i first went to new orleans during theo’s junior year of high school when we were checking out tulane. it took me about thirty seconds to fall in love with that city. i have been back three more times (he’s a sophomore there now!) and each time i love it more. we are fresh off a visit and here are some of my new orleans FAVORITES:

PRETTY HOUSES (lots are even PINK!) with wrought iron railings and balconies.

(i am desperate for a pink house… i don’t even need one as big as this!)

(amazing palm tree out front)

(cute navy house with rosey door)

(sweetest little yellow one!)

INCREDIBLE OAK TREES hanging with moss lining so many streets and all over the campus.

PALM TREES everywhere too!

(oak tree AND a line up of palm trees)

COOL NEON SIGNS all over the place for bars, restaurants, hotels…

(i didn’t go in this place, but the sign is fantastic)

(this hotel had a GREAT bar and was super cool inside)

(yummy, yummy restaurant)

(even the walgreens has a FUN sign!)

(not neon, but so classic!)

(1856!!)

(lights and a moving carousel INSIDE the bar at hotel monteleone!)

SAZERACS the best cocktail ever!

(i don’t have a photo because i drank them down so fast! my first one was at the sazerac bar at the roosevelt hotel - gorgeous wood paneling everywhere!

MANNERS and NICE, WARM people. everyone calls you “darling” or “baby” and it never feels creepy.

(sign on the trolley car - AMAZING!)

MUSIC and CELEBRATIONS all day, every day. i’ve seen so many weddings and second line parades and i haven’t even been there for mardi gras or jazz fest. there’s music just pouring out of the windows and in the streets everywhere you go!

DELICIOUS COFFEE - honestly, the best coffee i’ve had anywhere. i know there’s chicory in the coffee at cafe du monde (which is tip top!) but i don’t why this french truck coffee is so amazing (at our most recent hotel: pontrachain.)

(coffee and beignets at cafe du monde… OUTRAGEOUS)

(lu going for that beignet!)

OF COURSE, THE FOOD! we love the po boys from domilise’s, the crawdads from franky and johnny’s, the seafood at superior and peche, the breakfasts at mother’s, surrey’s and silver whistle… it’s pretty hard to go wrong.

(crawdads on our first visit to nola)

(superior has a great sign too!)

(the interior of silver whistle has these wonderful vintage car drawings)

BOAT RIDES we took the natchez steam/paddle boat on a two hour cruise along the mississippi. it was so beautiful and of course, there was an incredible band!