At the end of February, I spent a long weekend in New Orleans with my travel buddies. We stayed at the Astor Crown Plaza Hotel, positioned at the gateway to Bourbon Street, it is a luxurious oasis for travelers. It offers the convenience of easy access to French Quarter night life along with a luxurious, upscale sanctuary to sleep away the morning.
Grand chandeliers, lavish crown molding and polished floors enhance the French style lobby and provide a stunning welcome. Beautifully decorated guest rooms and the most comfy hotel bed I’ve ever slept in made it easy to relax and rejuvenate after exploring the plethora of delicious restaurants and lively bars lining Bourbon Street.
Life’s a Parade
While in town, I enjoyed a tour of Mardi Gras World and learned about the history of New Orleans Parades and parade krewes (who help put on the lavish parades that are the signature events of Mardi Gras). I even got to try on a few parade costumes and make my own mask.
The foodie in me had a blast on the walking food tour where we all enjoyed a sample of authentic local cooking at each stop and learned about the various influences that helped create Cajun cuisine.
People Rocked
From the hotel to the tours, my recent trip to New Orleans was quite the experience however, my favorite part of visiting New Orleans was its people.
Whether locals, transplants or tourist, everyone seems happy to walk the streets of the city and strike up a conversation with a stranger, hung a new best friend or laugh at a shared joke…and maybe even throw some beads!
courtesy of: KJ Feder
