BOOBS AND BEADS One of the biggest misconceptions about Mardi Gras is that it s basically an excuse

New Orleans  Louisiana or NOLA as the locals affectionately refer to it as, has pole vaulted the list of my favourite US Cities. red roof inn anaheim If you re looking for an incredible experience that you will never forget, NOLA should be your first destination!
The streets of New Orleans  are littered with beautiful pedestrian malls such as this one in the french quarter. If you happen to be in New Orleans when the weather is just right, you may find yourself wandering these streets for hours on end, dipping in and out of each cafe or bar you can find.
Bourbon Street is perhaps the most famous street in the world and as you know, the party doesn t stop. Some feature places to visit are, Razzoo Bar Patio  with a constant flow of lively patrons and a litany of 3 for 1 happy hour deals and  Preservation Hall , one of the greatest and oldest live venues New Orleans has to offer. red roof inn anaheim Food and beverages red roof inn anaheim aren t served at the Preservation Hall, but as it is everywhere in New Orleans, you re allowed to bring outside alcoholic beverages in a to-go cup. Preservation hall was built to feature authentic live Jazz performances, so if this is what you re looking for in New Orleans, you re at the right place.
As much as these clubs and music venues may draw you in, the true fun in bourbon red roof inn anaheim street exists in plain sight. If you re a people watcher, you ll be in the strangest kind of heaven. Every type of character imaginable blends in a rich cacophony of alcohol fuelled intention. To counteract the debauchery, religious protestors canvas the street to save your soul from what they view as a hellish babylonian example of the destruction of the moral fabric of America. Maybe they re right? Maybe this street is the embodiment of humanity s destruction? At the end of it all, everyone is too busy having fun to care.
You can t talk about New Orleans red roof inn anaheim without talking about Mardi Gras , and just so you know, it s everything you thought it was and more. Carnival Krewes band together each year, led by the city s most wealthy citizens to create floats, costumes, and launch beads and other goodies at outstretched hands that line the parade routes. Super Krewes follow the exact same parade route and schedule every single year with the biggest parade being Endymion on the Saturday before Fat Tuesday. People dance in the streets, cadets march, and high school bands and cheerleaders are on full showcase. red roof inn anaheim If you re heading down for Mardi Gras, the best case scenario is to meet some of the locals and party the way they do. Bourbon Street the French Quarter are must sees, but if you can find a local hook up, they can link you up to the best parade routes and house parties to help pass the time.
On the Thursday night of the weekend before Mardi Gras, The Krewe of Muses throws a parade! The Krewe of Muses is an all female group of 1100 and they throw girly trinkets such as dolls, and shoes that light up and give you good luck.
On Friday, everything ramps up with 3 of the best Krewes in New Orleans; The Krewe Hermes , Krewe D etat , and Krewe Morpheus . Hermes and Morpheus red roof inn anaheim have been around for many years, while the Krewe D Etat is said to have begun its campaign by hijacking a parade route and interjecting their own floats into an existing parade. The balls on them eh? Krewe D etat has managed to become a mainstay and now feature their own route, much to the delight of the krewe that had been hijacked. There are other neighbourhood Krewes that throw parades but like I mentioned earlier, it s important to mix it up with the locals to get as much information as you can.
The Saturday of Mardi Gras weekend may just be the best day in New Orleans. With the Super  Krewe Endymion rolling red roof inn anaheim out, you will bare witness to what a parade is supposed red roof inn anaheim to look like! The Krewe of Bacchus dominate the streets on Sunday and are known as the Krewe that revolutionized Mardi Gras parades by allowing tourists to join back in the 60s. As mentioned earlier, Krewe s are a major part of New Orleans society and are funded primarily by those who live and have grown up in the city. Bacchus allowed the integration of regular people like you and I into this amazing street festival, so it s important for you to pay homage by partying at their parade like there s no tomorrow.
On Lundi Gras (The Monday before Mardi Gras which is a Tuesday if you haven t quite picked up what I ve thrown down), the second oldest Krewe in the festival showcases their best. Proteus , perhaps the most prestigious Krewe in New Orleans, is definitely red roof inn anaheim a parade not to be missed. Lundi Gras also features the Super Krewe known as Orpheus which unlike many of the other Krewes draws it s funding from outside of the city but is musically themed and as is the case with most of the parades, visually spectacular.
To end things off, the Zulu and Rex Parades fall on Mardi Gras! Rex is the parade where the King of Mardi Gras is named. After the Rex Parade, the Rex ball is held and is said to be one of the best closing events in New Orleans society.
