One of the perks of being a working mom turned stay-at-home mom is that I can travel again with my husband when he has work trips! I used to accompany him a lot before we had Fischer, but over the past two years, I haven’t been able to as much because I needed to reserve personal days for those times when little man would get sick. Now that I’m pregnant with baby number two, I decided it was time to treat myself (and hubby) to a little babymoon on his next work trip.
My husband’s company hosts bi-annual company meetings that consist of both professional and company-culture development. Lucky for me, spouses are included in these trips! This time, we were treated to a three-day extravaganza in one of my favorite cities, New Orleans! At first I was nervous about this trip because, as a pregnant lady, I couldn’t enjoy my favorite adult beverages on Bourbon Street. Plus, I knew I’d be too tired to shake it late into the night on Frenchmen Street. But I soon changed my attitude and decided to live it up: babymoon style (sober, of course).
Babymoon: New Orleans Style
I’ve done New Orleans more than a few times, in college and then for girls weekends and bachelorette parties. Whatever the occasion, we typically did the same things: Cafe Du Monde, basking by a pool, enjoying the nightlife. Somehow, it never really occurred to us that there was a whole city OUTSIDE of those few bar-lined blocks of debauchery and fun. On this babymoon visit, I was forced to experience the city sober. So, I decided it was time to really dive into the culture and history of one of my favorite cities.
I started by exploring the Convention of Visitors Bureau website online and quickly learned that there was more than enough to fill my time. Cemetery tours, historical museums, famous restaurants, landmarks, neighborhoods, plantations and more! There was so much to do, I couldn’t possibly get to it all. I had to choose wisely.
French Quarter Friday!
For the first day of our babymoon, I started my morning off with a little light reading, tourist planning and a quick workout. Then I indulged in a large breakfast and hit the streets around 10am. These were some of my favorite places that I visited in the French Quarter (which is where we stayed) along with other fun attractions you should check out while you’re there!
The French Quarter
Jean Lafitte Visitors Center
Located on Decatur streets amongst the retail and sugary goods shops, this little place is easy to miss. However, if you get the chance you should pop in for a quick history of New Orleans, including the story of Jean Lafitte and a brief overview of commercial and agricultural activity. You can also get maps and other informational brochures of the area.
Jackson Square
While it doesn’t house a museum, Jackson Square is a beautiful spot to rest your tired toes, have a snack/refreshment, take some pictures, and do some epic people-watching! Named for a champion of New Orleans, Andrew Jackson, the square draws thousands of visitors a year. It also boasts beautiful views of local architecture and landscaping. New Orleans takes its gardens seriously, y’all!
Madame John’s Legacy
If you’re interested in architecture then this spot is a must. An excellent example of (and longest surviving) 18th-century residential architecture and inside you’ll find a history of New Orleans crafts and pottery. Plus, the air conditioning is on full blast.
Ursuline Convent
As I stepped beyond the gates, I immediately felt like I was in 18th-century France. This convent was the first of its kind and commissioned by Louis XV for the French Ursuline nuns. Inside you’ll find the remarkable history of their Atlantic passage, the environment and inhabitants they encountered upon arrival as well as the Catholic history of Louisiana. Outside you can frolic in the beautifully manicured French gardens.
Beauregard-Keyes House
Located across the street from the Ursuline convent, you’ll find another excellent piece of period architecture and history. The house was once owned by General Beauregard, who ordered the first shots of the Civil War on Fort Sumter. Inside you’ll find many Beauregard pieces as well as those from the last owner and famed author, Frances Parkinson Keyes. While the history of the house is fascinating, perhaps the best part is the story-telling abilities of the tour guide. Afterward, relax and spend some time outside in the manicured gardens.
Louisiana State History Museum
This “museum” is actually quite deceiving because when you visit the website, it’s actually made up of multiple buildings! We chose to visit the Cabildo, which is located directly in Jackson Square on Chartres Street. Besides housing the story of New Orleans and many amazing artifacts, the building itself is of great NATIONAL historic importance. It was the location of both the Louisiana Purchase and the Plessy vs. Ferguson decision.
