Louisiana: New Orleans and Mardi Gras

Capital: Baton Rouge

Largest City: New Orleans

Population: 4.65 million

Admitted: 1812

Louisiana is located on the southern seaboard along the Gulf of Mexico. The largest city, New Orleans, is an amazing city with a lot culture and history. The famous Mardi Gras Parade takes place in New Orleans each year. I have been to Louisiana twice -- both times included a visit to New Orleans.

First Visit

In August of 2016, I visited Louisiana for the first time on my southern driving trip. I spent a few hours in New Orleans exploring two museums. I wanted to see the museum about Hurricane Katrina, but instead ended up going to the state museum, so I visited both. I also visited St. Louis Cathedral at the center of the French Quarter where a New Orleans jazz musician was being laid to rest.

Viewing the St. Louis Cathedral overlooking Jackson Square in the French Quarter

Once finished with my brief visit, I headed up to Arkansas and saw flooding that affected the area the week prior, especially around the Baton Rouge area.

Return Visit to New Orleans

On my initial visit to New Orleans, I enjoyed it a lot in the few hours, but did not feel like I got the full NOLA experience, so I returned in February of 2022 on an extended Presidents' Day weekend. February is a very notable time in New Orleans as the historic festival, Mardi Gras, is taking place. I went solo on this trip. It was a very, very busy city due to Mardi Gras, and it made me feel very, very alone at times.

Upon arriving in New Orleans, I decided to order dinner from a restaurant near Bourbon Street, which is perhaps the busiest street in all of New Orleans. The restaurant had turtle soup. I've never had turtle and wanted to try it. I asked the host if they had takeout. He informed me no, but I could sit at the bar. Rather than enjoy a nice meal, the bartender yelled at me for ordering food at the bar. Upset by the incident, I walked out of the bar, ordered a gyro from a hole in the wall restaurant and went back to my hotel to eat and call my husband. I wished he was with me at that moment.

The next day I decided to start afresh. First thing in the morning, I went to The National World War II Museum. This museum is the main reason why I took this return trip. I am a huge fan of World War II history. Along with the museum, I also visited the Memorial Hall Confederate Civil War Museum because I enjoy history. Later on, I went to the Museum of Death because I am into gruesome things. At the end of my full museum day, I had a nice takeout dinner without a rude bartender that included alligator bites.

Learning about World War II History at The National World War II museum

At the end of the evening, I took a ghost tour. I enjoyed previous ghost tours that I took in Ellicott City, Maryland and Salem, Massachusetts. I was tired, the guide talked quietly and I was not really into the ghost tour. The fondest memory I have of the tour was when a driver with an Uber sticker nearly hit the guide parking his car and stepped out of the car with a beer bottle in his hand.

My last day started with an early morning visit for a traditional Creole New Orleans breakfast. Once finished with breakfast, I went to an alligator tour. A bus drove us to a swamp where we boarded a small boat. It was cold, though, they did offer us blankets. We only saw one baby alligator. However, the highlight was seeing a tour guide fed raccoon named George Cooney. Despite the cold and lack of alligators, I enjoyed the tour.

Enjoying my taste of NOLA cooking with a crawfish etouffee omelette and grits

Once finished with the tour, I went to the aquarium and found a mall with the popular beignets rather than going to the overcrowded most popular spot.

During my time, I also loved exploring the French Quarter and seeing the neighborhoods. The French Quarter is what pushed New Orleans to my favorite city in the United States.

Mardi Gras was not what I expected at all. My hotel took place next to the street, Canal Street, where the parades would march. Several floats were in the parade that threw out an array of goodies, including lots and lots of beads. After each parade, another parade of street sweepers come through. No cars are allowed on the parade route until these street sweepers are finished.

Final Thoughts

I enjoyed my visits to New Orleans. I am glad I had a chance to see what the city had to offer. It was a lot of history and charm. I would like to see what else Louisiana has to offer and return to New Orleans in the future.