Jazz, Coffee, and Hot Dogs in New Orleans ☕️

New Orleans, Louisiana, is a city you’ll never forget once you visit. Here, you can feel a unique blend of French, Spanish, and American cultures. As you walk down the streets, the sounds of music, the aroma of coffee, and a strong sense of history all rush over you. 🌆 The Hustle and Bustle of Bourbon Street As soon as night falls, Bourbon Street comes fully alive. With twinkling lights, lively bars, and street performers... the street is packed with people, all seemingly intoxicated by the rhythm of jazz. Step into any small tavern, and you’ll hear musicians playing impromptu. That feeling of freedom and spontaneity truly makes you feel like “life is flowing in this very moment.” ☕️ A Sweet Nook at Jackson Square During the day, you must visit Café Du Monde. Order a cup of iced coffee and a serving of beignets dusted with powdered sugar. The beignets are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and their sweetness melts right into your heart. Sit at an outdoor table, watch the tourists pass by, and enjoy the street performers’ shows. Time flows especially slowly here, as if there’s no need to rush—you just need to take a moment to feel the moment. 🌭 A Little Surprise at Dat Dog Besides coffee and desserts, I also stumbled upon a delightful hot dog joint during this trip—Dat Dog. Its colorful exterior is super eye-catching, and once you step inside, you’ll find that every hot dog can be fully customized. You can choose everything from the type of sausage to the sauces. We ordered their signature sausage with spicy sauce, plus a cold beer. It was simple, yet incredibly satisfying. Sitting at an outdoor table, watching the crowds pass by on the street, I suddenly realized: this is the most wonderful little joy of traveling. 🎷 Soul-Stirring Moments of Jazz No trip to New Orleans is complete without listening to a jazz performance. I highly recommend visiting Preservation Hall—a small venue with no fancy decorations, yet it delivers the purest jazz experience. That day, the musicians’ impromptu performance gave me goosebumps, and the audience was completely immersed in the music. If you want to enjoy jazz while sipping a drink, head to Fritzel‘s European Jazz Pub. The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable, and the music is of top-notch quality. 🍤 A Taste of Southern Flavors The food in this city is just as amazing: A warm bowl of Gumbo (seafood and rice stew), which combines the flavors of multiple cultures; A Po’boy sandwich stuffed with fried shrimp—every bite is pure satisfaction; And of course, spicy and flavorful Crawfish (crayfish), which pairs perfectly with beer for an incredibly enjoyable treat. New Orleans is definitely a city that can awaken all your senses. It’s also one of the places that left the deepest impression on me after my cross-country trip across the US. If you love jazz as much as I do, go and explore it for yourself... #CrossCountryUSATrip #NewOrleans #JazzMusic #Travel #TheMeaningOfTravel #TravelDiary