State: Lousiana Where we stayed: Bayou Segnette State Park Since it was so easy to get into New Orleans from our campground, we were able to make multiple trips into the city. While Kaylie and Emmett and I enjoyed the campground parade, Jack and Matt tackled New Orleans together, visiting the World War II museum and making a first trip to Cafe DuMonde. Being a WW2 history buff, Jack LOVED the museum! He could have spent a couple days there reliving all the details of each battle. On our next visit into the city, we waited in a not too long line at Mother's Restaurant for some Po'Boys (Famous Ferdi Special featuring the orginal debris). Creole Queen - Historical River Cruise I figured we should take a paddle boat ride since we were staying so close to the MIssissippi. Instead of a not-so-tasty dinner cruise, or a zzzzz jazz cruise, we decided to go the more educational route and signed on for the historical river crusie. The Creole Queen worked out pretty well, since there was an engaging ranger speaker on board who talked about the history of New Orleans. We made a stop at Chalmette Battlefield, a national battlefield, but to the kids dismay, the stop was too short to even attempt the junior ranger badge (kidding, about the dismay). On the way back to the dock, the speaker gave a chilling play-by-play of the events surrounding Hurricane Katrina. There's nothing better than a hot cup of java and fresh beignets from Cafe Du Monde. A couple tips - just find a seat and a waiter will come by and take your order lickety-split. Don't bother waiting in that long take-out line unless you really want your order to-go. Second tip - If you go out toward the back of the building past the long line, there's a viewing window! I only found this because there was also a geocache hidden out back somewhere...of course. Anyway, you can watch the folks cutting the dough and frying those healthy treats. Things started getting a little crazier as the afternoon progressed - more and more visitors started pouring into the French Quarter. And everyone was getting fired up for Mardi Gras! Quick, look the other way or you might have some 'splaining to do. We decided to go to one parade in New Orleans (Thursday before Fat Tuesday) to see how it would compare to the parade in Lafayette. We missed the dog parade (that's a good one for families) and though I'm sure it would have been fun in my 20's, we intentionally skipped the tutus and bras parade. Instead we tried out the Knights of Babylon parade (not in the French Quarter). There were many families (you can tell by all the ladders set up along the road), but not as many beads and toys thrown out as the parade we went to in Lafayette (thank goodness since we had no more room in the rv)! Nothing like a frozen daiquiri to warm you up!
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aboutI'll be sharing our travel plans, some reviews, cooking ideas (because I know you are all jealous of my easy-bake oven), and ... oh who am I kidding?! I'll be lucky to get our photos posted! categories
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February 2016
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