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| Alex & I at the Running of the Bulls NOLA 2016 |
This year’s trip to New Orleans was just so much fun! We
definitely tried out some new experiences than years before and are excited to
share them with you. When I knew my husband was going to be in NOLA for a
conference, the first thing I did was visit the New Orleans Events Calendar for 2016 hand this is where the fun all started. Here is my 2016 list of fun activities
and tips for NOLA (don’t forget to review my NOLA Top 10 Here):
When I was checking the calendar of events for things to do
when we were in NOLA in July, I came across the San Fermin in Nueva Orleans and
was instantly curious. Turns out…you can participate in the running of the
bulls…but the bulls…are roller derby ladies strapped with whiffle-ball bats!!
WHAT?!?! IS THIS THE COOLEST THING I HAVE EVER READ?!? Yes. Indeed it was.
Every single person we met was awesome. The drinks were great. The music was
great. Everything about this festival was great. We will be back, hopefully
every single year, to participate in this event.
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| We made it to the end of the race! |
I am a very faithful Marriott girl, but I wanted to try
something a little off of the beaten path in NOLA. I found a Groupon for the
Hotel St. Pierre and the pictures looked so charming that I had to give it a
go. My first impression of the Hotel St. Pierre is that it was like an entire
romance/mystery novel laid out in a quaint maze of quiet corners and luscious
ambiance. This place was inspirational. The staff was nice, the afternoon
cookies and milk were a lifesaver after the running of the bulls, and there are
two refreshing pools for cooling off after walking the streets. I read the
reviews and will agree that the room we had was smaller than your normal “chain
hotel” room, but we were never there but to sleep! The reviews had also warned
of “paper-thin” walls, which I can also agree with. We had a bench outside of
our room where the 30-somethings would stop and discuss their kids and jobs
after a long night on Bourbon Street but they would always quiet down after we
politely said something. Plus, I had earplugs. This location was great and not
too far of a walk from the French Market & Jackson Square which are “must
see” destinations for any NOLA visit. I would hands-down stay there again and
if you are a lover of NOLA like we are, I would recommend you give a try too.
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| One of the two refreshing pools at Hotel St. Pierre |
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| A little space for some breakfast in the morning |
3) Audubon Zoo
Alex and I had enjoyed the Audubon Aquarium so much on our
last trip that we wanted to go check out the Audubon Zoo this time. We hopped
on the St. Charles streetcar and headed into the Garden District to the Zoo. At
the streetcar stop, a complimentary shuttle was waiting to take people to the
front of the zoo. It was such a wonderful time! Described as a “Top five US zoo
featuring more than 2,000 live animals in natural habitat settings”, there was
a fantastic Louisiana Swamp exhibit with alligators that was by far my
favorite. Alex loved seeing all of the different primates. Part of the Audubon
Nature Institute, there were cougars, bobcats, aldabra tortoise, flamingos, and wildebeest just
to name a few! We actually got caught in a rainstorm while we were there, which
did not stop us. We were able to get some good food and see plenty of the sites
in the rain (there are many indoor areas). I recommend it, especially if you
have kids (there is a splash park for the kiddos to enjoy that looked really
awesome).
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| Even a rainy day can be fun at this zoo! |
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| Watch out for alligators! |
TIPS: 2016 Visitors Guide & Jazzy Passes & the
Algiers Point Ferry
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| Must Haves: Visitor's Guide & Jazzy Passes |
The New Orleans Official Visitors Guide 2016 is unlike any visitor’s
guide I have ever seen before. Not only does it have restaurant listing and
great coupons, there are unbelievably great tips in this book! For example: 5
Tips for Families on a Budget, Architectural Scavenger Hunt, the
what/where/why/how of each of the New Orleans Neighborhoods, 10 Free Ways to
Play in NOLA, and my personal favorite- the 5 Walking Tours to Try which are
five celebrity-guided walking tours of NOLA that you can walk at your own pace
to with the FREE GO NOLA app.
Don’t forget to buy your Jazzy Passes at CVS stores (they
don’t sell them at Walgreens, but chances are if you see a Walgreens in the
French Quarter, a CVS is nearby) so that you can ride the streetcars and buses
during your stay. The standard fare is $1.25, but if you get a Jazzy Pass
(1-day is $3.00, 3-Day is $9.00, 5-Day is $15.00) you can come and go as you
please. We have never used any other transportation (except the taxi to and
from the airport) when in NOLA and have had no issues getting anywhere we
wanted to go using the public transportation. It’s cool, when you are at a stop
they have codes for you to text to tell you when the next streetcar will
arrive!
Algiers Point Ferry:
This was the first time we had taken this ferry. For $2.00 one-way, you
can catch the ferry across the Mississippi river for a breathtaking view of New
Orleans (plus, it is just fun to ride across the Mississippi). On the other
side, in Algiers, there are places to eat and drink, as well as a riverfront
bike path. We saw many bikes on the ferry. For just a few dollars, this ferry
is a great way to take in NOLA from a different perspective.
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Rainy Day: Harrah’s & Movie Theatre
When it started to rain really hard, Alex and I went to Harrah’s New Orleans. I was so happy to learn that the entire inside of the
casino is tobacco-free. I played the penny slot machines and had a few
cocktails in the air-conditioning and thought it was a pretty nice time. When
we needed to take another break from the weather, we went to see a movie at The Theaters at Canal Place that has the oversized chairs that you can reserve when you purchase your
tickets in advance. They have servers who bring you food and drinks while you
watch the show. Very fancy and fun!
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