The Joy of the Big Easy

This is my 3rd time visiting New Orleans! Since there’s a word limit, I’ll jump straight to the recommendations 🎉 🤩 Frenchman Street You must go here! The music here captures the true essence of New Orleans, and it’s also much cleaner than the French Quarter. Spotted Cat is a must-visit, but the live music along the entire street is fantastic too. There’s even a small night market selling cute art pieces 🎨—don’t miss it! 🤩 Pat O'Brien's A 90+ year-old Piano Bar! If you’re staying in the French Quarter, this is the perfect way to start your night 🎹. The pianists play and sing effortlessly, and nothing beats joining the whole room in a sing-along with a Hurricane cocktail in hand 🍹. This is when New Orleans’ vibrant, carefree night truly begins—you can wander around the area or head to Frenchman Street to kick up your heels and dance the Charleston 💃! 🤩 Natchez Steamboat This cute vintage steamboat is a delight! And we definitely didn’t lose any of the steamboat races—go us! 🚢 You don’t have to buy a dinner ticket; the music on board is amazing, and it gave me vibes from the movie The Legend of 1900—like the world is as simple yet rich as 88 piano keys 🎶. Pro tip: Try to sit on the side where you board the boat—most of the on-board commentary happens there! 🤩 Sazerac House A free spirits museum! They even offer samples—cheers! 🥃 As the quote inside the museum says (not my line, haha): “How can life be complete with just food and water?” It tells the story of how New Orleans became the “Big Easy” during Prohibition—super interesting for history buffs, and the photo ops are top-tier too 📸! 🤩 Cajun Encounter Their swamp alligator tour is awesome 🐊! They also offer plantation tours, but if you’re traveling with 2+ people, renting a car to get to the plantations might be more cost-effective. My dad, a die-hard fan of Gone with the Wind, absolutely loved Oak Plantation 🌳. 🤩 Manolito (Cuban Cuisine) It’s easy to hit a bad spot when eating in tourist areas, but this place takes real care with their food and cocktails—no lazy “tourist trap” vibes at all. Delicious, authentic Cuban flavors! 🍴 😊 Whitney Plantation They have Chinese audio guides and are said to give super detailed explanations of the historical context. Unfortunately, we arrived an hour before closing time and weren’t allowed in—total bummer 😕. 😊 Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar I went here during my trip 3 years ago. The food was amazing, and the happy hour prices were unbeatable! I ate and drank to my heart’s content… then cried all the way back because I had to leave New Orleans the next day 😭. New Orleans always feels like it’s stuck in the Ragtime speakeasy era—if you can be a little more forgiving of its “chaos,” you might find even more freedom and joy here. Let go, and embrace the Big Easy! P.S. Stay safe! 🚨 #Happiness #NorthAmericanLife #Travel #EasternUS #Jazz #NewOrleans