You'd be hard-pressed to find a more perfect spot for a girlfriend getaway than New Orleans, Louisiana. Centrally located, affordable, brimming with history and culture, and amazing food at every turn, NOLA is a great choice to meet up with your best girlfriends for some relaxation and fun. It's impossible to see and do everything this incredible city has to offer in one weekend, but here are a few of my must-dos on your first visit:
Tours
From food & cocktail tours, to visiting historical mansions in the Garden District, to haunted ghost tours, there is something for everyone's interests. Whichever one (or two!) you choose, just make sure you wear comfy shoes since you'll be doing a lot of walking! Touring with an expert can be the best way to get a view of the city from a true insider. They can often give really good recommendations for other places to visit too as they are very familiar with the area in general.
Local Cuisine
Sampling all the local cuisine is the best way to experience a new city in my opinion, and New Orleans has some of the best food in the country! Everyone will tell you to make a stop by Cafe du Monde for the beignets and they are right. This place is an institution for a reason. Warm and delicious bundles of dough with powdered sugar on top...yes please!
Brunch is a must with the girls, and NOLA has an abundance of great spots. The Court of Two Sisters has a lovely Sunday Jazz Brunch with outside dining in a gorgeous courtyard. Brennan's is another famous spot with fabulous creole creations.
You could go fancy dinner every night you're there, or go with a mix of moderate and high end, which is what we chose to do. The bacon oyster sandwich at Cochon is literally the best sandwich I've ever tasted in my life. I still dream about that deliciousness. For a nice dinner out, we chose award winning Restaurant R'evolution and were treated with the royal treatment, aka the chef's table. What a neat experience being able to see the behind the scenes inter-workings of the kitchen.
Nightlife
When the sun goes down, New Orleans seems to come alive with a palpable energy unique to this Southern city. A great way to start your night is to head over to the Carousel Bar & Lounge inside the Hotel Monteleone. It's a great atmosphere and has a yummy bar bites menu to go with a nice cocktail...be sure to try the blue crab & crawfish beignets! After a more refined start, head out to the famous Pat O'Briens Piano Bar. In nicer weather, I prefer to sit out on the patio and enjoy people watching. Finally, a girl's trip wouldn't be complete without a little dancing. The Maison is a great spot to dance the night away with your friends.
Relaxation
There's nothing better than being able to rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit on a vacation. Splurging on a spa treatment at the Ritz Carlton will leave you feeling relaxed and ready to face the real world when you head home from your vacation. The best kind of therapy is retail therapy, so head on over to the Magazine Street to do a little shopping at some cute, unique boutiques.
I hope you have a great time exploring this vibrant city!
