If you're a regular of this blog, then you know how much my family hearts New Orleans. Before coming home from our recent vacation, we were already planning our next visit -- the city is addicting!
We love NOLA because it has an abundance of history and culture -- plus, the food is awesome, the people are great, and there is a TON to see and do! We could travel to New Orleans every year and still not experience everything the city has to offer.
I'm still working through our vacation photos (I took hundreds!) and posting about what we did on each day of our trip.
Until the next update, here's a look back at our #FollowYourNOLA experience from the beginning through Day 2:
Pre-trip: We're Taking a Family Vacation to New Orleans this Summer
Post-trip: We're Back from New Orleans
New Orleans Day 1 {JW Marriott NOLA, Johnny’s Po-Boys, Acme Oyster House}
New Orleans Day 2 {Cafe Du Monde, Birthday Surprises, Mother’s}
*You can plan your own New Orleans vacation by visiting FollowYourNola.com
Penelope (NYC Blogger)
Thanks for sharing, I've been thinking of visiting and I can read through those posts and see your thoughts, that is wonderful!
Adrienne Gordon
I want to see Bourbon Street
McKim
I loved the big houses.
Katie K
Love to see French Quarter
David Haug
I hear the Mardi Gras and cajun food are awesome!
Margaret Smith
I haven't been there before, but I would love to go to see Mardi Gras.
Thanks so much.
Erica Best
i have never been but u woul love to try the food
Shannon Baas
I haven't been there but would love the music.
Starr Greenwell
I love the slower southern culture, and the wonderful food.
Jaque R
I have never been but would really like to be there for Mardi Gras someday. 🙂 Thank you.
Ann Fantom
New Orleans' food and music are AWESOME! Can't wait to go back.....
Mary Casper
i would like to be there for mardi gras
Kristy
Too bad we never listed NOLA on our places that we should go before this year ends. I would love to go there and experience all of the things that other commentators is saying that the place is good at.
Mihaela D.
the begnets from Cafe du Monde 🙂
Blake Kaplan
all the seafood
Tina
If you have kids with you you can check Audubon Park, Your kids will definitely love this place. Lot of activities to kept them busy and enjoy.
Tari Lawson
I have not been but I would love to try some new food items, New Orleans style ;).
Janet W.
I went to New Orleans about 30 years ago. I love the vibrant night life and the delicious cuisine!
Mary Happymommy
I've never been there but I'd like to visit Bourbon Street.
Mary Beth Elderton
I love NOLA! I was born in Louisiana and lived mostly in southeast Texas. I love the architecture, the easy atmosphere. I haven't visited since before Katrina, but I kept my grands in Galveston while my son and DIL went to the Jazz festival back in the Spring.
Jennifer Marie
I would love to experience mardi gras.
Kim H
I have never been but I would like to go to see the historic buildings
Denise S
I haven't been, but a friend lives there and I'd love to visit her and see Mardi Gras.
Diane F
My family loves New Orleans! We love the food and culture. We are taking a trip to New Orleans in a few weeks and going to our first beloved New Orleans Saints football game in the Superdome. Can't wait to go see game and also eat oysters and poboys!!
Elena
I have never been, but would like to see French Quarter
Mary Calabrese
I love the fun attitude.
Tabathia B
I have never been but would love to experience the different types of foods especially the gumbo, seafood and desserts that are a blend of the old/new south
Jessica Vaughan Gengler
I love the food!
Emily
I love the food.
lizzy
I love Bourban Street!
Valerie Taylor Mabrey
I would love to see the shops and taverns
vmkids3 at msn dot com
Monique Rizzo
I love Mardi Gras.
Thanks for the chance.
[email protected]
Laura Jacobson
I would love to go and see the French Quarter! I have heard so much about it ...but never been there before!
Cynthia Conley
I'd love to go and have beignets at Cafe du Monde.
Ashley Tucker
I love Cafe du Monde!!
Melanie Montgomery
I'm originally from there, though I live in TN now.
I love how rich with history it is, with my familys history.
I love walking up and down Canal street knowing my grandmothers grandmother walked the same streets.
Ashley
never been there but would love to go to mardi gras!
