New Orleans

We love New Orleans, but for some strange reason we hadn't gone in several years, even though we live so close!  After Leighton suggested taking Roy to the Tabasco Factory (not too far from NOLA) for Father's Day a few months ago, the idea of going had been on my mind.  Father's Day is always close to (or on!) my birthday, so we decided that to celebrate both occasions we should take a little road trip to New Orleans, a city we both love!

On Wednesday morning, we set of for Avery Island near New Iberia for the Tabasco Factory.  It is a little detour off the usual route we have driven in the past, so it was nice to see a bit of a different area (especially when we realized we were driving through Terrebonne Parish, which was featured on a TV show we used to watch!!).   The Tabasco Factory tour was really, really well done.  It was incredible clean and every stop on the self-guided tour had the right amount of information to interest and educate anyone of any age.  There was lots to see, watch, and listen to (and smell!) to keep everyone's interest.  It is amazing that all of the Tabasco in the world is made in that one place, from the peppers being grown and the salt for the barrels right through to the bottling stage.  While we were there, they were bottling with labels for a shipment to Italy!  The gift shop was also a hit, as usual!  The kids found some trinkets and we got to taste lots of yummy things.  They had lots of sauces and jellies and mustards and pickles to try, many of which only seem to be sold there.  They also had jalapeño ice cream (WAY too spicy for me!) and a raspberry chipotle ice cream (that Leighton and I both loved but it was a bit too spicy for Riley) and Tabasco soda (Roy tried it, I didn't)!

Sweet and Spicy just like Riley!

How long would this jug last you?!?!

Riley's imitation of an 'old person' walking with a cane

And 'old man' Leighton getting up out of his rocking chair

Then it was time to hit the road to get to New Orleans in time to settle into the hotel and find dinner.  We almost always try to stay in Residence Inns when we go places (every now and then it gets us a free night! and we love the ease of the free breakfast with the kids), but the rates were better at a different suite hotel this time, so we decided to give it a try.  I had seen Drury Inns before, but had never really looked at one closely or read any reviews. This one sounded great, and we were really pleased with it!

One selling feature was the three free drinks every evening ;)  It was accompanied by a buffet of a light supper that worked perfectly for us feeling lazy and not starving for a big meal.  So we spend a little while relaxing there after arriving.  I may or may not have already had some margaritas by the time I found Riley crossing her eyes at her straw very entertaining!

We then went for a walk to our favorite, Cafe du Monde - the most important part of the day when in New Orleans!

chatting with grandma and papa, who called to say happy birthday to me

The next morning we took the kids for a swim.  I got to watch though since I forgot to pack my bathing suit!

my camera lens kept fogging up! 

They spotted and were highly amused by a robotic, plastic owl on the rooftop

Riley is a super floater!  She can last for so long!

We took a streetcar to the Garden District to check it out and have lunch.  I had found a little cheese shop to go have lunch that was right near a local ice cream place.  We decided that even if the kids didn't get excited for lunch, they'd be all over the dessert!  Riley and Leighton were excited to ride the streetcar, and Riley was loving all the beads all over the trees and street signs.

On the way back, we passed EiffelSociety, which used to be a restaurant on top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris and then was disassembled, shipped to New Orleans, and reassembled!

And then we did some shopping for a new bathing suit for me so I could swim, too!  We walked at the Riverwalk a bit and then took another streetcar (the red one this time!) back toward the hotel.

We went down for our drinks and snacks again in the evening.  The kids were pretty excited to get some maraschino cherries from the bar!

Then it was time for some very funny face selfies!

We took another walk to Cafe du Monde and then came back to the room to watch the NBA game.  Riley fell asleep at our feet - so sweet!  Leighton stayed awake the whole time!

Leighton took this picture for us 

And Riley took this one

Notice the family behind Roy & the kids posing for the camera too!  Roy noticed when we first saw this picture but I would have totally missed it!

The next morning we walked down Bourbon Street and through the French Quarter.  We sampled some pralines and checked out the souvenir stores.  And we ended with lunch at Acme so Roy could have some oysters.

And then we packed up the car and drove home :)  It was a really fun few days, and I hope we get back to New Orleans again soon!