Louisiana: Jazz, Jambalaya, and Southern Charm

New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is such an interesting city. It was unlike anything I'd experienced at the time with live jazz music everywhere and people being able to drink out in the open was something I'd only seen in Vegas. The atmosphere seemed a little more chill then Vegas. Our first stop was at Pat O'Briens for a hurricane and some shrimp and grits. The food in New Orleans was so flavorful and it was such a joy to try so many new things. We ended up going on a food tour and testing out a variety of dishes from gumbo to po'boys. After the food tour we stopped in a restaurant and I tried a local beer (I'm not a beer person but it wasn't too bad) and charbroiled oysters. This was my first time having oysters and it was good but it's just not something I'd order again. Oysters are kinda overhyped in my opinion. We also grabbed some beignets from Cafe Du Monde, which were very good. I love beignets and luckily, there's a vendor that sells great ones at my local farmers market or I'd be sad not having them again.

After all the eating we walked to an antique shop and as we were walking it just started pouring rain. It was the most amount of rain I've experienced in the span of 10 minutes. The street was literally flooding, it was crazy. Flooded streets were definitely something difficult to navigate when we were leaving New Orleans. The next day, I was trying to navigate my mom to this restaurant and it was a challenge. When we finally got to Turkey and the Wolf, we went in and ordered and as we were leaving it was starting to rain again, so we hit the road as quick as possible to get out of there and on to our next state. It's worth a mention that the food we had at Turkey and the Wolf was amazing. We got these deviled eggs with cracklins on it and a collard greens melt. Years later, I'm still dreaming about this food. Speaking of food, the night before, we had bananas foster prepared table side at Brennan's, which was so cool and tasty. Louisiana is definitely a top five state in terms of food.

Shrimp and Grits

Pimm's Cup

Fried Green Tomatoes

Hurricane Drink

Charbroiled Oyster

Voodoo Beer

Beignet

Deviled Egg with Cracklins

Collard Green Melt

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If you want to visit Louisiana, here's a list of possible things to see and do:

1. French Quarter, New Orleans: Explore the historic heart of New Orleans, known for its vibrant nightlife, iconic architecture, and lively atmosphere. Don't miss Jackson Square, Bourbon Street, and the many jazz clubs.

2. Mardi Gras: Experience the world-famous Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans, with parades, masquerade balls, and lively street parties. Even outside of Mardi Gras season, you can visit Mardi Gras World to see the elaborate floats and costumes.

3. Swamp Tours: Take a swamp tour in the bayous of Louisiana to see alligators, exotic birds, and lush vegetation. Many tour operators offer guided boat tours where you can learn about the unique ecosystem of the swamps.

4. Plantation Tours: Visit one of Louisiana's historic plantations, such as Oak Alley or Laura Plantation, to learn about the state's complex history of slavery and plantation life.

5. Cajun Country: Explore the rural regions of Acadiana, where you can immerse yourself in Cajun culture, enjoy delicious Creole and Cajun cuisine, and listen to live Zydeco music.

6. Tabasco Factory Tour: Visit Avery Island, home of the famous Tabasco hot sauce, and take a tour of the Tabasco Factory to see how this iconic sauce is made.

7. Music and Festivals: Louisiana is known for its rich musical heritage. Attend a live jazz performance in New Orleans, or visit one of the many music festivals held throughout the state, such as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival or the French Quarter Festival.

8. Cultural Museums: Explore Louisiana's diverse cultural heritage at museums like the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Louisiana State Museum, and the National WWII Museum.

9. Outdoor Activities: Louisiana offers plenty of outdoor activities, including fishing, kayaking, hiking, and birdwatching in places like the Atchafalaya Basin or Kisatchie National Forest.

10. Culinary Adventures: Indulge in Louisiana's unique cuisine, from gumbo and jambalaya to beignets and po'boys. Don't forget to sample local specialties like boudin sausage and crawfish étouffée.

If you want more suggestions on what to do in Louisiana, I suggest you check out their tourism website.