Trip Report 2/16-2/23
Up at 3 AM to head to the airport in lousy weather for a very uneventful flight with an on time arrival at MSY on Sunday morning. Lyft was very cheap as compared to a cab for 4 so we hopped in and were at the Renaissance Arts in 30 minutes. Went to drop our bags since we were so early and were pleasantly surprised to find out room was ready and we headed up to the 4th floor. Also found out that our so-called executive room gave us access to a room off the lobby with waters, seltzers, soda, coffee, and snacks 24/7 - big hit with the kids and very handy for snacks throughout the week. Freshened up, grabbed a free mimosa in the hotel lobby, and walked up to Redfish Grill for brunch. Had a very nice meal with the BBQ Oyster Po-boy and gumbo being hits. Very nice kids menu which was well appreciated. Following brunch we wandered to Rouses on Baronne and stocked up on some essentials for the week and then let the kids hit the heated hotel pool (way too cold outside for adult swimming, but the kids loved it). Dried the kid's hair and headed over to the Marigny for ‘tit Rex. Adorable and fun, but it was a little chilly and we headed over to Dat Dog at the end of the parade for a kid approved meal. Took a while to get our food, but the Vaucresson hot sausage with crawfish etoufee on top with a cold Anita was a great cap on a long day. Lyft back to the hotel as we had already walked 8+ miles.
Monday looked to be a nice day and we had never been to Audubon Zoo and our youngest was quite excited. After beignets at the hotel (very good and very reasonably priced), we hopped the streetcar to Audubon Park. After a stop at Walnut Street Playground, we walked down to the Zoo. Had a great time and the zoo was a real crowd please. When we were done, we grabbed a Lyft to Joey K’s for the first time. White beans and a pork chop was one of the best things I ate all week and the service was great. Quick stop at Zele for some home decor and then a streetcar to the hotel for another swim for the kids. Dinner tonight was at an old favorite - Peche. Raw oysters and gumbo made a nice dinner for me and the cake for dessert was divine. The kids loved the sorbet. Back to the hotel for some much needed sleep.
Tuesday started with a short walk to Ruby Slipper at my youngest’s request. Solid food as usual but they were out of caffeinated coffee - odd. Service was indifferent. We quickly headed to the Aquarium and insectarium for a very enjoyable visit before waking through the Riverwalk Outlets to Julia Street and back to the hotel. My oldest was looking forward to another trip to Toups and with no afternoon plans we switched our Wednesday reservation to Tuesday and headed up via Lyft. As usual a great meal (chicken sandwich at lunch was the star) and we walked to Angelo Brocato (another first for us) and ate cannoli, cheesecake, and gelato. Everything was excellent. Walked to Canal and grabbed a streetcar back downtown and another swim at the hotel. After swimming we decided to walk the Quarter and grabbed a frozen Irish Coffee at Molly's for the adults and a slice (or two) for my picky youngest at One More Pie next door. Nothing fancy but reasonably priced and kid-approved. After this we walked up Esplanade to the back room at Buffa’s for Alex McMurray. Beers, burgers, red beans, and an impromptu birthday celebration for a fellow showgoer with cake made for a great night. Don't miss Alex if you're in town. Even the kids were engaged. Pouring rain so we cabbed it back. Don't sleep on the Curb app.
After another good night's sleep, we grabbed more beignets at the hotel and swung into Verti Marte for a biscuit for the picky one. Next stop Jazz Museum which we thoroughly enjoyed. The exhibit on the mint on the first floor was also great. From here we took a Lyft uptown to Frankie and Johnny's, another new place for us. Excellent Po-boy s and gumbo in a fun space with great service and learly popular with locals. Proceeded to do some browsing on Magazine Street before taking the streetcar back to our hotel. After some rest, it was back to the streetcar and we took it to the end before waking over to Liuzza’s By the Track. Our first non-Jazzfest visit allowed us to indulge in a sitdirn meal. Pasta night, BBQ Shrimp, gumbo, half price wine and king cake. Possibly our best meal of the trip. Being late and cold we decided on rideshare back to the hotel.
Thursday morning started with a cab over to Elizabeth's (another first for us). Eggs boudin were memorable, praline bacon not as much so. Kids ate well and we wandered over to Dr. Bob’s. What a place. Spent about an hour taking to Dr. Bob about everything and anything before picking out a small piece and checking out the Dr. Bob recommended Parlour Books and Bargain Center. Following this we grabbed some king cake slices from Bywater Bakery before getting a Lyft back to the hotel. Did some waking and shopping in the quarter after a rest and then proceeded to Luke for oysters and cocktails for an early happy hour dinner. The kids menu at Luke was well liked and we had a great time before grabbing a cab over to Beanlandia for the Treme Brass Band. What cool (actually cold during this frigid day) space for a show. Two sets of music and then we got Lyft to Rock N Bowl where we had a lane reserved and Sunpie and the Sunspots on stage. Thursday at Rock N Bowl is always a great time. Got another rideshare back and crashed hard.
