Girls Weekend in New Orleans | The Ultimate Travel Guide

Someone once told me to stop thinking of New Orleans as a city in the South and to start thinking of it as a place all on its own. The minute I stopped trying to categorize New Orleans I truly developed an appreciation, and even a love for the city. There are few places in America with as much character or uniqueness. It's not everyones cup of tea, but New Orleans can be a wonderful place for that perfect getaway you need. 

A couple years back I created A Weekend in New Orleans | The Ultimate Travel Guide. Despite the fact that it is now severely outdated, it is STILL my most popular post on this blog. After getting to know the city even more, I thought it was about time to give you an updated travel guide, specifically for a girls weekend!

QUICK FACTS

Time Zone | Central

Airport | Louis Armstrong International (MSY)

Transportation Airport to French Quarter | $33

Transportation Streetcar | $3 day pass

Average Hotel Price Per Night | $90 - $350 

Average Meal Price | $22

French Quarter 

FRIDAY

6PM Fly into Louis Armstrong International Airport. From there take either a taxi or an Uber into the French Quarter. Both will set you back $33, however if you opt for a taxi note that an added rate of $14 is added per additional passenger. 

7PM After checking into your hotel, make your way through the French Quarter to Chartres House for a bite to eat. The French Quarter is notorious for expensive restaurants and bars. Chartres House is a are rare gem that is both tasty and reasonably priced. Try the Spinach and Artichoke Dip, it won't disappoint! 

9PM Enjoy the magic of the French Quarter! Whether you decide to explore Bourbon Street or opt for something a little quieter like one of the many courtyard spaces, theres plenty to do, all you have to do is walk around and explore for yourself!

12AM Need to fuel that late night craving? Don't worry, Cafe Du Monde is open 24/7! Going late at night means you'll miss the crowds! The line is usually out the door during the morning breakfast rush.

Buckner Mansion in the Garden District 

SATURDAY 

9AM Its time for a cup of coffee. Take the St. Charles Streetcar to the Garden District and hop off at Jackson Avenue. Remember, the streetcars only take exact change so have your $3 ready! It'll give you a roundtrip ticket for the day. Walk down Jackson Avenue, stopping to take pictures at Buckner Mansion, before reaching Magazine Street. At the corner of Jackson and Magazine you'll find one of the best places in the world for donuts, and that isn't an exaggeration! District Donuts is a donut lovers dream! Try one of their specialty donuts of the day and pair it with a cup of cold brew. 

District Donuts Sliders and Brew

10AM Head north of Magazine Street and explore the beautiful Garden District. You'll pass several walking tours while exploring the Garden District, but I've found it's easier to walk at your own pace.  Download this Self Guided Walking Tour to make sure you don't miss a thing! Some of my personal favorites include Buckner Mansion (the American Horror Story Coven House) and Lafayette Cemetery No. 1.

1PM So you're probably a little hungry by this point. End your Garden District trip with lunch at Atchafalaya, a local favorite! Head back to the French Quarter after you've finished exploring the beauty of the Garden District. 

Lafayette Cemetery No. 1

7PM Tonight is all about jazz. You are in New Orleans after all! Grab a bite to eat at Paladar 511, a favorite for pizza, before walking over to Frenchman Street for some of the best jazz in New Orleans. The most difficult decision will be choosing with jazz club to step in to! There are dozens! Spend the night listening to the sounds of New Orleans. 

SUNDAY

9AM Sadly, it's your last day in New Orleans. End your trip with a bang by going to a local favorite for breakfast, St. Roch Market. Here, everyone in your party can get what they want. From grits to avocado toast or breakfast burritos, St. Roch Market has been serving up local produce since 2015. Don't forget that cup of coffee either. Coast Roast Coffee at St. Roch Market is some of the best in the city! 

St. Roch Market

If you have any time to spare, head back to your hotel by foot! The journey from St. Roch Market to the French Quarter gives you a taste of real New Orleans, colorful, magical, and always unique! The city of New Orleans is full of history and character. The mix of French, Spanish, and Caribbean history makes this city like no other.

