funeral flowers

Jared and I recently took our first vacation together since our honeymoon. Hi, overdue. We have gone on plenty of trips, but it's always with our family or to attend a wedding (welcome to being a girl in her late 20s, it's permanently wedding season). Exploring somewhere new with my boo is one of my favorite things, so this trip was exactly what I was looking for!

overly obsessed with all the grit and texture on the New Orleans streets

We actually thought about taking a big international trip but to be 100% honest, we didn't have passports lying around--Jared's was expired and mine was stolen years ago by a purse snatcher in NYC. -_- And because I'm a slacker who still has yet to change my last name, it was going to be a crazy amount of work to get our passports in time. So with that obstacle in mind, we decided to go to a place I've been dying to check out for years, New Orleans.

The Crescent City is pure magic in more ways than one--there are fortune tellers and voodoo shops on every corner in the French Quarter. But more than that, this city is filled with the magic of cultures colliding. And the magic of freaking delicious food.

We hit Cafe Du Monde literally every day we were in town. Which was seven days. I had beignets seven days in a row. #noregerts. Is it totally predictable and touristy? Yes, of course. But if there's one thing I've learned from living in NYC, it's that touristy things are frequently touristy because they're awesome, and as long as you're not a local, you will probably love doing the most famous thing in whatever city you're in.

One of the New Orleans touristy things I would avoid? Bourbon Street any time between 11:00 AM and 6:00 AM. Don't get me wrong, day drinking in public is absolutely one of the best things about Downtown New Orleans--but on Bourbon Street everyone has somehow had at least five more drinks than you have at all times. There's vomit and urine everywhere. Just avoid. If you really want to see it for the sake of being there--like I did--then go between 8 and 10 AM when it's been freshly hosed down.

Other things not to be missed: Wandering the Garden District; lunch at Commander’s Palace (there's a dress code and 25¢ martinis--what's not to love?); a walk around at least one cemetery; the National World War II Museum; and Bar Tonique where I had [several] of the best Dark and Stormy’s I have ever had; lounging by the pool in your hotel’s gorgeous courtyard; delicious New Orleans chicory coffee; going to a Pelicans game and eating Seafood Mac and Cheese that is richer than it has any right to be.

If you happen to be headed to New Orleans any time soon, here's a rundown of our favorites for you! (And yes, basically all of our "favorites" are food things.) We love this place and we will be back--so hopefully we'll see you there!

Favorite Breakfast: Eggs Cochon at The Ruby Slipper (and a mimosa to go)
Favorite Lunch: The three course lunch special at Commander's Palace--and don't pass on the 25¢ martinis Favorite Dinner: Chicken Espagnole at The Gumbo Shop
Favorite Late Night Snack: All That Jazz Po' Boy from Verti Marte (THE sketchiest looking place, but don't worry about that.)
Favorite Coffee: Cafe Du Monde's iced cafe au lait is perfect, no sugar required
Favorite Cocktail: Bar Tonique, Dark and Stormy or an insanely stiff Gin Fizz
Favorite People Watching: Jackson Square