This past weekend (Thursday-Sunday) I went to New Orleans for The Niche Mommy conference. I cannot say enough great things about the conference but that’s for another post.
I have been tweeting and posting on my Facebook wall all weekend. I will NEVER, ever, ever, ever, EVER return to New Orleans again. Ever!
You know how you go to a place and you know if it’s for you or not? Some people visit Paris and think, “This just feels right. I need to move here.”, or if you visit California, New York, whatever the place and if just feels… right? Well, NOLA is not a place for me!
The one and only place I think people should visit if you happen to stumble into New Orleans is The Garden District.
Get on a traincar for $1.25 (each way) and just ride. The houses you’ll by past are just gorgeous and then you’ll see little shops on the side of the road that you can visit if you like.
So this is the only reason I’d come back. If I was force to. MAYBE if my life was threatened.
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I was at the Niche Mommy Conference- I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to meet.
I’m not a huge fan of some aspects of New Orleans- mainly Bourbon St. I’d heard that it was colorful but honestly, I was unprepared for some of what I saw there. I was relieved that I’d not traveled with my family so I didn’t mistakenly take them down the famed street that believe it or not came very highly recommended. Personally, I think you can enjoy the culture without venturing there.
I did enjoy parts of the French Quarter and fit in quite a bit of sightseeing (which is probably why I didn’t meet you), the cemetaries are remarkably, the Katrina memorial heartbreaking but the Garden District, I would so live there! I didn’t venture there until Sunday before heading home and was disappointed to have not spent more time exploring along St. Charles.
Those are some great shots!
I would love to go
I see your points, but it is a lot like saying Vegas isn’t for me after only seeing the Strip… but sometimes you just know it isn’t a good fit.
You have a good point. I did keep that in mind though and honestly, I’d rather live on the strip! The strip is heaven compared to where I went in Nola :/
I’ve always wanted to visit New Orleans! I really want to eat genuine Creole food and those powdered little cakes (benets?). I also adore those old school homes pictured here in your post. SWOON!
the houses are beautiful
Well, I had a great time and it was great meeting you!!
it was great meeting you too!
I think I would love to visit with my husband, for the food, culture and gardens etc. I probably would skip bourbon street though!
Loved the pictures of the houses, gorgeous!!
I think it would be neat to visit at least once, especially take a ride and see all the houses, etc. But now I want to know what you didn’t like!
ROFL Now I have to go through your Twitter and Facebook stream and see why you didn’t like NOLA!
Oh I can’t wait to visit New Orleans some day. It looks beautiful!
I think I’m missing something from your post — why didn’t you like it?
Well, I left that part (what i dont like about NOLA) out because I didn’t want to offend anyone by point out the negative things since its just my opinion.
The pictures you took are beautiful.
Wow those houses are gorgeous! And that is such a cheap form of entertainment!
That last one, wow! Anne Rice lives there, I adore her!
I think the history and culture of the city are really interesting. I went on a tour of a cemetery and it was fascinating! I think seeing those grand old estates that you saw would be awesome too!
I’d love to go there to visit.
I want to visit there! The culture draws me in!!
I’m kind of offended. I’m a New Orleanean. The problem is that you are judging an AMAZING city on a snippet. New Orleans is MUCH more than just the quarter/drinking/mardi gras/ect. I don’t ever go to the quarter. It’s not my cup of tea. However, the city and surrounding areas have so much to offer. The food is to die for. Seriously, it’s the best in the world. We are famous for our food and culture. The above ground graveyards are historical. there are plenty of guided tours through them. There are guided tours throughout the city. There are tons of plantations that are a MUST see. You have to venture away from down town unless you want to visit the zoo, aquarium, or local boutiques.
And there is nothing wrong with raising a child here. It’s a fantastic place to raise a child with such a rich culture. Family is very important to all of us. No matter where you go, there will be bad parents who do things that most would not. I’d never take my kids down to the quarter. Like I said, I don’t even go. We stay far away from it.
your best bet is to skip the tourist traps and dig deep into the quality things the city and surrounding areas have to offer.
Oh, and I’d never go to NYC. I have clinically diagnosed OCD (germaphobia) and I would end up in a mental hospital. If i were to go, I’d steer clear of the “city” area where all the crowded streets are.
Next time, just venture out and find the hidden treasures! I mean, who wouldn’t want to visit a place like Oak Alley Plantation (a personal fave).
