New Orleans Day #8

It's our last day in New Orleans, but we had enough time to drive up to Baton Rouge to tour LSU.  We first stopped for coffee and pastries at Willa Jean

 and then drove the hour to campus.  It was lined with trees and ponds and really was a pretty place.  

 LSU fans are passionate about their football team and they have a very cool stadium!

They bleed purple and gold!

 They even have a tiger enclosure for their mascot!

 We visited the Fan Shop and walked through the campus.  I loved the architecture, the open quads and the landscape that surrounds.

Now off to the airport after a wonderful week!

New Orleans Day #7

Today we walked over 9 miles, but didn't take many pictures has we made our way through the city.  We started back in the Garden District for Matt to see Lafayette Cemetery.

Then we walked along Magazine Street 

and I found the cutest little sweet shop Sucre!

We walked about 3 miles to get to the highly recommended Johnny's for shrimp po' boys (worth the walk!).

Then lastly one final walk through Bourbon Street.  It was Halloween weekend so the craziness was crazier than normal, but we were out of there before dark.  Our feet were done after what Matt called "our death march", so we actually ordered pizza and stayed in the hotel to watch college football and rest our feet!

New Orleans Day #6

Everyone else headed home, but Matt and I stayed through the weekend to celebrate our 20th Anniversary.  Today we were back in the car with no real agenda, but to see some more of the gulf coast.  We drove along the water..spotting several bayous (even saw a baby alligator)

 and loved all of the colorful homes on stilts that line the waterways.

 We crossed several unique bridges along the way into

 Mississippi!  Our first time in this state!

Our first stop was Bay St. Louis, MS.

 We walked out along the fishing pier

 and had lunch at this cute place...The Blind Tiger.

 Back in the car to drive along the water to see gorgeous waterfront homes 

 and miles of white sand beaches through Long Beach and Gulfport, MS.

We spotted this cute coffee shop in Gulfport 

and then fell in love with Pop Brothers across the parking lot.  A husband and wife retired and opened up this popsicle shop.  They had over 100 flavors and Matt and I each tried 2 while talking to the owner.  They now have 3 locations and we think they need to come to SD!  Maybe we will open one!

Then back on the 10 for the trip back into Louisiana.  It was a great day exploring and stumbling upon cute little spots!

New Orleans Day #5

Luis and Adam joined us for a day in the car to explore some areas around New Orleans.  We first stopped at District Donuts to sample a few of their specialties.

 Tasty!

 We drove across Lake Ponchartrain to the Southeast Louisiana Refuges Visitor Center hoping to do some hiking.  There wasn't a whole lot there except for a sweet lady who talked our ear off for quite a while and told us about a few fun spots for lunch.

 We took her advice and went to Old Rail Brewing Co. in Mandeville.

 I was still full from donuts, but Matt loved the catfish sandwich.

 Mandeville sits right on the shore of Lake Ponchartrain and is a beautiful community

 with stunning lake front homes.  The guys got a beer at Barley Oak Brewery before heading back to the city.

 This time we drove across the causeway.  It is the world's longest bridge over a body of water and there were times you couldn't see any land!

 Our last stop was to visit the Lower 9th Ward...one of the areas hardest hit by Katrina and sadly, so much of it remains in ruins.

We saw so many houses still boarded up and even had the writing on the windows from when rescue teams went door to door.

 We saw empty store fronts, abandoned gas stations and signs of Katrina everywhere.

 Here is one of the levees that broke creating the flooding.  Heartbreaking!

New Orleans Day #4

This morning Matt and I walked along the Riverfront to get coffee and pastries before he went to class.  I read a book by the pool and ventured out around the hotel for a bit.

 Our hotel was adjacent to the Mercedes Benz Superdome...Home of the Saints 

and Smoothie King Arena...Home of the Pelicans.

 After class, we were back on the street car to Canal St.

 for dinner at The Creole House.  I tried Jambalaya, Red Beans and Rice, Gumbo and Crawfish Etouffee.

 But saved room for Toasted Coconut ice cream at Kilwin's!

 Then we spent most of the evening listening to this awesome jazz band at BB King's House of Jazz.

A nighttime walk through French Quarter back to the street car.

The guys were a little freaked out by the decorations on this house!