Jaimie Adams
I've never been but I would love to check out all the great restaurants and historical charm.
Christina Sparks
I would like to visit Bourbon St
Emily Adams
I would love to visit New Orleans and discover their aquarium and also their restaurant's
Susan Chester
I would love to try the local cuisine and take a tour of the beautiful homes.
Suzanne K
I've never been but it's definitely on my bucket list! I want to experience the food, the culture, the history, see all the old buildings....
Ellie W
I have never been but I'd love to go to Mardi Gras.
Crystal F
I would love to go to Mardi Gras. I hear about it every year and wish I was there. Thank you!
Jayden H.
I have never been there! I would love to try some famous local restaurants I have seen features on TV and go downtown and shop!
Jody Sisson
The French Quarter is what I want to see.
nataly carbonell
I haven't been there but I'd love to try their famous seafood, especially crawfish, I've heard there are everywhere!
Thomas Murphy
I would love to see Bourbon Street
Wanda McHenry
I've never been, but I'd like to see the French Quarter and go to one of the finest restaurants and listen to some jazz.
Amanda Sakovitz
I would love to go to Mardi Gras!
HilLesha
I'd love to go to some historical museums.
Barbara Montag
I haven't been to New Orleans yet.
I hear their food is great so it would be fun to sample some.
Thank you.
Jennifer The Quirky Momma
I've never been but after reading all the Ann Rice books in the early 90s, I've wanted to visit. I know, silly me, but she made it sound so awesome.
Rebecca Graham
If I ever get to go there, I would like to see the French Quarter.
Paula Michele Hafner
I haven't been there since i was a kid but I loved all the history, the old buildings, and people's accents.
meredith
I havent been but would love to go to the french quarter
Scott Martin
I loved the ghost tour at night.
Tamar
I would love to see the French Quarter...and I'll take everyone else who said that with me.
Carolsue
I love everything about New Orleans. We went years ago and it is one of my favorite cities!
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
Sara Floyd
I have never been but I would love to see the Saints stadium
Carolyn G
I love the food in New Orleans
kolpin
there's always something going on!
ryan minton
the food is amazing!!!
[email protected]
Tanya White
I love the food and Music.
kathy dalton
i have never been to Louisiana but I hear the food in the French quarter rocks and Id love to attend Mardi Gras
Amber Faith
I love Bourbon Street, baby! 😉
Kyl Neusch
great food
Claudia
I haven't been in New Orleans, I would love to visit the French Quarter and taste the food.
Tricia Andrews
I love NOLA because of the people. Of course I am slightly biased because I had family that lived their pre-Katrina (we lost most of our family heirlooms in the storm). I also got NOLA tattooed on my ankle in the Mardi Gras colors in 1994. That's how much love I have for the city. My favorite attraction in the city is the FREE Canal St/Algiers Point ferry that takes you back and forth across the Mississippi. Go at night and eat dinner at the Dry Dock Cafe in Algiers Point. The BEST burgers in NOLA and most tourists don't go there. It's a locals place but they are really friendly. Then on the way back look at the skyline lit up. Love love love the ferry!
Deb C
I have always wanted to go to New Orleans. I want to have Dinner at Antoine's, that's a must and so is having beignets at Brennan's.
Stephanie Larison
We've never been, but we'd love to go and check out mardi gras!
jennifer cecil
My husband and I just took a vacation to New Orleans and we also fell in love. I can't wait to go back. We plan to check out mardi gras world on our next trip.
Cynthia R
I love the café au lait and the beignet!
Tammy Shelton
I love it's history, culture, food, ghost tours & grungy beauty.
Danielle
I have never been there but I would love to watch the crowds
Heather Hayes Panjon
I've Never Been , I'd Love To See The Historic Sights, And Enjoy The Food And Music!
alyce poalillo
I spent some time in NO asa culinary student and my favorite thing is the food followed closly by its people.
steve weber
the music and the food.
Daniel M
never been but hear the food is great!
Rosanne
I love the food -the red beans and rice
Kelly H.
I've never been but I would love to go and see everything.
Janna Johnson
never been to NOLO but would love to go there and eat and eat!
