House of The Rising Sun
- Jona Kay
- Jun 17, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 7, 2024
From the bayou to the French Quarter, New Orleans is a bustling place to explore! It also happens to be one of my personal favorites that I could visit over and over again. NOLA is like an escape into another reality, depending on where you're at in the city. The historic locations and architecture are beautiful, the ghost tours are spooky, and the cajun food is spicy.
First and foremost, we wanted to stay somewhere super cool... and what could be better than a haunted (past) brothel that also happens to be the rumored House of The Rising Sun? The Hotel Villa Convento was an affordable option and great experience within the French Quarter. Even though I personally didn't have a haunted encounter, many tours stopped by to share some of the ghoulish stories. Climb as many stairs as you can to enjoy your morning coffee with a view.
One of the most reputable sights to see was Cafe du Monde, known for it's beignets. To me, the staff was incredibly rude and the beignets were nothing special. However, many have probably had better encounters than me for the place to have such fabulous reviews. I think it's somewhere you could skip if you're running short on time. They're just donuts... it's fine. Everything is fine.
Right next to the Cafe, is an outdoor market with different alcoholic drinks, snacks, small business craft tents and more. Definitely a great location to browse. In addition, it's a stop for the City Sightseeing New Orleans Hop-On Hop-off bus. Anytime there's a place you're traveling to with a Hop-on Hop-Off bus, you have to take it. Not only do they drive you to every single historic location, but they also share a lot of stories about the city. Plus, you can hop on and hop off the bus as much as you please... like a personal shuttle to the best spots and WAY cheaper than multiple Uber's. Sit at the top to get a little breeze going when you're in the heat.
One of the places the bus will drive you by, is the cemetery that holds voodoo queen Marie Leaveau. Though the cemetery has been closed to the public since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I took this photo from the top of the Hop-On Hop-Off bus, looking down. The dead in New Orleans are buried above ground since the city is technically below sea level.
Speaking of the voodoo queen, there are so many witchcraft and voodoo shops throughout New Orleans, but especially within the French Quarter. It's mostly a tourist trap. Listen, if you want to get some items for your craft (or non-existent craft) get something that cannot be found at your local grocery store. I saw bay leaves being sold entirely too high for $12. These are $4 at WalMart or Kroger.
For something a little different, this carousel bar is located within the Hotel Monteleone and makes one full turn approximately every hour. We tried the most amazing white truffle fries and of course, had to get a side of ranch being from the Midwest. Its said that the Hotel Monteleone is one of the most haunted spots in NOLA. Definitely a unique experience.
JAMNOLA was one of my top three favorite stops, and we found it on TikTok! The entire place is an interactive and immersive art exhibit that touches on the history of the city. So many fun pictures came out of this experience, and it also taught us the true meaning of Mardi Gras. A must-see... and they even gave us a free cup that's still hanging out in my kitchen cabinet.
...And who could miss Jackson Square? I could have, truly. It was cool to see, just to say you saw it; but other than that, it wasn't anything special. There wasn't anything to do.
If you're an American Horror Story fan, or even just a haunted history fan, Madame LaLaurie's home sits on Royal within the French Quarter. We actually walked by it multiple times before I even realized it was THE home. The current owner does not allow tours.
Without a doubt, my FAVORITE spot in Louisiana... and possibly the United States is Bourbon Street. Throughout my twenties, I've had many trips to Broadway in Nashville, and Bourbon Street puts Broadway to SHAME. Half the time, we were lost in courtyards, climbing stairs, finding random balconies; but no matter what or who we ran into, everyone was having a great time and all of the staff were so kind.
Hidden within Bourbon Street is this little red alley called 'The Dungeon.' It's a rock vibe sure to give you an out of body feeling and does not allow photography indoors. Above is my friend Maria leading the way. This is another spot that we found on TikTok. The jukebox only plays heavy metal.
And finally, the best food spot. I'm a fiend for a good breakfast date. We walked over to Toast. This place was so popular that they have an online waitlist, but I assure you, it's well worth the wait. Put your name in and take a stroll to all of the different shops nearby. One is even Christmas themed, all year round. They offer fantastic French crepes, stereotypical of the NOLA culture.
Some of the other girls took a swamp bayou tour that they loved, and also held a baby alligator/or crocodile.
How much did I spend on this, trip you might ask? Approximately $700. $500 for a plane ticket (flying to New Orleans is A LOT), $100 for the hotel split and $100 in food and souvenirs. So worth the investment. Truly, I got quite a few souvenirs for very affordable prices within the FQ. A $5 t-shirt, real crocodile head, baking mix, a voodoo doll (that one was gifted to me), some palo santo, a Mardi Gras mask and more. New Orleans is worth every single penny.
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