Destination: New Orleans, La.

My Trip:

New Orleans is back! I had the privilege of seeing this first hand on a trip I took in May of 2007. Although you may think I made this trip because of my shrimp Po Boy cravings, but that was not the case. I made the trip because I was certain that the best way  I could help this historic town recover was to go there an support the local businesses. What I found was really incredible (in light of the devastation the residents had lived through). It wasn’t a “please help us” feeling I had feared (due partly to the poor television news coverage), it was more of a “we are glad you’re here” feeling. It’s hard to explain, but you’re just going to have to explore New Orleans for yourself to get the picture. Our trip was about 4 days (and it was too short), but it was also hot, so we’ll definitely be back soon.

First, safety. NOT ONCE did I ever feel unsafe in New Orleans. We were out and about at night and never felt like we were going to get jumped at any moment. Yes, all of us were aware of our surroundings, but no more so than any other city we’ve traveled to. The crime (from what I can gather) is taking place in non-tourist neighborhoods. For more on this subject, listen to my interview with the President of the CVB Stephen Perry.

In general, you’re probably going to want to select a lodging option in the French Quarter because if it’s central location. Of course you have to explore some of the other neighborhoods (as we did) like Uptown, The Warehouse District and the ultra-chic emerging neighborhood of Faubourg Marigny or “the Marigny” (as my friend Erica calls it-she’s a local). The Travel Show crew and I stayed at Le Richelieu Hotel on the eastern edge of the French Quarter. This is not a sleek “W” Hotel, this is an authentic New Orleans lodging experience. It is truly old school, yet clean with a well-mannered staff. I love Hotels where the owner still works there! I met him a few times on our stay and he (and his Hotel) are great!  

On to the Culture checklist. I found the horse-drawn carriage to be interesting, not because I needed to be chauffeured, but because I was given some great history and context to the city. If you have an extra ninety minutes, be sure to include that. All of the carriages assemble in Jackson Square. Ask for “Trigger”. On that same subject, a cruise on the steamboat Natchez also provides a relaxing way to spend a few hours as well as some very scenic views from the Mississippi River. The WW2 Museum just underwent renovations and it is looking sharper than ever. And the Ogden Museum of Southern Art is a must. I particularly enjoyed the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas as well as the Audubon Zoo. For a little something off the beaten path, take a guided walking tour of the famous homes in the Garden District. I didn’t think I was going to like this, but Dave proved me wrong (he was our guide). The afternoon was rich with history and architecture on this two hour walking tour.

Alright, it’s time for one of my favorite subjects: food. There are hundreds of restaurants, cafes, and sandwich shops to choose from…and most of them will knock your socks off. But here are the places I went on my last trip. The Café Au Lait and Beignets are a must-include at Café Dumonde. Also breakfast at Brennan’s is a world-famous experience. Brennan’s (incidentally) is where they invented a dessert called Banana’s Foster (my all time favorite dessert). For lunch we stopped by Central Grocery and Johnny Po Boy. For dinner, it was Tujague’s, Galatoires, The Praline Connection, Upperline and Mr. B’s. We also had a really cool jazz brunch at Court of Two Sisters. Needless to say, we had some of the best Southern, Cajun and Creole food on the planet in New Orleans.

Where to begin with the nightlife scene in New Orleans….hmmm. How about Bourbon Street? Yes, I think so. What I found surprising about Bourbon Street is how clean it was. All hours of the day, Bourbon Street was being swept and sanitized. I  remember New Orleans not really smelling all that great on past trips. Not the case now. The place was very tidy…not STERILE, just tidy. The energy of Bourbon Street is alive and well. We did spend some time at Preservation Hall, Pat OBriens, Tipitina’s and Rockin Bowl. Their’s no way, I can explain (in this travelogue) everywhere we spend a few dollars having a hurricane or listening to jazz. The truth of it is, no matter what your nightlife taste, you’ll find it when the sun goes down in New Orleans.

I was very happy to learn that New Orleans is ready for prime time! It’s time you rediscover New Orleans.

Erik Hastings