Planning a Weekend Getaway in New Orleans

March 2, 2023 By Anne

New Orleans is one of the most famous cities in the world, alongside the likes of Barcelona, New York and Paris. It is located along the great Mississippi River in the southeastern region of Louisiana, USA. With its diverse culture, incredible cuisines and magnificent architecture, the city should be at the top of your list as you plan your next weekend getaway.

The city is widely known for its distinctive culture, jazz music and for the iconic New Orleans streetcars, vintage-looking carriages have become a symbol of charm and romance for more than 150 years they’ve been operational. The 32-mile street railway starts in a street uptown and stretches all the way to Canal Street, making a few stops along St Charles Avenue, Loyola and Audubon Park.

If you need more reasons to visit New Orleans, here are a few of them.

Visit the French Quarter

The French Quarter is the oldest and most popular neighborhood in New Orleans. It is home to a few centuries-old buildings with beautiful little balconies wrapping around them. The neighborhood also serves as the roots of the city’s rich and unique culture, with museums, art galleries and amazing cuisines to go along with the soothing sounds of jazz music as you walk down the old streets.

Steamboat Tour on the Mississippi River

Like the streetcars, the Mississippi river boats have become permanently ingrained into the New Orleans culture. Your weekend getaway wouldn’t really be complete without a short cruise in one of these steam-powered paddle boats. They offer tour options for both night and day. Day tours generally involve sightseeing and learning more about the city’s history, while evening cruises are perfect for dinners, cocktails and live jazz music.

Jackson Square

If you are an art enthusiast, an afternoon stroll around Jackson Square would be a great way to start your weekend getaway. The park is located in front of the St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter and is just a few steps from the Mississippi river. It is surrounded by some of the oldest buildings in the city, housing various stores and restaurants. As you explore Jackson Square, you can take a few minutes to appreciate local artists who display their paintings, drawings and other works of art around the park.

St. Louis Cathedral

Founded in 1720, the St. Louis Cathedral is one of the oldest cathedrals in North America. It is one of the many architectural masterpieces in New Orleans and includes both Renaissance and Spanish Colonial architecture. Despite being over three centuries old, the cathedral is still in use, hosting masses every Saturday, Sunday and Monday. You can also visit the cathedral any other day for tours between 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.

Enjoy the Local Cuisine

If you get hungry after exploring the city, it might be time to try some fantastic local cuisine. The city has a few signature dishes, including Creole gumbo, beignet doughnuts and Cajun jambalaya. You can also try out a muffaletta and po’boy sandwich if you are on a tight budget. New Orleans has something for everyone – whatever cuisine route you choose; every mouthful will have a flavor of the city’s unique melting pot.

So, have you ever been to New Orleans? If yes, leave us some recommendations of the best places and things to see in the city!

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

3 Unique Vacation Ideas Every Traveler Will Love

February 17, 2023 By Anne

I mage Credit: Dennisflarsen from Pixabay.

The recent pandemic meant everybody was cooped up in their home and there was no opportunity to travel. With everything easing up, however, there’s no time like the present to book yourself a trip. Nobody wants to settle for something bog standard, though.

A few unique vacation ideas every traveler will love should more than fit the bill. Since there are countless options for this, it’s difficult to figure out where to start. Three top options stand out, as they’ll be more interesting than you’d expect, as well as being a lot of fun. It’s worth considering each of them.

Unique Vacation Ideas Every Traveler Will Love: 3 Top Options

1. Sporting Getaway In Georgia

If you’re looking for a more sport-focused vacation, then Georgia is always worth considering. The 100-acre Sandy Creek Sporting Grounds will more than fit the bill for all of your sporting needs. Add in the scenic beauty, and you shouldn’t have a problem enjoying yourself.

As a sporting fan, this should be a must-visit at some point, especially if you’re traveling on a budget. Even if you’re there for a week or two, you’ll have more than enough to do without needing to spend a lot on it. Put it at the top of your list.

2. Family Fun In South Carolina

South Carolina’s beauty knows no bounds, and it offers more than a bit of fun for the whole family. Look no further than Myrtle Beach to see that. It’s got more than a few activities that’ll keep you and your kids entertained for the entire time. From mini-golf to go-kart tracks, you’ll be spoiled for choice.

