What do you think of when you hear New Orleans? Mardi Gras? Bourbon Street? Jazz music? Creole cuisine?

My friend, Steph, and I decided to go to New Orleans for a long weekend. I was so excited she asked me to tag along. Her mother was going to a conference, so the hotel room was paid for by her mother’s company. I also had enough frequent flyer miles to pay for the trip, so it was a low-budget trip for a broke college student.

AAHHH Bourbon

Bourbon Street, we have arrived.

1. Bourbon Street and Jazz Music

After our flight, we checked into our hotel and then headed to the Bourbon Street at night. There were beads flying from balconies, and it was not even Mardi Gras. I already knew this would be a great trip. We hit up some jazz clubs and enjoyed live music, which was probably my favorite part.

Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street Flare

2. Airboat Tour

We wanted to explore Louisiana and found an airboat tour through Airboat Adventures. We had great weather for the trip and an excellent guide. The Spanish Moss on the low, swamp trees was picturesque. We both held a baby alligator, which no one else on the boat did. I was able to take a few pictures during the trip.

IMG_1083

Being Adventurous on the Airboat Tour

3. Take a Cooking Class

We also took a cooking class at the New Orleans School of Cooking and learned how to make jambalaya, gumbo, and rum bread pudding. YUM! The cooking class was located in the French Quarter within walking distance of our hotel.

Our cooking instructor

We also tried an order of crawfish, which were a lot of work but delicious.

Other places we visited while walking through NOLA was the Audubon Zoo, the French Market, and Jackson Square.


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3 Things to Do in New Orleans

What other things can you do in New Orleans?