The Trekking Pawns' Diary

 (Photo: We enjoyed around Jackson Square at night, lots of artists and fortune tellers!) If you’ve been following along, you might remember us asking around and blogging about safety in New Orleans before our trip. We weren’t quite sure what to expect, especially at night, so we decided to drive around in the rental car the city during the day to get a feel for the different neighborhoods. And you know what? It was actually quite nice! (Disclaimer: Some of the links on here are affiliate links and I may earn if you click or buy on them, AT NO EXTRA cost to you. Hope you find the information here useful! Thanks.)  Daytime Exploring & First Impressions As we made our way through the city, we didn’t see too much that made us feel uneasy. The only places where we noticed homeless encampments were near a bus stop and the public library by Tulane Medical School. Other than that, the city seemed lively, charming, and full of character. A Bourbon Street Stroll... Before Dar...

  (Photo: We loved the quality of the Chicken!) We know it’s a fast food spot, but we just had to try Raising Cane’s while in New Orleans! If you’ve read our previous posts, you’ll remember that this chicken chain actually originated right here before expanding across the country. Seeing locations everywhere made it impossible to resist—we had to see what the hype was all about! First Impressions Walking in, the vibe was fun and inviting —it had that Red Robin-style décor , but with a New Orleans twist , featuring local sports team memorabilia . The menu was straightforward and simple , which we appreciated. No overwhelming choices—just chicken done right. The Food We ordered: The Chicken Sandwich Combo 🍔 The Chicken Fingers Combo 🍗 The food came out fast, fresh, and hot —exactly what you want from a fast food spot. The chicken was top-notch , just like Chick-fil-A quality, with a crispy, well-seasoned breading and tender, juicy meat. The fries? Pretty standard , but the ...

New Orleans is known for many things—jazz, Mardi Gras, Creole cuisine—but one of its sweetest claims to fame? Beignets! We couldn’t leave without trying this deep-fried, powdered-sugar-dusted pastry, so we decided to compare two of the city’s most talked-about spots: Café du Monde and Beignet Café . (Photo: Original Cafe du Monde ! We went at 10 pm and this place was packed! Opened until midnight.) (Disclaimer: Some of the links on here are affiliate links and I may earn if you click or buy on them, AT NO EXTRA cost to you. Hope you find the information here useful! Thanks.)  (Photo: Nice cozy place inside Cafe Beignet , out of the cold.) Beignet Café – A Cozy First Try Our first attempt at Café du Monde didn’t quite go as planned (more on that later), so our first actual beignet experience was at Beignet Café . We chose it because of its good Google reviews and the promise of live music, plus we were looking for a warm indoor spot since the chilly night air wasn’t ideal for out...

After finishing The Seamstress of New Orleans and experiencing the city for ourselves, one thing became very clear—Mardi Gras isn’t just a day or an event. It’s a way of life. From the moment we stepped off the plane, reminders of the festival were everywhere: airport decorations, signs at car rental counters, and beads hanging from balconies long after the parades had ended. (Photo: We took this photo Sunday morning after all the wild parties were done. During the day, you can see the beautiful architecture and decorations on the balcony.  At night there were people having a grand time throwing beads into the streets. The French Quarters was definitely an experience!)  Reading the book, we loved how this short passage captured the spirit of Mardi Gras: "Alice saw the continued concern on his face. She felt a need to divert him. ‘I beg your pardon, Mr. White, but what is Mardi Gras?’ "Oh, Mardi Gras. It’s quite a festival, I believe. In New Orleans, each year to begin the s...

As part of our pre-trip journey into the rich and colorful history of New Orleans, we’ve been reading The Seamstress of New Orleans . The novel has been a fascinating guide, weaving together the city’s iconic culture with its complex history. One place that keeps popping up in the book is Storyville, a district infamous for legal prostitution and gambling. Intrigued, we had to find out if this place truly existed—and wow, what a story we uncovered! (Disclaimer: Some of the links on here are affiliate links and I may earn if you click or buy on them, AT NO EXTRA cost to you. Hope you find the information here useful! Thanks.)  (Photo: Amazon ) The History of Storyville Yes, Storyville was very real. From 1897 to 1917, this legalized red-light district was the beating heart of New Orleans’ nightlife. It was named after Alderman Sidney Story, who ironically didn’t intend for his name to become synonymous with debauchery. The district was bordered by Iberville, Basin, St. Louis, and No...

 As part of preparing for our upcoming trip to New Orleans, we decided to immerse ourselves in the city’s unique history and atmosphere by diving into The Seamstress of New Orleans . The novel, with its vivid depiction of life in early 20th-century New Orleans, has already proven to be a captivating read. But one particular detail in the book stopped us in our tracks—the mention of an extortion group called the "Black Hand." Were they a real group? And if so, how much of their presence shaped the fabric of New Orleans during that time? Library of Congress Being curious travelers (and now amateur historians), we started digging into the history of the Black Hand. What we uncovered not only confirmed the accuracy of the book but also deepened our understanding of New Orleans as a city shaped by resilience, struggle, and cultural fusion. (Disclaimer: Some of the links on here are affiliate links and I may earn if you click or buy on them, AT NO EXTRA cost to you. Hope you find t...

Our upcoming cruise adventure has us dreaming about all the incredible activities we can pack into our day at Roatan, Honduras. One thing we know for sure: we want to zipline through the lush jungle canopies of this gorgeous island. (Disclaimer: Some of the links on here are affiliate links and I may earn if you click or buy on them, AT NO EXTRA cost to you. Hope you find the information here useful! Thanks.)  From our past cruise experience, we’ve learned that as soon as you step off the ship, you’re met with a flurry of vendors eager to book you on an excursion. While these offers can be tempting, we like to do our homework in advance to ensure we’re making the most of our precious time in port. Photo: GoogleMaps Our Plan for Roatan After our glass-bottom boat tour , which we booked through GetYourGuide , we’re hoping to squeeze in a ziplining adventure before heading back to the ship. Luckily, we found two incredible options that are both close to the cruise terminal and promise...