Happy 2024! We started off the New Year with a swamp tour. Because it was winter, the swamp was pretty brown and most of the animals were hibernation. But we did see some sleepy crocodiles and begging raccoons which are fed by the tour boats. 

After dinner the adults went out to a local dive bar, Harry’s Corner, where we played the juke box and had some fun and then we decided to hit Bourbon Street. It was crazy because the Sugar Bowl had just ended so there was a PARTY going on!

The next day we walked around Jackson Square and Don and Quinn did a little geocaching. 

When we decided to go to NOLA, the first thing I did was make a reservation for dinner at Commander’s Palace. It’s a legendary New Orleans restaurant where Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse got their start. And it didn’t disappoint. The service and the food were impeccable!

The Conrath’s arrived a couple of days before us and left ‘today’. Don asked that whenever we visit a new city, that we take Quinn on a college tour — so today we had a tour of Tulane University. We took the Street Car from the French Quarter out to Tulane. It was a beautiful school but no pictures. Then it was off to lunch on Cochon where Quinn got a Pig Mac.

Besides Commander’s Palace, the one thing we wanted to do was see a jazz show at Preservation Hall. We were lucky because tickets were sold out until tonight and we were able to get in. 

The room was about the size of a living room with 50 people sitting on benches and standing in the back. You could just feel the history of this room seeping from the walls. We weren’t allowed to take pictures or videos during the performance but it was incredible and unforgettable.

Quinn got a selfie with the trombone player Craig Klein who is a grammy winning musician. 

Our last day. We had a late afternoon flight so walked down to the Mississippi River and walked along the river walk. 

Then we got one last dose of New Orleans street jazz. A great way to end our trip.

Chasing the sunset out of New Orleans.