A Southern Christmas Trip

✈️This was my first time traveling through the American South, journeying east from Houston all the way to New Orleans. Here’s a little recap of the food and sights from each spot! 🚀 Houston, TX A two-day Houston itinerary: Day 1: Started with a smooth black coffee at Luce Coffee ☕ → Visited Smither Park, a quirky little park decorated with mosaic art by local artists 🎨 → Headed to NASA Space Center 🚀 (book tours in advance—go early to avoid crowds!) → Drove to Galveston, a lovely coastal town. The Pleasure Pier amusement park by the beach is especially magical at sunset—the Ferris wheel view is stunning! 🎡 Dinner at Cajun Greek was a tasty wrap to the day. Day 2: Strolled around Rice University campus 🏛️ → Lunch at Kasra Persian Grill in Rice Village—every dip was incredible! 😋 → Spent the afternoon relaxing in Hermann Park, perfect for lounging, visiting the zoo, or paddle boating 🚣. Also, shoutout to The Pit Room for some solid BBQ! 🍖 ⛵️ Lake Charles, LA Spent a few days in this small city. Tried my luck at a casino for the first time 🎰, but my favorite part was an early morning crabbing adventure—though the weather didn’t cooperate 🦀. Still, caught the first sunset of 2025 at Big Lake 🌅, and wandered around McNeese State University, a lovely local campus. 🍺 New Orleans, LA Food & Drinks:Dragos: Alligator taco with a uniquely tasty sauce 🐊 Congregation Coffee: Worth the boat ride! ☕ French Truck Coffee: Personally prefer Blue Bottle’s NOLA location GWFins: Amazing biscuits and corn sides 🌽 Bearcat: Brunch highlight—anything with crab! 🦀 Big EZ: A bit far, but Viet-Cajun flavors are unforgettable—loved the crab legs! Drip Affogato Bar: Perfect post-dinner treat with their affogato flight 🍨 Sights & Experiences: Loved Oak Alley Plantation—the Big House tour was just the right length 🌳. In the city, the Sazerac Museum offers a fun look into cocktail history 🥃. The WWII Museum is great if you have time (you don’t need to watch every film). An evening at Preservation Hall listening to live jazz was pure joy—intimate, vintage, and always different 🎷. Highly recommend! ✨ A Southern holiday filled with flavor, history, and warm vibes. #US #Texas #Houston