Posts

New Orleans: Food

Image
If New Orleans does one thing better than anywhere else, it’s this: it feeds you! Eating in New Orleans isn’t something you squeeze between activities — it is the activity. Meals stretch longer than planned. Plates arrive full and unapologetic, and no matter where you sit down, there’s a sense that what you’re about to eat means something to someone. Where Every Meal Tells a Story From the moment you take your first bite, you realize that food here is layered. Recipes have been passed down, borrowed, protected, and perfected. Creole and Cajun influences meet French technique, Southern comfort, and a whole lot of personality. Sauces are rich and slow-cooked. Seafood tastes like it was pulled straight from the Gulf that morning. Spice builds gently, not to overwhelm, but to remind you it’s there. New Orleans doesn’t rush food — and it doesn’t apologize for it either. Breakfasts Worth Lingering Over Mornings in New Orleans start sweet, slow, and with a bit of indulgence. Powdered ...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Orleans: The French Quarter

Image
The French Quarter has a way of pulling you in quickly. One moment you’re stepping off a streetcar, the next you’re surrounded by color, sound, history, and Southern heat that settles on your skin and gently slows your pace. Music drifts from doorways, voices overlap, and every block seems to offer something different — sometimes beautiful, sometimes bold, sometimes a little shocking. I am still thinking about the heartbeat of NOLA. We began our time in the Quarter with a private photo shoot and walking tour, scheduled through Viator , which turned out to be one of the smartest decisions we made. Our photographer knew where to find the best light, the most photogenic corners, the must sees, and the quieter streets — but he also knew the realities of the French Quarter. Along the way, he shared practical advice that felt just as valuable as the photos themselves. Things like: "D on’t take the bracelets from the “monks.”,  and "If someone cheerfully calls out, “Nice shoes,” ...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Orleans: The Garden District

Image
    The Garden District doesn’t announce itself. It reveals itself slowly, the way the South does — with heat that settles on your shoulders, cicadas humming somewhere just out of sight, and the steady shade of oak trees that feel like they’ve been standing guard forever. The air is thick here. Not unpleasant — just present. The kind of warmth that slows your steps and invites you to linger, to notice details you might otherwise rush past. Wrought-iron fences curl like handwriting. Porch fans spin lazily. The smell of jasmine and warm earth hangs in the air, reminding you that this neighborhood grew from swamp land, coaxed into elegance by patience, ambition, and time. Commander’s Palace That unmistakable teal building anchoring the corner of Washington Avenue and Coliseum Street is  Commander’s Palace , and it feels alive even before you step inside. Opened in  1893 , it has been feeding New Orleans for well over a century, serving not just meals but milestones. Pre...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Real Benefits of Using a Travel Agent (And Why DIY Booking Isn’t Always Better)

Image
In a world of travel apps, deal alerts, and endless tabs, it’s easy to assume booking your own trip is the smartest move. But more travelers are discovering the opposite:  using a travel agent can actually save you time, money, and stress—while giving you a better overall experience. At Carry On Travel, we work with travelers who want more than a confirmation email. They want confidence, value, and support from start to finish. 1. You Get a Human Advocate—Not an Algorithm When you book online, you’re on your own if something goes wrong. When you book with a travel agent, you have a real person who knows your trip, your preferences, and your priorities. Flight delay? Hotel issue? Last-minute change? Instead of sitting on hold with a call center, you reach out to someone who can act fast and fix problems before they derail your vacation. That kind of personalized travel support is priceless. 2. Travel Agents Save You Time Before You Even Leave Plan...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Orleans: Living Art Exhibit

Image
From the moment we stepped off the plane into the airport we were hit with the very essence of New Orleans, Louisiana. The NOLA spirit hit our ears as we heard the live vibrant jazz playing through the airport; welcoming guests on a new exciting adventure or it's residents home to the crescent city. Once we got ourselves oriented we realized the value NOLA put on all varieties of art. After being there for a few days we could see that everything they did, they did with heart and soul, and that is where the best art comes from. The food, music, atmosphere, the people and the hospitality were all wonderful forms of NOLA art. Since I am trying to break up the story telling of our visit into different segments, I will do my best to not share everything all at once and to keep my ADHD Squirrel, Beverly, at bay. Today I will be bringing you on a journey of the visual and musical arts that we were so fortunate to experience. The entire city of New Orleans is a living breathing art exhibit...
Post a Comment
Read more

There and back again...

Image
  Ever since I was young I have loved to travel. Whether it was family car rides to see my grandmother in Vermont or my first solo airplane trip when I was 12 to South Carolina. I remember watching Rick Steves travel all over Europe and being enamored with the idea of doing what he was doing... Traveling for a living. It was official, I had been bitten by the travel bug. I have a gypsy heart and a deep seeded need to see all there is to explore of this world.  When I was around the age of ten, and again at sixteen, I had the opportunity for a quick jaunt across the boarder to Canada. Eventually, my husband and I would like to go back there to visit Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. We eventually plan to head south to visit Mexico, Central and South America. The Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya, Thailand has recently made the list as it is the largest carved structure in the world without a single metal nail to hold it together. That is a marvel that I just have to see with my own ey...
Post a Comment
Read more