You wouldn’t need to break the bank with this, however, as it’s one of the more budget-friendly family vacations you can go on. The hotels will be more affordable than you’d think, and so will all the activities you can do. If you’re on a budget, it’s more than worth considering.

3. Zipline Through Branson

Branson is a beautiful place to visit for more than a few reasons. While it gets tourists, it isn’t one of the more well-known places to go, so you won’t need to worry about it being overcrowded. You’ll be free to enjoy everything without having to wait too long.

Coupled with that are the countless activities you can take part in. Branson Ziplines can be one of the more recommended, as you can get a much better view of everything while still having fun. With how beautiful the area is, it’s something you shouldn’t miss out on.

Unique Vacation Ideas Every Traveler Will Love: Wrapping Up

There are more than a few unique vacation ideas every traveler will love, some of which will be much more interesting than you’d think. That adds to the fun, and you shouldn’t have a problem making memories you’ll look back on fondly.

Ziplining through Branson, getting some sport in Georgia, and having some family fun in Georgia can all be recommended. With how affordable and exciting they could be, there’s no reason not to give them a go.

Anne

Discover The Perfect Destination For Your Journey

February 9, 2023 By Anne

When it comes to planning a vacation, choosing the right destination can be a daunting task. Where should you go? What are the must-see attractions? How much money will you need? All these questions can make it challenging to decide on just one location. To help make this process easier, here are some of the most important factors to consider when selecting your next travel destination.

Budget & Affordability

Budget and affordability are the first and most crucial factors to consider when selecting a travel destination. No matter how amazing a place looks in photos, it’s best to look elsewhere if it’s not within your budget. It pays to be realistic when setting a budget. Consider all costs associated with your trip, including flights, accommodation, food, activities, and souvenirs. Research prices before booking your trip, so you know exactly what you’re getting into financially. Once you have the numbers in front of you, it will be easier to determine which destinations fit your budget and which ones don’t.

Photo by Oleksandr Pidvalnyi

Weather & Climate Conditions

You may want to relax by the beach or go hiking in the mountains – but if neither of those is possible due to weather conditions, then it won’t be a great experience! So, take into account seasonal climate differences from region to region before making any final decisions about where to go for your travels. For example, if you plan on going skiing during wintertime, then naturally, countries like Canada or Switzerland would be better suited than countries such as Thailand or India, which don’t get snowfall at that time of year.

Attractions & Activities

Once you know where you want to go and how much money you have available to spend, you can start looking into attractions and activities at each destination. Some places offer more cultural experiences while others are filled with nightlife venues – so think carefully about what type of experience appeals more to you! If particular attractions interest you, then research them thoroughly beforehand for some travel tips or insider knowledge that may be helpful.

Safety & Security

Safety should always come first when traveling abroad – no matter how excited or eager you may feel about your upcoming trips! Before deciding on any specific destinations, research safety measures (e.g., embassy contact information). Also, look up crime statistics in areas where visitors commonly stay and general safety tips for traveling abroad (e.g., do not carry large amounts of cash). Knowing these types of details ahead of time will help ensure peace of mind throughout your entire journey!

Travel Time & Flight Duration

Finally, travel time and flight duration are another essential factor to consider when choosing a travel destination. Consider how much time you’re willing to spend in the air when selecting a destination. For example, if you only have a few days off work, then it may not be wise to book a trip to Europe from North America due to the long flight duration. On the other hand, if you can spare an extra week or two for travel, then spending the extra money on a longer flight may be worth it.

When it comes to choosing a travel destination, there are many factors to consider. From budget and affordability to travel time and flight duration, make sure to thoroughly research each aspect before booking anything. That way, you can be confident that your chosen destination is perfect for your next adventure!

Anne

3 Practical Tips To Have The Best Family Vacation Possible

January 13, 2023 By Anne

Image C redit: Kruszyzna0 from Pixabay.

Everyone wants to make sure their family vacation is amazing, but that can often be tricky to do. You’ll have quite a few things to plan out and prepare for, which can often make everything a bit stressful. By knowing how to have the best family vacation, you can make this much easier.