Ellen B
I've never been but it looks fun
Jennifer
I've never been, but I am going in a few weeks. I'm looking forward to checking out the different haunted sites!
dani marie
no and i wanna go to cafe du monte.
joseph gersch jr
never been there but would love the jazz
Debra Hall
i have never been there but i would love to take there haunted tour
Richard Hicks
I have never been but would love to participate in the Mardi Gras celebrations!
Nicole C.
I have never been but would love to see the French Quarter.
tiffany lane
I want to see all the old big houses
Livivua Chandler
i like the cuisine and the hospitality of the locals
Rebecca Peters
The food!
Leidy
Love all the great food and architecture
angela cisco
I have never been but I'd love to go and visit friends. I'd love to go to Sucre, I have ordered chocolates from there but have never made it there myself.
Susan Smith
We have been to New Orleans a couple of times and I love the food and the music.
Betsy Barnes
I've driven close to New Orleans, but want to go and take a tour of the haunted places, friends of mine did some and loved it 🙂
Valeen N
I would love to listen to some great jazz!
Deb S
I would love to go and see all the Jazz musicians.
Rebecca Lock
I love that my friend, Jess, and her family live in New Orleans.
harolde
Crawfish!! This is what I love!
Karrie Millheim
I have always wanted to visit New Orleans. I am fascinated with The French Quarter
Jennifer Reed
I have never been to New Orleans but would love to see The French Quarter area, the New Orleans above ground cemeteries, and Magazine street shopping.
Sonya
I've never been to New Orleans. I'd love to take the tours and see the French Quarter
Sharon
New Orleans is so much more than the French Quarter, it is full of history and beauty. I love the above ground cemeteries and all the little off the wall eateries. But stay away from those carriage rides, you could eat at Ruth Chris's for that amount. LOL Thanks for sharing the giveaway.
Angela Kinder
I've never been,but I would love to try the food and maybe do a museum crawl!
April Yedinak
I have never gotten to go to New Orleans, but I would love to see the beautiful old houses and gardens in the French Quarter and eat some good Cajun food.
Leslie L. Stanziani
I would love to go to the French Quarter.We have an opportunity to go next Feb and my do so.
jules m.
i'm an architecture fiend so i would love to go and take photos of the lovely old buildings there
Sherry Conrad
I love the energy & excitement of the french quarter. Food ranks right up there as well.
Scarlett G
I love the great food.
Tiffany Hearn
I would love to see the French quarter and try all of the delicious food!
Jeanette H.
Haven't been..but would love to try the food(:
Denise Donaldson
Only passed through. I would love to try the seafood
Shannon
I like the look of the buildings and I'm sure I'd find some food that I like.
Roxann
I have never been there but the food sounds amazing.
kymi a
I never been there but I would love to celebrate Mardi Gras, cruise down bourbon street, eat all the different creole foods, take the sites and history in, make memories with my family. I watch the food & travel network and New Orleans sure knows how to throw down!. Thank you for a fabulous giveaway!
Peggy Rydzewski
The food.. the atmosphere.. the people
Sharon
I have never been to New Orleans, but I would love to go just to see the tourist's spots and of course to taste all the wonderful food!
susan smoaks
i love that in new orleans there are so many different types of people there, it's so fun to socialize with people from all over the world.
Vikki Billings
I would love to go and walk through the French Quarter and I want to try some New Orleans cuisine.
Mary Cloud
I've only been to Bourbon Street - if I ever go back I'd love to go to the aquarium. I love that we have the top rated aquarium and zoo in the U.S. right in NOLA
annabella @ centurytel dot net
Jimmy
I would like to spend time in the French Quarter
Cálaeb Temple
love the french quarter and beignets!
Pam Schad
What's not to love. I have been there twice and I love the entertainment, the scenery, the food and the atmosphere. It is a great city!
Beverly Metcalf
I haven't ever been there, but I would love to go during Mardi Gras. Thanks for having this great giveaway!
Bryan E.
Thanks for the giveaway…great music & nightlife !
CharityS
I love the food!
Sand
I've never been but I would love the perfume and food!
Suzanne Lewis
I've never been, but I want to try out Bourbon St.
Connie Tucker
Have never been, but would love to visit the French Quarter and try the food.
Michelle H.
I would love to try the food.