PLACES: New Orleans, Louisiana

I boarded a packed mid-week flight the other day headed to New Orleans. Row after row, the people were packed in like sardines. As I reached the back of the plane, seats began to open up and I saw a mom, her son, and an open seat. Perfect! Mom code, I thought. I’ll go ahead and grab this one and spare the “nonkid” business travelers behind me. As any true southerner would, I ended up finding out their whole story. They were flying in from chilly Boston headed on a weeklong cruise to the Caribbean. My new friend was worried however, because they were stopping in New Orleans for four days with 3 boys (the other 2 having sat in the row behind with their father). “Not to worry”, I said. “Do you have a piece of paper?” Word of mouth suggestions make for the BEST trips. Especially in the South, where the “hole in the walls” often outnumber the fancy spots. So here are the tips I shared in case any of you are headed to NOLA anytime soon too: SITES: WWII Museum, Aquarium, Jackson Square (+Café du Monde), M.S. Rau (Royal Street Antique Store/Museum), Magazine Street Shops (Start at The Shops at 2011 Magazine) FOOD: Nice Dinners/Fancy Lunch: Mister B’s, Galatoire’s 33, Domenica @ The Roosevelt Hotel; La Petite Grocery. Casual Lunch: Camellia Grill (Warning: long lines during the weekends), Port of Call Hamburgers and Baked Potatoes, Acme Po-boys, Port Salut Grilled Cheese at The Ritz HOTELS: The Monteleone, The Ritz Carlton (check for deals online!), The Roosevelt