All this could need is a few practical tips, each of which should have a massive impact on the planning process. Three family vacation tips stand out for this, as they’ll make sure you’re prepared and that everything goes smoothly.

Have The Best Family Vacation Possible: 3 Practical Tips

1. Be Prepared For Crowds

Crowds can often be an unfortunate part of a vacation, especially during certain times of the year. Even if you book for less busy times of the year, there could still be quite a few people. While you can minimize this by using a Disney World tracker and similar tools, you won’t be able to avoid all of the crowds and queues.

That could mean needing to book things early, especially when it comes to any activities that need tickets. Avoid disappointment by pre-booking as much as you can.

2. Share Responsibilities

Planning a family vacation should be a family activity, but it’s often left to just one person to plan everything out. That leads to a lot of stress for whoever’s doing the planning. Get rid of this by sharing the responsibilities with your family. Let the kids figure out where to go, while asking your partner to help book everything.

Not only does this get rid of a lot of stress, but it lets everyone feel much more involved. They’ll appreciate the vacation a lot better while making sure they start getting excited as early as possible. It could even avoid arguments about what’s booked and what you’ll be doing.

3. Maintain Family Traditions

Quite a few people love having routines. They’ll relax more with these and get a certain sense of comfort out of them. If you or anyone in your family crave this, then it’s worth integrating them into your family vacation. With how stressful it can be being somewhere far from home, it can even be recommended.

Your normal family traditions, such as having breakfast at the same time, can all be parts of this. Even reading a book to your kids before bed can be recommended if that’s something you always do. It lets you feel more comfortable when you’re away.

Have The Best Family Vacation Possible: Wrapping Up

If you want to have the best family vacation possible, you’ll naturally put a lot of time and effort into it. It doesn’t need to be a stressful experience, however. By using a few practical family vacation tips, you’ll make sure there isn’t any stress involved.

Sharing responsibilities, being prepared for crowds, and maintaining family traditions will all be part of this. Not only will they get rid of a lot of stress, but they could make the vacation even more enjoyable

Anne

Take The Stress Out Of Planning A Holiday With These Tips

January 7, 2023 By Anne

Planning a trip can be a lot of work and a little scary. It can be hard to figure out how to plan a trip, whether you’re going to another state or another country.

Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/gray-and-black-dslr-camera-beside-sun-hat-and-sunglasses-413960/

You might make bad decisions if you’re too stressed out, so it’s important to know how to take as much stress out of the process as possible.

Having a good plan and taking your time can make planning a vacation less stressful. Use these tips to help you plan your next trip with less stress.

Pack Your Bags In Advance

If you plan ahead and pack a few days before you fly, you can leave time for the things you often forget. Make sure you have enough clothes, toiletries, and other essentials for traveling. This will help you figure out what you need and don’t need. It also makes you less stressed than if you packed the day before and didn’t know what was most important to bring.

Make A Plan

Finding the right things to do in the short amount of time you have is one of the hardest parts of traveling. It seems like every time you find something that works for everyone, it’s way out of your price range. It can be hard to figure out what you want to do. The key is to plan ahead and learn as much as you can before you go.

Look online for tours and activities in an area, check the prices, and then send the information to everyone involved so that all the details can be worked out before you leave. No matter whether you are booking a stay at St. Pete Beach Hotels or a day trip, make a plan.

Look At Your Flights In Advance

If you buy your ticket at least 40–60 days ahead of time, it can make a huge difference. Getting the best price on your ticket takes a lot of stress off of you. If you can book your tickets even further in advance than this, you will often get the best price.

Speak To Your Doctor

Depending on where you’re going, telling your doctor about your health and any risks you might face at your destination can be very helpful. Talk to your doctor before your trip, whether it’s to get a vaccination a week before you leave or to talk about how to protect your existing health problems.

Organize Your Budget

Your budget should be the first thing you watch out for above all else. There is nothing more stressful than wanting to do something but not having enough money to do it. Set up your budget from the top down. This will keep you from having to worry about making plans for things you can’t afford.

Planning a trip can be fun and stressful at the same time. To lessen this stress, you need to make smart choices and know how to plan everything just right. With the tips above, you can plan your trip in a way that makes it less stressful.