New Orleans Is My Hometown (Guide Edition)

Spent four whole nights in NOLA and still didn’t want to leave — I adore this city! Southern folks are so warm and kind 🥺❤️. Most of my time was in the French Quarter, especially along Royal Street — packed with museums, galleries, and cute little shops 🖼️🛍️. The architecture blends French and Spanish styles, with beautiful, unique balconies. Just strolling the streets, walking by the river, or sitting on a bench in Jackson Square listening to street performers is pure joy 🎷🌳. If you want to hear live jazz, spend an evening on Frenchmen Street. It’s close to the French Quarter but requires walking through a somewhat quiet area. The whole street is lined with bars hosting performances — some charge cover, but the free ones are already amazing. My favorite was Blue Nile 💙🎶. Locals’ recommendations I didn’t get to try: • Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar • Muriel’s • Spicy Mango Places I visited but wouldn’t recommend: A ghost tour booked on Tripadvisor — mostly walking to houses and hearing brief unnatural death stories without much history. A bit boring 😴. If I could redo, I’d choose a cemetery tour instead. If you’re into vampires 🧛: • Gallier House (Townhouse from the Interview with the Vampire TV series 🎬) — they have a little gift shop; buying anything gets you a hardcover book about the architecture! Book tickets online — weekdays might require a call. • Vampire Cafe — overhyped, not very thematic, service was meh. I still bought a "blood bag" drink and sat outside… it was bad 😅. • Boutique Du Vampyre — for vamp merch! Other spots: 🔮 Voodoo Authentica — handmade Voodoo dolls and jewelry. 🎺 Preservation Hall — historic music venue, book tickets in advance. 🍸 Mahogany Jazz Hall & 21st Amendment Bar — great bars with live music. 🙅‍♀️ Bourbon Street — gets pretty chaotic at night, better to avoid. 🐊 Dedicate a full day to a swamp tour + Oak Alley Plantation — I booked with Gray Line and enjoyed it! Overall, NOLA doesn’t see many Asian faces — it feels like an underrated travel gem 💎. Next time, I’d love to come for Mardi Gras! 🎭✨ #NewOrleans #NOLA #NOLATravel 🏙️🎺🌿