What are some of your favorite spots for a Girls getaway? Leave your suggestions below, and make sure to reach out to me if you have any questions. Happy traveling!

xoxo

St. Roch Market | New Orleans

There are some places I stumble across by accident. There are other places, however, that you must set out on a mission to find. St. Roch Market was a little bit of both.

I first discovered St. Roch Market by accident through Instagram. After drooling over pictures of oysters and gumbo for weeks, I decided I needed to try this place for myself. I set off for what can only be described as a trek through New Orleans. Through the French Quarter, past Frenchmen Street, up Marigny, and across a highway or two sat the beautiful building that held St. Roch Market. 

Originally built as an open air market in 1875, St Roch Market went through several renovations in the 20th century. In 2005 it was left in ruins after Hurricane Katrina, until finally restored in 2015 as an open restaurant market. Today there are 12 different vendors to chose from, all run by local entrepreneurs. From oysters to gumbo to Korean to a full service bar, St Roch Market has everything to fill your cravings. I spent our afternoon sipping on coffee and slowly trying as much food as my stomach would allow. 

St. Roch Market can be reached by foot, but be prepared for a 30 minute stroll through the some backroads and neighborhoods. Don't forget to come hungry. There are so many options to chose from you'll want to try a little bit of everything!

FOOD ABOVE 

Oysters | Elysian Seafood Oyster Bar

Shrimp & Grits, Red Beans & Rice, and Gumbo Sampler | King Creole 

HOURS

Open Daily

7AM - 11AM Limited Breakfast Service

11AM - 9PM Lunch and Dinner

Open until 11PM Saturday & Sunday

xoxo

New Orleans Through My iPhone

Flying over the Houston channel, a book in my lap, I couldn't help but feel excited.

New Orleans was our destination. 

I had been many times previously. Since my last visit back in May it has held a special place in my heart. There is nowhere in the world like New Orleans, and a getaway was just what we needed. 

I wish I could say I was being a "good blogger" this trip. A year ago I would have held my camera firmly in my hand, snapping away furiously. This trip however, I left the camera in the hotel and opted to carry a book instead. It was nice really, to go somewhere without worrying about what I would blog about. However, I did snap just enough pictures on my trusty iPhone to share with y'all. 

Stanley, Frenchman Street, live music, and some darn good food. New Orleans is an amazing place. Although I don't have many posts to give y'all this past trip, I will ALWAYS recommend New Orleans as a good idea.

xoxo

A Weekend in New Orleans | The Ultimate Travel Guide

QUICK FACTS
Time Zone | Central

Average Summer Temperature | High 90F - Low 72F
Average Winter Temperature | High 63F - Low 48F

Major Airport | Louis Armstrong International

Transportation | Street Car, Day Pass $3 (exact change only)

Average Hotel Price Per Night | $110 - 350
(either in or within walking distance of the French Quarter)

Average Meal Price | $12

HISTORY
+ New Orleans was founded in 1718.
+ In 1762 Spain bought Louisiana from France.
+ The French city of New Orleans was largely destroyed in a fire, most standing buildings today are of Spanish architecture.
+ In 1803 New Orleans was sold to America during the Louisiana Purchase.
+ New Orleans has been directly hit by 5 major hurricanes in the last 110 years.

LANDMARKS & SIGHTS

Frenchmen Street | Live jazz and drinks

Garden District Mansions | Southern architecture and calm atmosphere

National WWII Museum | Interactive and informative
St. Louis Cathedral | Beautiful and unique
Woldenberg Park | Views of the Mississippi
Layfayette Cemetery No. 1 | Sorrowful and interesting
Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar | The oldest bar in America (allegedly)

WHERE TO EAT
See my post Good Eats | New Orleans 
Breakfast | Cafe du Monde $
Lunch | The Green Goddess $$
Dinner | Chartres House $$

THE MOST INSTAGRAM WORTHY SPOTS
Buckner Mansion | Garden District
Jackson Square | French Quarter
Street Cars | Canal Street

Your next supreme. #AmericanHorrorStory #NewOrleans #OfGoldenRoses

A photo posted by S a r a D a v i s (@sararosedavis) on May 30, 2015 at 8:40am PDT

A LITTLE BIT OF MAP LOVE 

Author's note 2017: I have created an up to date travel guide to New Orleans. Make sure to check out that guide here!