Half the building is dedicated to the entire history of Louisiana (three stories!) and the other half is dedicated to Hurricane Katrina and the 10 years since. If you consider yourself any sort of history buff then you MUST visit this wonderful museum, if even to just soak up the energy of such important moments in our nation’s story.
Cafe De Monde
Probably the second-most famous spot in New Orleans after Bourbon Street, this cafe is world-renowned for their utterly delicious beignets. Doesn’t matter what time you show up, there will be a line…and it’s well worth it. Especially if you’re pregnant!
More French Quarter Attractions:
- 1850 House
- Gallier House
- French Market
- Hermann Grima House
- Le Petit Theatre
Take a Tour
Another really fun way to see and get acquainted with the city is to take one of the awesome tours offered in and around New Orleans. We weren’t able to do one because we just simply ran out of time, but I’ve rounded up some good ones for y’all to check out!
1. Two Chicks Walking Tours
These tours would be a great addition to a babymoon trip! I wish I had had the time to do one of these tours because a friend of mine said the one she went on of the French Quarter was just so fantastic. Her guide was a great storyteller and loved bringing the city to life. This company is small, very personal, and offers a variety of great tours from a “Dead Sexy” tour of a cemetery to sigh-seeing the “Garden District Grandeur”.
2. Plantation Tours
I was bummed that we didn’t have time to do this either. I’ve been to plantations all over the East coast for both work and play and I wanted to compare the Louisiana experience to that of the rest of the south. Oh well, next time!
- Oak Alley: One of the most stately and well-preserved plantations in the country, also used as a location for filming movies such as Interview With a Vampire.
- Houma House: Take a day tour, eat and drink, or even stay the night. Houma House offers an unparalleled look into life in Antebellum Louisiana
- Destrehan Plantation: This plantation is only a 30-minute drive from New Orleans so it’s a bit easier to do if you have dinner plans back in the city. It’s similar to Oak Alley but reviews say it’s more informative.
- Laura Plantation: This is touted as the most unique of the New Orleans plantations if only because it was a Creole plantation. Therefore the architecture and history will differ significantly from the others in the area. If you’re looking for a more realistic view of plantation life, including treatment and life of slaves, then this is the plantation I’d most highly recommend.
3. Swamp Tours
Looking for some wildlife and environmental history of the bayou? Check out these two companies for swamp tours where you’re sure to seem some ‘gators!
Eat All the Food!
Now for one of my favorite parts of New Orleans…..FOOD!!! This was a big reason why I looked forward to coming to the city on a babymoon. The dishes here are so amazing and I love Creole cooking. I chose to indulge at a restaurant called La Petite Grocery and O.M.G. am I glad I did. The food was incredible (we had two desserts that were out of this world) and the service was impeccable. The ambiance was really pleasant and evoked the important history of the building and the decor was adorable.
The location along Magazine Street was also great because it took us in the Garden District. So we got to explore some of grandest streets in New Orleans as well as window shop boutiques and galleries. I highly, highly recommend this restaurant! (The owner and chef, Justin Devillier, is a James Beard Award multi-nominee as well as 2014’s “Chef of the Year” in New Orleans.)
Other restaurants that were recommended:
- Bayona
- Emeril’s
- Balise
- Port of Call
- Muriel’s
Check Out the Nightlife
Finally, no trip to New Orleans is complete without a little nightlife action (even if it’s a babymoon!). A lot of people assume Bourbon Street and Harrah’s are the only places to hit, but that’s simply not true. While there are tons of bars and dives around the city, my favorite place to spend the after-dinner hours is on Frenchmen Street. There, you can wander from bar to bar listening to fantastic local musicians jamming out.
On this particular trip, we found ourselves in Bamboula’s listening to an amazing group called the Caesar Brothers. They had everyone up and dancing, they were SO fun! Here are some other great bars to check out along Frenchmen Street:
- d.b.a.
- The Maison
- Blue Nile
Hope y’all enjoyed my re-cap of our babymoon trip to New Orleans! I shouldn’t have been surprised that New Orleans had so much to offer any sort of visitor and I’m looking forward to our next trip back (sooner rather than later!) so I can cross even more of NOLA off my list!