THE ONE DAY FESTIVAL One of the common misconceptions about Mardi Gras is that it lasts for a day or two, when in fact the Mardi Gras celebrations begin at the end of January when carnival season begins and finishes off on the Tuesday before lent which is nearly a month long celebration!
WHAT HAPPENS ON BOURBON, STAYS ON BOURBON Another misconception is that Mardi Gras only occurs on Bourbon Street and the french quarter, when in fact most of the major parades happen Uptown and in the Mid City districts.
BOOBS AND BEADS One of the biggest misconceptions red roof inn anaheim about Mardi Gras is that it s basically an excuse for women to go topless and show off for beads. Flash your chest and you get the rest. In my experience down there, I probably saw one set of boobs in public and the girl was wearing bodypaint; red roof inn anaheim she also happened to be on bourbon Street where the debauchery lives. For the most part, it has to be understood red roof inn anaheim that Mardi Gras parades are meant to be fun for all types, including kids. You are definitely allowed to have fun, drink, dance, and party with reckless abandon, but for the most part, the clothes stay on. My apologies go out to all of the perves out there.
Whether it s the french, creole, or southern influence, New Orleans knows how to prepare a meal like no other. Incredible staples red roof inn anaheim such as Jambalaya, crawfish, gumbo and po-boys are absolute musts, but keep in mind that as extreme lovers of cuisine, New Orleans chefs have found a way to take flavour to unprecedented levels with each dish prepared. Take this Fried shrimp Benedict on cornbread, with colored greens and hollandaise. Good luck finding a dish like this in any other city.
A great place to grab a bite while you re walking through the french quarter is the farmers market! You ll find a wide variety of New Orleans favourites and twists on traditional recipes all at amazing prices. If you need a few souvenirs, this is the perfect spot.
When I asked around about which restaurants to visit in New Orleans, red roof inn anaheim one name consistently popped up on the list, The Louisiana Pizza Kitchen . The Louisiana Pizza Kitchen has operated successfully for over 20 years, with 2 locations across the city. However, each of the locations in New Orleans are now independently owned with slightly different menus. The Louisiana Pizza Kitchen has been described red roof inn anaheim as the Picasso of wood-fired pizza , and after tasting it myself, I m the last person outside red roof inn anaheim of New Orleans who would ever disagree with that statement. The Louisiana Pizza Kitchen in the uptown location is a clear favourite of the locals around riverbend and college students alike, while the location in the french quarter attracts numerous tourists along with locals. Whichever location you choose, the Louisiana Pizza Kitchen is guaranteed to be a favourite of yours anytime you visit.
As amazing as the Pizza is at the Louisiana Pizza Kitchen, don t ignore the rest of the menu. Items such as the Lasagna and the myriad of pasta options make this place one of New Orleans biggest staple restaurants.
As a huge fan of southern cuisine, the Praline Connection Restaurant is one of the major reasons that New Orleans is solidified as my favourite city to dine in. With perhaps the greatest fried chicken I ve ever tasted, soft shell crawfish, incredible jambalaya, and way too many menu items to even deal with in one sitting (even though you ll want to), the Praline connection is one that I wish I could make on a daily basis. The Praline Connection has 2 locations for you to enjoy. The first being on 542 Frenchmen Street, close to numerous jazz bars such as the Blue Nile, and the second being in Louis Armstrong international airport so that you can enjoy one last bite before you take off for your final destination.
New Orleans is the city of Jazz, and the constant soundtrack you hear on the streets and in the bars is a testament to this. If you re a fan of music and all it can do for your spirit and soul, this city will give you a much needed dose that your very own city may be lacking.  No matter what day of the week it is, you can always find a band rocking a party. Bands like the Soul Rebels , who tour North America quite frequently, can be found at places like The Blue Nile almost every night and I for one can attest, you ll never see a dance floor quite like the ones you ll see in any of the jazz bars on Frenchmen or in the Quarter.
This city does tourism red roof inn anaheim like no one else and whether red roof inn anaheim you re staying with friends or in one of the numerous hotels in the french quarter and beyond, the southern hospitality will make it difficult for you to leave the Big Easy. One place that I recommend if you want to enjoy New Orleans in the lap of luxury is the Hotel Monteleone; The largest hotel in the French Quarter.
Antonio Monteleone was an industrious nobleman who was operating a very successful shoe factory in Sicily when he heard great things about America. The call of adventure motivated him to pack the tools of his trade and head for