New Orleans
Every year there is a pharmacy convention called Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition by ASHP (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists) and in 2011 (while I was in pharmacy school) it was in New Orleans. Needless to say we didn’t hesitate to book our tickets to this historic foodie city. My friends and I stayed at the Drury Plaza Hotel in downtown New Orleans, which I would highly recommend. Not only does it have an amazing rooftop pool and hot tub but it was also walking distance to Bourbon Street and most of the city’s main attractions (very important if you’re enjoying all of NOLA’s famous cocktails). Make sure you keep your wallet in your front pocket or have a purse with zippers because pick-pockets are very prevalent here.
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Bourbon Street New Orleans
We went out to the bars every night while visiting but during the day we enjoyed viewing the many art studios and historic neighborhoods like the Garden District. There are so many interesting streets and street performers to see while in New Orleans.
Street Performers in New Orleans
In front of one of the many beautiful shops in NOLA
The food and drinks in New Orleans are world famous for a reason- they have some of the best Jambalaya, seafood, and beignets I’ve ever had. I didn’t even know how much I liked Creole food until I visited NOLA. This combination of French, African and American cuisine blended together is its own unique genre of dishes. I wish I had taken better photos of the food while I was there but this trip was taken long before the idea for this website even came about. One restaurant we visited that I’m sure you’ve already heard of is Cafe Du Monde. They are known for their chicory coffee (made from the ground and roasted root of the chicory plant) and their beignets (french donuts). Chicory coffee has a coffee-like taste, but contains no caffeine. Beignets are deep fried pastry dough covered in powdered sugar (highly recommend).
Cafe Du Monde
If you stay at the Drury Plaza Hotel in New Orleans and want to walk to Cafe Du Monde, I recommend stopping at the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum as well as Jackson Square to see the iconic St. Louis Cathedral along the way. I much prefer walking when visiting larger cities and New Orleans is a great walking city. So many fun shoppes and museums and street performers to keep you entertained.
In front of the St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square
Hurricaine from Pat O’Briens
As far as bars go, you’ll find no shortage here in New Orleans. It would take weeks to visit all the bars on Bourbon Street alone. Here are a couple recommendations though. Visit Pat O’Briens and get their signature Hurricaine cocktail then stroll down Bourbon Street and visit Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. This little old building has been a bar since the 1700s and is reported to be the oldest bar in the United States. The dim lighting and ancient looking walls definitely take you back to a simpler time and I love that feeling of real history.
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar on Bourbon Street
Everyone knows about New Orleans Mardi Gras but did you know that you can have the Mardi Gras Experience any time of year? There’s a Mardis Gras World Warehouse where you can see all the old parade floats and decor up close. We went at night and it’s a whole other experience. Definitely gives creepy vibes to the parade figurines and clowns in this giant space. Hundreds of photo opportunities are available, although you may want to visit during the day for better lighting.
Mardi Gras World New Orleans
New Orleans at night
In my opinion New Orleans represents what is so great about our country. They are a prime example of what beautiful things can be created when people from different backgrounds come together. From the architecture to the food, New Orleans is a gorgeous city that should definitely be on your list to visit.
