New Orleans is, without a doubt, the most magical city in the United States. I have always wanted to go there, so when the opportunity presented itself, I had to jump on board. I prepped for our long weekend trip by reading A Confederacy of Dunces, which is based in 1960s New Orleans, along with a trusty tourist travel guide, but nothing is better than roaming the French Quarter streets on a balmy afternoon.
We stayed at Hotel Monteleone, a beautiful hotel set on the outskirts of the Quarter near Canal Street. I was initially attracted to this place online because a few of my all-time favorite writers, Hemingway and Capote, were fans of this place back in the day. I can see why – the hotel is magnificent, with high ceilings, chandeliers, and royal rooms, very grandeur. The Carousel Bar in the lobby is a tourist hot spot. I didn’t love that so much but I did take a seat and spin around the bar once with Sazerac in hand, which I quickly discovered I hate.