Spring Break Destinations Part 2 - New Orleans 😈

Spring Break Where to Go Part 2 - New Orleans 😈 I’ve never been to a Southern city in the US before. I heard New Orleans is famous for seafood, alligator meat, and Voodoo culture—so I jumped at the chance to visit during spring break 🚀 🏨 Accommodation I stayed at Maison de la Luz, which is super close to the French Quarter. All the great restaurants and spots worth exploring nearby are within walking distance 🚶‍♀️. The hotel has that vintage vibe I absolutely love, and I booked a one-bedroom suite. A standout feature is the hotel’s speakeasy called Bar Marilou—you walk into the tea room, flip on the small light above your head, and a staff member will open a hidden door for you 🚪. The atmosphere is totally retro, with live performances, and the wine 🍷 is great. As a bonus, they serve fried frog legs—I, a Chongqing local, was in heaven 😍! 🎭 Things to Do Cocktail Museum: They walk you through how cocktails are made, and you get to taste samples halfway through 🍹—super fun for drink lovers! Oak Valley Plantation: I joined a day tour here, where a guide took us through the plantation owner’s residence. They shared stories about the drastically different lives lived on the same land—one from the owner’s perspective, and the other from the enslaved people’s. It was a really eye-opening experience 📜. Swamp Tour: The other part of the day tour was a swamp excursion to see alligators 🐊. I never expected the little boat to go so fast—someone in our group even had their sunglasses blown off, and my bangs basically vanished in the wind 🫠! The captain fed marshmallows to the alligators to get them close to the boat, and you could also get up close with the small alligator the captain keeps. They said you might even spot raccoons 🦝 or snakes 🐍 if you’re lucky. Preservation Hall Jazz: This is a total must-do! The musicians featured change every day—at my show, there was a Grammy-nominated trumpeter 🎺. Make sure to book tickets in advance, though—they sell out fast! 🍽️ Food Highlights The people of New Orleans have such bold choices when it comes to ingredients—it almost made me feel like I was back in my second hometown… but tastes are definitely subjective! Brennan’s: This is the birthplace of banana foster—worth checking out for the novelty, but beware of the massive amount of sugar ☠️. I also tried pig ears, turtle soup, and sweetbread. The pig ears were good, but I’d skip the other two. Bearcat: A popular internet-famous brunch spot. Their Lobster Daddy is a winner—salty and delicious, and most of their dishes are safe picks (no major misses!). Luke: This seafood spot was featured by Jessica & Krystal! They have a happy hour in the afternoon, and the oysters are plump and fresh—their scallops are great too 🦪. Big EZ: My favorite crawfish spot! Their Viet-Cajun flavor is insane. It’s not as good as the crawfish back in China, but it’s pretty amazing for the US—highly recommend 🌟! Other picks: Cafe Du Monde’s beignets are tasty too, even if they’re not the healthiest option 😂. #NewOrleansGuide #SpringBreakDestinations #USDomesticTravel #USInternationalStudentSpringBreak