I’m sorry to offend you. I didn’t mention details about why I will never go back out so I could AVOID offending anyone.
To touch on your comment, it’s true, I didn’t leave the financial district, aquarium area. The furthest I went was Cafe Du Monde and back to Canal and Magazine (well actually The Roosevelt but incant remember the street that is on). So maybe I just need to venture out of that area.
I can say that I don’t care for the food though. I know most people do but I’m EXTREMELY picky. I don’t eat any sea food, and I don’t like even a little bit of spice in my food.
At the conference we were given local cuisine every day for breakfast, lunch and “coffee break” hour and I barely ate a thing. I am just not a fan.
One of the more beautiful places I’ve ever lived/visited. There is SO much to do & see outside the French Quarter. I wish I could go back!! I would love to sit in the Cafe Du Monde eating beignets while watching the river boats, followed by a trip to the market for fresh fruits & veggies. To top my day off a trip by car visiting the local bayous with my camera would be priceless!!
I’ve never been to NOLA.
Sorry you didn’t like it. It’s not my husband’s cup of tea either, but I would love to go back.
I;ve always wanted to visit!
I love New Orleans . Great pics!
Jennifer, I’m curious to know what areas did you visit when you visited the city. Are you basing your opinion of the whole city on your visit to Bourbon street? Yes, there are areas that are not very clean but there are also areas that are. You will find uncleanliness in any city. But correct me if I’m wrong, I just thought that was any city.
The city might be as you say dirty but it is one of the friendliest cities there is and I think I’d rather that any day.
Sorry your visit wasn’t what you expected. Maybe just stay clear of Bourbon street next time
. and yes, the Garden District is really nice. Nice photos.
My husband has visited there a few times, and even moved there after him, his mom, and sis fell in love with it. My husband told me a quite a bit of stories about it, though. Definitely not the ideal place to raise a child. I have never been there, and the idea of going there has never appealed to me.
never been there i like to visit
I have never been. I enjoyed NYC but wouldn’t want to live “in the city” but I would definitely visit again.
I have to say though that I absolutely LOVE LOVE those houses I much prefer a colonial style house like that then our cookie cutter houses often found here in South Florida. I love the old style with big porches.
its like you took the words outta my mouth
and I was totally going to do a post like this LOL
I have never been there. Maybe will visit someday.
Never been, but always wanted to visit, at least once. But I can’t stand dirty (nasty) like that either. :
Never been, but always wanted to visit, at least once. But I can’t stand dirty (nasty) like that either.
It’s not a place I would want to go on a family vacation, but I definitely want to visit someday. I think NYC is the dirtiest place I have visited, lol.
oh that’s not good to hear. I dont think I’ll ever want to go to NYC then either
I would love to visit one day!
Honestly when we first moved there it was not for us, very much a culture shock from our California life style. But I do have to say after you have been there a while and know the ins and outs its not a bad place. Mind you, DH and I have agreed to never live there again, but visit HECK YES! I really do think when you visit NOLA you need someone in the know with you guiding you thru the city and showing you where to visit and where not to visit. What and where you visit definitely depends on what you like to do and the group you are with. Obviously kids don’t visit the French Quarter at night time but mid morning on a weekend to enjoy the open air market YES! And really could the Garden District get any more gorgeous?! I think not! We practically lived down in that district all the time. No we didn’t actually live in NOLA, we lived on the Westbank and just visited all the time after I popped the baby out (we moved when I was just newly pregnant and food did not interest me till after baby) But to summarize, while I realize NOLA may not be for you (its not for my parents either) I think its one of those towns you should visit when you have someone who knows the area to be your unofficial tour guide of the trip.
Thank you for the comment.
The thing is though, we DID see kids ranging from 1+ on Bourbon Street at 8, 9 and 10pm! Parents were encouraging their kids to grab the beads. Women standing in the Little Darlings with ONLY tassels on a tiny thong. That is just NOT ok in my opinion.
It was also just a very dirty place and I’m not use to that. Every time I turned I saw piles of trash, it smelled like pee and trash, ect. I just cannot handle that with my OCD.
Then you definitely wouldn’t like NYC either. I find that to be a very dirty city.
I’ve been to NOLA once and I’d go back to visit, but never live there.
yeah I cannot handle dirty places at all. Maybe I need to think twice about going to NYC now :/