Good Eats | New Orleans

The city of New Orleans was barely awake on a warm Saturday morning in May. My friend Kaitlyn and I slowly walked through sleepy Jackson Square discussing our full day ahead. From the Garden District to the French Quarter we had everything planned. How could we not? It was a beautiful day and New Orleans was full of possibilities. However, our stomachs were growling and a dilemma quickly arose. What the heck were we going to eat?

New Orleans is home to some of the best cuisines in the South. Louisiana cajun and creole is classic comfort food for me. The French Quarter is busting at the seems with original restaurants that offer world class dishes. Here is a list of what we ate on that warm Saturday in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Cafe Du Monde | Breakfast

Location | Jackson Square

Hours | Open 24 hours a day

What to eat | Beignets, a fried pastry topped with powdered sugar. It's the only thing on the menu!
Cafe du Monde is possibly one of the most famous eateries in New Orleans. Rightly so, everyone loves a good beignet! If you don't arrive before 8am expect to be standing in a long line. However it moves pretty quickly, or so it seemed, we arrived around 7:30am! A coffee and three beignets set me back about $5, so if you're looking for something classic and cheap I suggest stopping by!

Green Goddess | Lunch

Location | Exchange Place

Hours | 11:00am - 9:00pm Wednesday - Sunday

What to eat | Poached eggs, crawfish etoufee, and grits.
Green Goddess was a spot we stumbled upon while hangry. Tucked away on quite Exchange Place, the atmosphere is typical New Orleans. We sat outside in the May sun enjoying some classic home cooked creole while people watching whoever strolled down this lazy side street in the French Quarter. 

Chartres House | Dinner

Location | Chartres Street

Hours | 11:00am - 11:00pm 

What to eat | Fried bow tie pasta and spinach dip, followed by the classic shrimp platter. 

Trying to pick a dinner place in New Orleans is nearly impossible. There are just too many options! When we finally decided Chartres Houses looked like a safe bet, we were pleased to find an open seating plan next to the French doors. We watched the activity of the French Quarter outside while sipping our Vodka Pear Lemonades, something that was highly recommended by our waiter and did not disappoint. Our appetizer was something I still dream about occasionally, and the fried shrimp was nothing short of perfect. 

What is your favorite comfort food?

Happy Thursday!
xoxo

Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 | New Orleans

The American cemetery is always an interesting place to visit. Each cemetery provides a unique and fascinating tale of the city it serves as well as the hardships the people of that city have gone through. From family plots to epidemics overflowing the cemetery itself, each American cemetery can paint a picture of life and death.

Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 was an unexpected find. Amongst the beautiful Victorian mansions in New Orleans' Garden District, the cemetery itself seems to appear out of nowhere. Founded in 1833 in the city of Lafayette (the boundaries of New Orleans did not reach Lafayette until 1852), Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 was built during a a mass migration of Europeans to the American south. Germans, Italians, and Scandinavians alike can be found buried in this overgrown and crowded cemetery.

Looking at the dates, my college roommate and I discovered two sad trends while visiting the cemetery. The first was the obvious trend in deaths during the yellow fever epidemic that took place in New Orleans during the 19th century. The second trend was the horrific amount of children buried there. The two were haunting reminders of the hardships people on the Gulf faced.

Visiting a cemetery can produce different reactions for different people. For me, death and horror are things that are inescapable as a historian. I find cemeteries fascinating and beautiful, an opinion that might not be shared by others. However, any trip to New Orleans feels so much more complete after visiting one of the many cemeteries that scatters the city. 

Interested in cemeteries around the world? Check out my post on one of England's most fascinating cemeteries, Arnos Vale.

Happy Wednesday!
xoxo