Five Things I Loved in New Orleans

There were so many more than just five things I loved in New Orleans.

Five Things I Loved in New Orleans | These are things to experience in New Orleans whether you try to or not. The food, the alcohol, the culture, and more. All uniquely New Orleans. | Chasing Departures | #neworleans #whattodoinneworleans #louisiana #southernus #south #colorful

It wasn’t love at first sight when I finally ventured out to explore the French Quarter. Within the first ten minutes, I so badly wanted to return to the airport and re-rent the car I had just driven across the Gulf states to go back to the beach.

Cities really aren’t my thing, but I was determined to find out what was so great about New Orleans.

It took a solid day and going on a walking tour where I learned more about the history of the city for me to finally appreciate it.

The Food

The best way to get to know any culture is to try the food.

New Orleans is known as the home of red beans and rice, jambalaya, and beignets!

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Five Things I Loved in New Orleans | These are things to experience in New Orleans whether you try to or not. The food, the alcohol, the culture, and more. All uniquely New Orleans. | Chasing Departures | #neworleans #whattodoinneworleans #louisiana #southernus #south

One of the best places to get beignets in the city is at Cafe du Monde. The dough is fried and then dredged in powdered sugar. They are messy to eat, but worth every little bit of the mess.

Look at these three slices of sugar heaven.

Five Things I Loved in New Orleans | These are things to experience in New Orleans whether you try to or not. The food, the alcohol, the culture, and more. All uniquely New Orleans. | Beignets from Cafe du Monde | Chasing Departures | #neworleans #whattodoinneworleans #louisiana #southernus #south #beignets #cafedumonde

During my many Uber trips around the city, I asked every driver where their favorite place for lunch was. A couple of them said High Hat Cafe, so I knew I had to go.

I ordered red beans and rice, something I had cooked many times the cheaters way in my rice steamer at home.

Having it cooked from scratch by people that actually knew what they were doing (unlike me) was way better than any of the premixed boxes I mixed with water. I also had a side of mac and cheese and fried chicken.

You cannot go to the south and not get mac and cheese and fried chicken!

Five Things I Loved in New Orleans | These are things to experience in New Orleans whether you try to or not. The food, the alcohol, the culture, and more. All uniquely New Orleans. | Red Beans and Rice from High Hat Cafe | Chasing Departures | #neworleans #whattodoinneworleans #louisiana #southernus #south #food #redbeansandrice

The History

New Orleans is full of history. From the Spanish street signs adorning building corners to the more spooky and paranormal. The city has a history that will interest everyone.

Five Things I Loved in New Orleans | These are things to experience in New Orleans whether you try to or not. The food, the alcohol, the culture, and more. All uniquely New Orleans. | Chasing Departures | #neworleans #whattodoinneworleans #louisiana #southernus #south

If you want to get an excellent overview of the history, be it normal or paranormal, book a tour with Two Chicks Walking Tours (read some reviews on TripAdvisor)!

Read More:  French Quarter Walking Tours in New Orleans

The Alcohol

One word.

Absinthe.

Five Things I Loved in New Orleans | These are things to experience in New Orleans whether you try to or not. The food, the alcohol, the culture, and more. All uniquely New Orleans. | Absinthe from Pirates Alley | Chasing Departures | #neworleans #whattodoinneworleans #louisiana #southernus #south #alcohol #absinthe

I tried absinthe for the first time on my last night in New Orleans. I was so very, very drunk.

The world was spinning in a way it has never spun before.

I could barely even think about getting off the bar stool because the floor was constantly moving. Thankfully, the bartender let me stay and drink water for a couple of hours before I decided I needed to make my way back to the hotel.

And in the morning I wasn’t even hungover.

The Architecture

Look at it, it’s beautiful.

Five Things I Loved in New Orleans | These are things to experience in New Orleans whether you try to or not. The food, the alcohol, the culture, and more. All uniquely New Orleans. | French Quarter Architecture | Chasing Departures | #neworleans #whattodoinneworleans #louisiana #southernus #south #frenchquarter

I love how almost all of the buildings in the French Quarter had a lovely balcony that wrapped around the second and sometimes third story.

Five Things I Loved in New Orleans | These are things to experience in New Orleans whether you try to or not. The food, the alcohol, the culture, and more. All uniquely New Orleans. | Chasing Departures | #neworleans #whattodoinneworleans #louisiana #southernus #south

And the green plants everywhere!

Five Things I Loved in New Orleans | These are things to experience in New Orleans whether you try to or not. The food, the alcohol, the culture, and more. All uniquely New Orleans. | Chasing Departures | #neworleans #whattodoinneworleans #louisiana #southernus #south #frenchquarter

The Friendly Locals

For the longest time, I thought people from cities were rude. That is so not the case! There were plenty of friendly people that offered to point you in the right direction if you looked a little lost.

Five Things I Loved in New Orleans | These are things to experience in New Orleans whether you try to or not. The food, the alcohol, the culture, and more. All uniquely New Orleans. | Chasing Departures | #neworleans #whattodoinneworleans #louisiana #southernus #south #frenchquarter

Have you been to New Orleans? What did you love about the city?

And don’t forget to pin this post!

Five Things I Loved in New Orleans | These are things to experience in New Orleans whether you try to or not. The food, the alcohol, the culture, and more. All uniquely New Orleans. | Chasing Departures | #neworleans #whattodoinneworleans #louisiana #southernus #south #frenchquarter

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