NOLA New Orleans – The Perfect Thanksgiving Escape from Winter 🎷

Every fall/winter, I flee the cold for somewhere warmer. Having already visited popular spots like Miami, California, and Cancún, NOLA turned out to be the perfect match for my travel vibe: warm, great for city walks, beautiful architecture and plantations, plus jazz and bars everywhere — simply ideal! Must-visit spots I recommend: 1️⃣ Oak Alley Plantation About 1+ hour drive from downtown. You can join a tour or rent a car. I was lucky — a friend I met on Xiaohongshu and her local friend drove me there! Buy the Big House ticket ($31) for a guided tour explaining Southern plantation history. The guide did a great job contrasting the lives of plantation owners and the enslaved — very eye-opening. The alley behind the house is super photogenic — soft light through the oak trees makes for gorgeous photos. 🌳📸 2️⃣ French Quarter Daytime here is full of charm. The iconic LaBranche House is under renovation (first floor blocked), but you can still admire it from the side. Afterwards, relax at Jackson Square — sunny days are perfect here. On Thanksgiving, we even caught a live juggling show! 🤹 3️⃣ Jazz Clubs Jazz every night! My top pick is the highly-rated Mahogany Jazz Hall — just walk in and order a drink (~$15). Go early for better seating (they were closed Thanksgiving, FYI). Another favorite: Fritzel’s European Jazz Club — small but cozy, with an enthusiastic band. Also walk-in with a drink purchase, and they were open on Thanksgiving! Also tried The Spotted Cat (on Frenchmen St.) — $5 cover, mostly standing room, didn’t stay long. Snug Harbor across the street was sold out. 4️⃣ Garden District Not really recommended — it’s just a regular upscale neighborhood, many houses are gated or hidden. If you’re from California, it’ll feel pretty ordinary, like Berkeley streets. But the streetcar is worth riding — only $1.25 per ride (New Yorkers, rejoice! 🥹). Otherwise, rely on Lyft. 🚖 Food-wise: Oysters here are way better than NYC — fresh and flavorful. I’ll write a separate post about bars and eats. 🦪 Safety: Not as sketchy as rumors say. I walked alone at night and felt okay — just avoid isolated streets and keep moving. The French Quarter is busy and feels safer in crowds. #WinterTravel #NewOrleans #NOLA #NewOrleansFood #NYCStudentLife #ThanksgivingTravel