New Orleans
New Orleans, LA

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We avoided New Orleans during Mardi Gras, opting for the scaled-down version of the celebration in Mobile, Alabama. We visited "Nawlins" a few days after the crowds had cleared and spent a couple cool but sunny days in this famous, eclectic city.

Strolling the streets of the French Quarter is a treat for the eyes and ears. The beautiful, ornate buildings are a site to see, and the colorful street performers and artists are entertaining (though we passed up having our palms read or our portrait sketched).

We took a steamer ride on the Mississippi, sampled Creole and Cajun cuisine, window shopped, listened to live jazz music, and relaxed in the beautiful Jackson Square park. There are many things to do, taste and see in New Orleans.

Pictures (Click to enlarge)
French Quarter  
If New Orleans is known as the birthplace of Jazz, then Preservation Hall is the mother. This old, run-down looking place is the only remaining jazz club from the historic period.  

Our two-hour ride aboard the Natchez, New Orleans' only true steamboat, was a trip back to Mark Twain's time. Harrison had been reading "Tom Sawyer" "The cover of the book shows the Natchez right next to Tom fishing. He ran away from home to pretend to be pirates with his freinds, and got home and attended their own funeral!"

The Natchez has a real caliope on top, powered by the steam from the engines boilers. Before departure, a crew member plays several songs on the caliope. It's pretty loud, even if you're far away. It's like a fancy whistle, telling the people that the boat is ready to leave.

  
"There was a silly guy doing a show on the sidewalk. He had people wrap him up with chains and he got out of them. Before he got out, he walked across the street and stopped traffic. He also juggled while riding a unicycle. He was funny."--Amanda  
The San Francisco Plantation House, outside New Orleans on the banks of the Mississippi in Reserve, Louisiana, is a carefully restored antebellum mansion. Built in 1856 in the old Creole style, it boasts many unique architectural features and techniques, as well as gorgeous antiques and an interesting history. It's $2 million restoration was subsidized by Marathon Oil Foundation, which built a large refinery on the rest of the plantation grounds..  
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Trip Tips

Gas was expensive and our fill-up cost the most of any on the trip.

We stayed at an RV Park that was close to downtown, but was quite noisy. We should have stayed at the state park nearby instead.

Harrison and Amanda had a quest to buy a few strands of Mardi Gras beads to add variety to their Mobile collections, so we browsed shops for the best deals. Beware when shopping with children! Some of the tourist stores carry explicit items that are likely to offend most parents. It's a good idea to send in one adult to scope out the contents of a shop before taking children in. Bourbon Street is the most popular, especially with the single crowd. Some sections have shops and signs that aren't appropriate for youngsters.
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