Friday started a little later after Thursday's late night and we got to Stanley for a late breakfast/early lunch. The Shrimp and Oyster PoBoy hit the spot for me and everyone enjoyed their food as usual. Always a good heal, but feels a touch expensive for what you get. Stopped at the Postal Emporium on Bourbon Street and got incredible service as we sent a box of stuff home to save on checked baggage before checking out the French Market. After the French Market (which included more beignets and a snowball, we stopped again at One More Pie for a lot of pizza (and maybe more frozen Irish coffee next door). Next was finding a great spot on Royal Street for the Krewe of Cork parade. So much fun, great throws, and they were so awesome to the kids. We were now in full parade mode and the kids’ Mardi Gras spirit was fully awakened. A quick stop at the hotel and we headed up Julia to St Charles and setup shop in a great spot for Oshun and Cleopatra. I walked with my oldest to Cochon Butcher and we enjoyed delicious sandwiches waiting for the parades to arrive. The parade themselves were excellent and the kids could barely get everything they caught back to the hotel.
Another late night meant a late breakfast at Mother's. I always enjoy the crawfish etoufee omelette and today it was delicious again. At this point we realized St Charles was getting busy and we got to the same spot as the night before. I took a quick walk to Rouses for a beer refill, king cake, and some snacks, and before long parades were rolling. We were able to see Pontchartrain, Legion of Mars, Choctaw, Freret, and Sparta, but didn't have the energy to get through Pygmalion. Headed to the hotel to pack and 3AM came very fast before heading to the airport for another smooth trip home. Jazzfest can't come soon enough…
Your trip to New Orleans sounds like a fantastic adventure! It seems like you made the most of your time, exploring the city's best attractions, food, and music. Here's a detailed breakdown of your experience based on your trip report:
Day 1 – Sunday: You had a smooth, uneventful arrival at MSY, and the decision to take a Lyft was a great one, as it was cheaper than a taxi for your group of four. Staying at the Renaissance Arts seems to have been a great choice—early check-in, an executive room with access to snacks and drinks, and the kids loved the heated pool. After brunch at Redfish Grill, you made a fun outing of visiting the Marigny for ‘tit Rex (a local Mardi Gras parade), followed by a tasty meal at Dat Dog. Sounds like a great way to start your trip!
Day 2 – Monday: Your visit to Audubon Zoo was a great choice, especially for the kids. It's one of the best zoos in the country, and it’s great to hear that you enjoyed it. Joey K’s for white beans and pork chop was a big hit, and Peche for dinner was another excellent choice, offering fresh oysters and gumbo in a cool atmosphere. It sounds like your kids enjoyed some relaxing pool time at the hotel too, which is a nice balance after a day of sightseeing.
Day 3 – Tuesday: Ruby Slipper is a local favorite for breakfast, and it sounds like your meal was solid, though the lack of caffeinated coffee was a bit odd. The Aquarium and Insectarium are great stops for families, and it’s great to hear you enjoyed the visit. Your lunch at Toups and dessert at Angelo Brocato (cannoli, cheesecake, and gelato) definitely added some sweetness to your day. Walking around the French Quarter with a frozen Irish Coffee and a slice of pizza from One More Pie made for a fun evening before catching some live music at Buffa’s.
Day 4 – Wednesday: You had a leisurely morning with beignets at the hotel, followed by a visit to the Jazz Museum and a delicious lunch at Frankie and Johnny’s. Magazine Street shopping sounds like a fun afternoon, and you finished off the day with dinner at Liuzza’s By the Track, where the BBQ shrimp and king cake were highlights. It sounds like you really enjoyed the local spots and the atmosphere of each neighborhood you visited.
Day 5 – Thursday: Elizabeth’s for breakfast is a great way to kick off the day—eggs boudin and praline bacon are solid choices. Dr. Bob’s gallery sounds like a unique stop, and it’s wonderful that you had the chance to chat with him and pick out a piece of art. Your dinner at Luke and the evening at Beanlandia with the Treme Brass Band sounds like a great night of local music and fun. Rock N Bowl for bowling and live music was an excellent way to enjoy New Orleans’ nightlife, and it sounds like you all had a blast.
Day 6 – Friday: A late start after the busy night before led to a breakfast at Stanley, followed by a trip to the French Market. The Krewe of Cork parade was a highlight, especially with the kids getting into the Mardi Gras spirit. It’s great that you found such a great spot for the parade on St. Charles Street. You wrapped up the evening with another parade, some delicious sandwiches from Cochon Butcher, and a full day of New Orleans excitement!
Day 7 – Saturday: Your final day started with a delicious breakfast at Mother’s, followed by some last-minute shopping and another parade-watching session. The crawfish etouffee omelette at Mother’s sounds like a perfect New Orleans breakfast. Your family had another great Mardi Gras experience with the Pontchartrain, Legion of Mars, Choctaw, Freret, and Sparta parades. It's great that you caught so many of the parades and enjoyed the festive atmosphere before heading back to the hotel to pack up for your flight home.
Conclusion: It sounds like your trip was packed with delicious food, memorable experiences, and local culture. You visited a mix of iconic and off-the-beaten-path spots, and your Mardi Gras festivities seem to have been a blast for the whole family. It's great that you got to explore the zoo, enjoy some classic New Orleans food, and catch live music in various spots around the city. The combination of sightseeing, relaxation, and fun family activities made for an unforgettable trip. I’m sure Jazzfest will be an amazing follow-up next year!
