Last weekend, I took a girls trip to New Orleans. I had never been to the city just to explore everything it has to offer. I was so taken back by how beautiful the city is. It has such a rich history and there is so much to see and do. I only got to spend 1 full day there and part of the following day but, I feel like I saw so much in such a small time frame. If you ever get the chance to visit, here are some amazing things you should see and do.
1. Cafe Du Monde
Almost everything you read about New Orleans suggests you try Cafe Du Monde. They have 4 different locations but, the one on the French Quarter is the most popular. They have super long lines but, I highly suggest you give it a try. They are open 24/7 so there is always time to stop in! You won't wanna miss getting beignets, I promise.
2. Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
I am in love with the idea of ghosts and other creepy things. I was slightly skeptical to go do a tour of a cemetery, at first. It ended up being filled with some pretty interesting history. The originals, Vampire Dairies, and some of American Horror Story was filmed here. It was also pretty cool to get to knock on a believed to be haunted grave.
There is also a second Lafayette Cemetery however, it is a sketchy side of town and believed to be very haunted.
3. Buckner Mansion
Buckner Mansion is well known because of the filming of American Horror Story Coven. It is believed to be haunted by a slave named Mrs. Josephine. Some believe that they can see her hanging out around the front staircase. The house also has a high amount of poltergeist activity. There have been reports of doors opening and closing, lights going on and off, and chandeliers swing back and forth for over hours on end. You can't actually go inside of it but, they do offer it out for rent twice a year for $4,700 a night. If I ever become rich, this will be somewhere I plan to stay at.
4. Tarot Card Reading
By far one of the coolest things I did was a Tarot card reading! The minute you walk down by the french the market there are several people waiting to read your tarot cards. I was very curious if a random stranger could actually tell you things about yourself. She didn't disappoint. She was very spot on with the things she said. Even if you don't believe in this kind of thing, I still recommend you do it.
5. Bourbon Street
The Bourbon street night life is amazing! There is so much hustle and bustle in such a small area. There are numerous bars, clubs, and voodoo shops around. If you aren't 18+ I don't recommend exploring this part late at night.
6. Hansen's Sno-Bliz
Hansen's is a slight drive from the French Quarter but, it is completely worth it. They have been open for 78 years and are family operated. They have several homemade syrups to choose from. Defiantly worth a try if you have an hour or more time to spend waiting.
7. The Buildings
I was so mesmerized by all the different buildings. No two are the same. This alone is the main reason just to visit New Orleans.
You should defiantly add visiting New Orleans to your bucket list. It is one of the coolest places I have visited in the United States. I hope to get to spend more time there soon.