the place for you.

If you want to experience something unique, then this is the place for you.

I urge you to review this website, New Orleans in its entirety before and during your trip to NOLA. It has an abundance of information that is extremely valuable. As for my blog, travel for the ordinary, it truly is that. I’m an ordinary traveler that had three short days in New Orleans and tried to make the most of the time I had there. I hope you enjoyed this brief summary of a few places I was able to experience.