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New Orleans. What a magical place. I've never been to a city in the United States with so much warmth and charm. This isn't the land of Starbucks and American Apparel; New Orleans is very much about the local community -- artists, food, and above all, music. Click through for a photo gallery of my favorite local haunts.
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Hotel Le Marias
717 Conti Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
+1 (504) 525-2300
www.hotellemarais.com
After my best friend Lizy graciously put up with me for a few days, I moved to Hotel Le Marais, a fantastic hotel in the heart French Quarter. Upon check-in, I received two free drink tickets for their in-house bar, Vive! (win!), and they serve a complimentary breakfast in the morning (how European of them). The hotel may lack a few key amenities - namely a minibar and room service - but they do have a well-appointed gym and a quaint courtyard with a pool. I'd definitely stay there again.
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Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
1 Canal Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
+1 (504) 581-4629
www.auduboninstitute.org
New Orleans is hot and humid, so I highly suggest finding an indoor activity and taking advantage of the air conditioning during peak sun hours. There are a million things to do in New Orleans, but the aquarium was a fun outing for me because I haven't been to one since I was a little kid. Not only do they have standard aquarium features, they also have an area devoted to local wildlife from the Mississippi river.
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Gogo Jewelry
2036 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
+1 (504) 529-8868
www.ilovegogojewelry.com
My friend Caitlin and I came across this jewelry shop during our stroll down Magazine Street. It's not in the main shopping area, but definitely worth the trip. In addition to carrying their own handmade jewelry, they also carry work from a variety of local jewelers. I picked up a cuff and a gun necklace.
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The Shop
509 Royal Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
+1 (504) 304-6493
www.theshopnola.com
Royal Street in the French Quarter is dotted with art galleries, but this one was by far my favorite. Showcasing work from over 20 artists, they had a very well curated selection of modern work across a variety of mediums.
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Roux Royale
600 Royal Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
+1 (504) 565-5272
I loved this culinary-themed gift shop in the French Quarter. Their selection includes a variety of cookbooks, cake mixes, spice blends, kitchen accessories… you get the picture. I also picked up a neat deck of cards, each featuring a different local New Orleans recipe on each card.
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Pirates Alley Cafe and Absinthe House
622 Pirates Alley
New Orleans, LA 70116
+1 (504) 524-9332
www.piratesalleycafe.com
This fun little theme bar specializes in absinthe, but the bartenders can make you anything your heart desires. Everyone is incredibly friendly, and the atmosphere is relaxed. A great alternative to the madness on Bourbon Street.
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Herbsaint
701 Saint Charles Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70130
+1 (504) 524-4114
www.herbsaint.com
If you're looking for a meal with a major wow factor, Herbsaint is the place to get it - literally everything we tasted was out of this world. I would strongly suggest that you go family style and get a bunch of dishes to share, just so you have the opportunity to try as many things as possible, and ask the waiters for suggestions - they definitely know what they're talking about. The Louisiana Jumbo Crab with English Peas and Green Garlic Aioli (above) was phenomenal.
