Here I Come: New Orleans

One time for the birthday chick!!! Libra Season has begun and my birthday is coming up; October 8th to be exact. I’ve been wanting to do a birthday trip with my closest friends for a few years now, but it never worked out. This year I was determined to celebrate elsewhere, even if I had to do it alone. To my surprise, one of my best friends was able to make the trip. Can you say Girls’ Trip?! I knew that I wanted to travel somewhere new and being that the emphasis of my blog is on The Bahamas, naturally the ideas of Bimini, Eleuthera and Exuma danced in my head.

Despite the thoughts of an island adventure, I was yearning for a cultural, historical and delicious time out of the country. New Orleans has been calling my name for over a year and the time has come to finally answer the call. I am anticipating the taste of gumbo, po’boys, beignets and everything else NOLA has to offer.  Last year, I fell in love with “The Originals” set in New Orleans and was absolutely fascinated with the French Quarter, the cemeteries and the history.

The Big Easy is known for hosting festivals, such as Madri Gras and Essence Fest. Almost every month there are festivals and celebrations happening in this vibrant city. I just had to visit. I am a definitely a planner and extensive research was done in selecting my accommodation, flights and activities. I’m still actively looking for dining options but I know that’s something I could worry about when I’m actually there.

Here’s a breakdown of my Travel Itinerary:

• Accommodation: I chose a super cute and festive looking Airbnb. The reviews were amazing and the photos made for an authentic living experience. It’s about a 10 minute drive to everywhere I’d want to visit which gives me the balance of proximity to the excitement of the city and comfort of a good night rest. If, I actually find time to sleep!
• Flights:  I booked my flight on Expedia, travelling on American and Delta Airlines. The round trip ticket was a little under $400. It was initially about $330, but you know when you’re waiting and waiting for the price to go down and it doesn’t? Yeah, that was me. Heading to New Orleans I have a 5 hour layover in Charlotte, North Carolina. Yes, I know that’s ridiculous. Hoping to find something exciting to do! What do you usually do when you have a few hours layover?
• Activities: Amazingly, my birthday falls on the weekend of 3 festivals. I will be attending the Treme Fall Festival, the Beignet Festival and Oktoberfest. I live for a good brunch, so I’ll definitely be trying out  a few spots. I was told that you can’t visit Nawlins’ without going to the French Quarter and Bourbon Street, so you know I’m there. I may also visit the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to watch the Saints play on my birthday because I’ve never watched a live football game.

I’m super excited for this trip. The countdown has officially began. Have you ever been to Nola? Leave your recommendations in the comments please.

P.S. For a taste of New Orleans in The Bahamas, check out my previous post on Louis & Steen’s Coffeehouse.