March 2024
I was in New Orleans for 2.5 days and I believe that was enough time to explore everything. I was here for my cousin’s bachelorette! She combined it with her fiancé, so it was a bachelor and bachelorette party! I have listed things to do/eat below in alphabetical order. 

Where did I stay?
We stayed in a huge airbnb that fit 10 people in Mid-City. The airbnb was so spacious with 4-5 bedrooms and 4 full bathrooms. There was an open kitchen space with a large dining room, and living room. The airbnb also has a backyard and two free parking spots.

How to get around New Orleans?
If you have a car, cool, but it could be a bit hard to find parking spots, especially near the major sightseeings spots. The airbnb we stayed at was close to the bus and trolley lines. There is an app called “Le Pass” that you can use to pay for the ticket to use the bus, trolley lines, ferries, etc. It is $6 for 24 hours. We used the bus and trolley lines and they only accept cash IF you do not use the app.

How was the weather?
It was warm and humid in the higher 60s. It sprinkled lightly for 10 minutes on one of the days, but other than that, it was cloudy and humid!

Things to Do/See
Bourbon Street
Caesars Superdome
French Market
Frenchmen Street
Garden District
Jackson Square
Magazine Street
NOLA Sign
Riverwalk Outlet

Things to Eat/Drink
Boil Seafood House
Carousel Bar
Molly’s Rise & Shine
Loretta’s Authentic Pralines

Things to Do/See
Bourbon Street
Ofcourse, the most infamous place in New Orleans! You can take the trolley and get dropped off at Carondelet & Canal Street. Bourbon Street is located in the French Quarter and there are 12-13 blocks full of bars and shops to go through! PLEASE WEAR CLOSED TOES SHOES. It is a dirty street and some of the sidewalks are not flat. It is a party town so be prepared for some wildness! You must try the hand “grenade” cocktails. You can have it on the rocks or as a slushie. It cost $12 and if you save the fun neon green souvenir cup, you can get a refill for $10. One grenade got me buzzing, I thought I wanted another one, but luckily I did not because I would have had a headache from all of the sugar. Make sure to drink some water to stay hydrated!

P.S. I don’t know how cars drive through these streets, it is crowded with tons of people walking on the road!

Caesars Superdome
I saw the superdome twice when I took two different ubers and wow, the stadium looks nice from the outside! Superbowl LIX will take place here! It would be fun to see a game, concert, etc. here one day!

French Market
This place is like a mini flee market with vendors selling clothes, jewelry, etc. There are also food vendors as well. It is a nice place for a little stroll/souvenir shopping.

Frenchmen Street
This place is classier than Bourbon Street. There were two art vendor stalls and a bunch of jazz bars. Some bars had covers and some did not. We stopped by Cafe Negril and stayed for 1.5 hour and listened to the most talented jazz band ever! I have a new love for jazz music. The saxophone, guitarist, trombone, singer etc. were sooooo good. I really enjoyed my time and glad to have a taste of the jazz culture there.

Garden District
This area is full of large houses/mansions and it was a nice stroll to see the neighborhood. I was excited to see all of the beads hanging outside the mansion gates. One of the mansion I saw was Bucker Mansion. Some of the mansion had a plaque to read the history of the mansion. I was also in awe at how tall the trees and branches were too!

Jackson Square
Jackson Square is a historical landmark that you cannot miss! It is near Bourbon Street and the French Market! There are a lot of performers and artists that performs infront of Jackson Square. I would imagine this place is famous for weddings, photoshoots, etc. and ofcourse, a place to just relax and take in the scenery.

Magazine Street
This street is a long street full of restaurants, stores, and a few bars. Believe it or not, I started my day at Magazine Street, walked up to Garden District, and walked to the Riverwalk, and towards Bourbon Street. I got my steps in!! Remember, New Orleans is small so you can see a lot in one day! And on Magazine Street, there is the famous Greetings from NOLA sign! I almost missed it but luckily I turned my head and saw the beautiful mural!

Riverwalk Outlets
You should go here on a sunny day because you can see the water and enjoy the scenery more. This area is a mini shopping mall with restaurants nearby. It is also a few blocks from Bourbon Street.

Things to Eat/Drink
Boil Seafood House
This was the BEST thing I ate on this trip! I ate the chargrilled oysters and oh my god…it was so delicious! The photo does not do it justice. The size of the oysters were bigger than normal! I loved it and am drooling as I write this. Service was great too!

Carousel Bar 
I had a little bit of time to spare so I stopped by the Carousel Bar which is located inside Hotel Monteleone, and it is near Bourbon Street/Canal Street. The hotel lobby was pretty and the bar is located on the right side. What makes this place unique is that the bar itself spins in a circle while you are enjoying your drink – hopefully it does not make you dizzy. It was super packed so I did not experience it but it was nice to check out for a few minutes. And the movie, Girls Trip was also filmed here too! Also, if you did not bring your portable charge, you can charge it in the hotel too! haha! Also, if you need a place to use the restroom, use it here, it was clean!

Molly’s Rise & Shine
I went here for a quick brunch and got the classy biscuit sandwich. You pay for the food first then pick your seats. The restaurant itself was cute because it had little trinkets of throwback movies and tv shows from the late 80s to early 90s. The service was a little bit slow but food was good!

Loretta’s Authentic Pralines
We are almost at the end of my blog, and you are probably thinking…Vivian, where is the beignets?! Cafe Du Monde beignets? Nah, Cafe Du Monde lines were LONG. Sure, I should have got it especially in New Orleans, but since I travelled with a big group, I did not want them to wait for me, so I got Loretta’s instead. I read a few travel blogs and two uber drivers told me that Cafe Du Monde is overrated and that I should try Loretta’s. Loretta’s did not disappoint! I waited about 5-10 minutes in line to order, and about 10-15 minutes for the delicious beignets to come. It was hot and fresh! Loretta’s is located in the French Market!

New Orleans was a fun time! I made the most of it. As always, thank you for visiting Vivian’s Ventures. Have you been to New Orleans before? If so, tell me in the comments/reply section of your experience. What should I do there if I go back? If you haven’t been, tell me what you are planning to do there. Any questions or comments, let me know. Let’s chat!