Boomer Babes and Real Cougars
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Come With Me To New Orleans
The French Quarter embodies the uniqueness of a historic area. Many of the buildings have been there for more than 300 years. French and Spanish influence is everywhere and ornate wrought iron is used lavishly for gates, fences and balcony railings. Some buildings date back hundreds of years when the French and Spanish inhabited the area. There are generations of people who lived their lives among those walls and courtyards and within that small tract of land that follows the winding Mississippi River.
If you stay in the French Quarter, try to stay at the Royal Orleans, the Royal Sonesta, the Hilton Riverside or one of the smaller hotels, so you can easily walk to the Riverwalk and Jackson Square. The Aquarium, the Confederate Museum, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art and the D-Day Museum are all well worth seeing and are close to the French Quarter.
Begin the morning with coffee and beignets at Cafe' du Monde or for a more elaborate repast, go for Eggs Benedict at Brennan's. After breakfast, you can walk to Jackson Square and wander through the many shops that surround the square by the French Market. Don't miss Royal Street. It has some of the most elegant antique shops in the United States.
The Gumbo Shop is perfect for a casual lunch. They consistently have some of the best Gumbo or Red Beans and Rice. For a more upscale lunch, stop by Galatoire's, have a Sazerac cocktail, Trout Menieure or Trout Almondine and a Crabmeat Salad with Remoulade Sauce. This is where many locals go and you might even see a real king or queen of Carnival, that is, and not even know it! If you're staying a few days, don't miss Magazine Street. You can spend the entire day just cruising down this long street browsing through an endless variety of great shops from fine decorator shops to funky junk shops. Take the street car down St. Charles and visit Audubon Park and the Audubon Zoo.
For dinner, Antoine's is a must. Be sure to see all of the authentic Mardi Gras memorabilia in the Mardi Gras Room and ask to see the wine cellar. The Concierge at your hotel can make your reservation and choose your waiter. Find out from him how to find the secret alley so you can call on the phone to have the door opened. By booking with him, you're assured of getting a table in the main dining room rather than the front dining room right off the street. It's a totally different experience. It's very beautiful and festive at Christmas as is the Monteleone Hotel.
Later, wander through the French Quarter down Bourbon Street and people watch. Listen to the piano players at Pat O'Brien's or have Cafe Brulot at Napoleon House. Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop is one of the oldest structures in the quarter and well worth seeing. Preservation Hall is also one of the oldest attractions in the quarter, well known for jazz. House of Blues has become a more contemporary music establishment as has Tipitina's. Snug Harbor also has great music, but it will require a cab ride and so does Port 'o Call, but it's worth the ride. They have the absolute best hamburgers in the world and great pizzas for late night cravings.
My recommendations just happen to be some of my personal favorites. Believe me, you'll have your own by the time you say goodbye. Then, you'll "know what it means to miss New Orleans", just as I do.
Le Bon Temps Roule' - Let The Good Times Roll!
