LaFemmeRousse

BeckyP005

Hey I saw that you went to New Orleans last week. How was it? DH and I might consider going sometime soon. What's it like there? What hotel did you stay in? I assume the food is awesome. Any tips you could give me would be great.

Sorry I'm rambling on. It's always nice to know someone who went to get ideas. Oh and many prayers to your FFIL and family. Keep us updated.

LaFemmeRousse

Hi!  This was my fourth time in New Orleans and FI's first.  We had a great, great, great trip this past week!  We flew in Wednesday morning and stayed until late Sunday afternoon.  We got a great deal on our flight plus hotel by booking through Expedia.  We ended up staying in the Hilton Garden Inn by the convention center.  The hotel was great for the price point; convenient to everything we wanted to walk to and the street car line but removed from the French Quarter, so it was a bit quieter.  I have been down there before for Mardi Gras and all the craziness- it was definitely fun and busy over NYE and the Sugar Bowl, but not to the Mardi Gras level.

I love New Orleans.  It's a great mix of all sorts of activities- LOTS of bars and clubs, amazing food, gorgeous historic architecture and art, and easy access to pretty nature stuff outside of the city.  It was in the 60s two days we were there and in the 50s the other three.  It gets a bit colder than that, but for us, those temps were still like forty or fifty degrees over what we left behind in Chicago!

This trip we basically set up as a foodie tour with sightseeing and relaxing in between.  We ate at these restaurants (two a day, haha!): Cochon, NOLA, Luke, Herbsaint, Restaurant August, Lilette, Cafe du Monde, Commander's Palace, K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen, and Dante's Kitchen.   We tried to hit up as many highly-rated "celebrity chef" restaurants as we could, along with local standbys.  We walked almost everywhere, and took the streetcars everywhere we didn't.

I think New Orleans makes a perfect getaway!  Let me know if you need any other recommendations or have questions.  Thank you for your prayers for FFIL, too.

BeckyP005

Wow it sounds like fun. DH loves jazz/blues and loves to eat!  I'm really trying to get him to go soon. Thanks for the tips and if we go I will take you up on the offer to ask questions.

Thanks a bunch!