Christmas & New Year in New Orleans!

It was Christmas Eve and we took a taxi to the St James Hotel – a small boutique style hotel just on the edge of both the business district and 2 blocks from Canal Street in a great location – close enough to walk into the French Quarter and far enough away to escape the hustle and bustle. We had a good size room with original beams and West Indies decor. We spent a wet (but warm) afternoon wandering around the French Market and French quarter. We had dinner at ‘Olivier’s’ – a small Creole and Cajun restaurant serving local cuisine and recipes handed down through generations. It was just a couple of blocks from the hotel.

Christmas Day and the sun came out. After a wonderful breakfast at ‘Café Fleur de Lis’ (serving the best hash browns in New Orleans!) on Chartres Street we strolled down the infamous Bourbon Street, through Jackson Square and peeked into the commanding St Louis Cathedral before taking a much drier walk along the mighty Mississippi River.

Boxing Day and a short walk through Riverwalk took us to the Cruise Terminal to join our 5 day Western Caribbean Cruise on board the Carnival Triumph….please see my journal entitled ‘5 day Cruise to Mexico’.

We arrived back in New Orleans on New Year’s Eve to a City buzzing with Football fans who had arrived for the Sugar Bowl weekend – a huge event on the ‘Nawlins’ calendar. This time we checked into the Hampton Inn in the Garden District. Offering very good value, this hotel is located right on St Charles Avenue with a street car stop right outside the hotel. A day pass meant we could hop and off the street cars all day. The complimentary breakfast was available in the lobby or on a warm day could be taken outside by the hotel’s small pool. The room was spacious and clean with a good sized bathroom. The staff was friendly and the location perfect for catching the street car out to Audubon Park & the Zoo in one direction or to Canal Street junction for the French Quarter and business district.

In the afternoon, we set sail (again!) – this time on board the Steamboat Natchez, the last authentic steamboat on the Mississippi River, for a 2 hour river cruise. From the Steam Caliope Concert playing as we boarded, to the live narration throughout the tour, it was a truly memorable experience and we learned many interesting facts about the mighty river as well as some history about the Crescent city from its birth to the devastating Hurricane Katrina.

We steered clear of the French quarter on New Year’s Eve. Although we had heard about the ‘not to be missed’ firework display on the Mississippi, we decided it would be too busy to take the children into the French quarter that evening. We chose instead to eat locally in the Garden District and after a long wait at the bar enjoyed a wonderful supper at ‘Houston’s’ - the seared tuna salad was worth the wait!

New Years Day and we took a short walk around the Garden District, once part of a plantation this ‘American’ section of town was built to rival the architectural splendour of the French quarter and there certainly are some wonderful looking properties. We passed by the ‘Lafayette Cemetery’ one of the oldest cemeteries in the City before hopping onto the street car and heading back down to the River. Our afternoon tour took us onto the water again - for the last time! This time a Swamp boat through part of Jean Lafitte National Park – home to some of Louisiana’s many famous swamps and bayous. Despite it being a little too cold for the wildlife we did spot a couple of ‘gators and a cheeky raccoon called Roxy! On board the narration was funny and interesting and we were able to hold a real live alligator much to my daughter’s delight!

We absolutely loved New Orleans – it is a City that has so much to offer to all ages. Whether you visit the Zoo, Aquarium, Insectarium, take a swamp or river boat trip, a ghost tour of the old town, try your hand at the Casino, take day trips out to the Plantations or simply wander through the French quarter and savour the wonderful smells, sights and sounds of this vibrant and extremely friendly City you are sure to go home with some very fond memories.