New Orleans is one of those destinations in the US that is a step away from the usual international tourist hubs of NYC, Florida and Las Vegas. It falls into the class of places that many would like to go to, but probably will never go on enough holidays to America to quite make it. Therefore you’ll often hear an impressed whistle or envious sigh as you regale those about your recent experience. It is justifiably world famous, and sits perfectly within a more extended travel of the States if you’re lucky enough to go on one.
The Street
There is much to do here, but a particular magnet to visitors is Bourbon Street. Classy and seedy all at once, as well as cultural and over touristic in the same moment, it is a great starting off point for the wider French Quarter where it is located. Being just off Canal street means you can arrive here by the historic tram line which runs down the impressively wide road and is incredibly cheap for travellers looking to save money. The corner of Bourbon Street is a popular location for impromptu jazz performances kicking off, which regularly involve double digit numbers of performers and is an appropriate entrance to this lively street.
The Nightlife
By day the street is relatively empty and its messy appearance is all the more apparent in the absence of the bar night lights. New Orleans earns its seedy reputation from the presence of strip clubs down the road and there are often employees of said establishments hanging out of the front doors in various states of undress. In this respect, at night it lives up to its adult reputation, but it is not the sole focus of the street and you can easily avoid this aspect if you’re just here for a good time. Live music, jazz clubs, cabaret, comedy, breweries, pubs and dancing clubs; the list is almost endless for what can be found down here.
This lively scene is made all the more enjoyable by the Open Container Law in the French Quarter, which means that you may carry alcoholic drinks around in plastic cups (not cans or bottles) in the street, creating the famous street scene that has become well known here, and reaches its pinnacle in Mardi Gras.
Bars, Food and Drink
Thanks to its shared American, European and African history there is an eclectic array of popular food and drink served in many of the historic venues down the street. For the foodie, make sure you leave in plenty of time to ensure you can stroll along and check out the menus outside the different restaurants. Bourbon Street has a range of Creole cuisine including Gumbo, which has Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French and African influences. There’s also the typical Southern and Cajun cuisine available such as Fried Shrimp, Catfish and Crawfish and even alligator.
For people who like to combine everything, many of the bars serve food as well as having out door areas to hang out making it popular to head to the bars straight away to get the evening started! Bourbon Streets party scene is underpinned by its reputation for serving up some extremely tasty local beverages. The famous Hurricane is a strong cocktail consisting of syrup, fruit juice and rum, and can be found at bars such as Pat O’Brien’s, which is popular due to it’s live music and dueling pianos. If strong drinks are your thing, then head over to Tropical Isle Original which serves the Hand Grenade, a drink known for its potency and recipe shrouded in secrecy. If you are interested in history, you will find the Old Absinthe House a must see, although it’s famous Absinthe House Frappe no longer includes the illegal Absinthe, instead mixing in Herbsaint.
A night down Bourbon Street truly does come alive at night time, creating a unique character that you won’t see anywhere else in the world. The street may appear slightly messy during the day, but when the bright lights come on, the music gets going and the crowds are out there is much to enjoy down a road who’s many buildings date back to the 18th century.
Author Bio: Guest Post written by Matt who is a regular travel blogger and enjoys venturing around the world. As well as America, he likes to explore the Mediterranean, and is looking forward to his Sorrento holidays.
Recreate some of the most famous American road trip movies for your next USA holiday!
If you’re looking for inspiration for your next holiday, look no further than your favourite films. Whether it be an intimate tale of friendship and self-growth, a high stakes police chase thriller, or even a silly American teen fest, for decades road trip movies have thrilled and inspired us with the endless possibilities that come with travelling on the open road.
Film critics and bloggers everywhere believe there’s an undeniable link between the concept of the road, movie and the spirit of the USA as a country. So if you’re booking flights to the States anytime soon, take a cue from some well-known flicks and get road tripping, big-screen style.
THE MOVIE: Thelma and Louise (1991)
This classic starring Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis and Brad Pitt sees two small town girls embark on the journey of their lives as their quiet weekend getaway turns into a gripping police chase across the south of America as they attempt the drive from their home town of Arkansas to Mexico.
DO IT YOURSELF:
Thelma and Louise travel from Arkansas to the Grand Canyon via Oklahoma – a journey of roughly 23 hours without stops, but there are plenty of reasons to take some breaks along the way. Oklahoma City and Albuquerque are perfectly placed to make overnight stops along the way, and there’ll be plenty to see while driving through changes in scenery, from vast desert plains, to mountains, to acres of trees and greenery.
Thelma & Louise (20th Anniversary)
THE MOVIE: Highway (2002)
Set in 1994, this independent cult film sees two friends played by Jared Leto and Jake Gyllenhaal flee their home town of Las Vegas after Jack (Leto) is caught sleeping with a Vegas thug’s wife. The pair hit the road and make their way to Seattle, encountering a plethora of wild characters and odd experiences along the way.
DO IT YOURSELF:
The real trip from Las Vegas to Seattle is a long but beautiful scenic drive through mountain passes and plenty of national parks. There are a few different routes to take, all of which offer plenty of things to do for the nature lover. If you opt to start off along the mighty Great Basin Highway, Route 93, Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge offers fishing, hunting and miles of hiking trails, while Nesbitt lake is also a popular and fishing spot. The trip is approximately 20 hours of driving without stops.
Highway
THE MOVIE: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
Another cult favourite starring Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Torro, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas follows the twisted drug-addled story of a wild journalist and his lawyer who trek from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to cover a motorcycle race.
DO IT YOURSELF:
You don’t need a boot full of drugs to recreate this road trip (in fact, we’d advise strongly against any kind of illegal behaviour…)The journey from LA to Vegas is one of the most well-known and popular road trip routes in America so expect traffic on the way, especially if you’re making to the trip on a weekend. Although it’s a relatively short drive of around 5 hours, there’s no reason to go straight from A to B. Make sure you stop past Baker to see the World’s Largest Thermometer, and there are plenty of outlet shops just outside Vegas to keep you busy for a few hours. Once in Vegas, it’s also easy to find cheap airfares to anywhere else in the country.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Author bio:Start planning your American road trippin’ adventure and get yourself on cheap flights to the USA. www.cheapflights.com has all the best flight deals.
Formally the District of Columbia, Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States, located on the North Bank of the Potomac River and is surrounded by the states of Virginia to the Southwest and Maryland to the other borders.
Fourth of July Activities In Washington, D.C.
Washington D.C. is one of the most quintessential American cities there is. There are so many things to do in DC that it’s easy to get lost in all the American history. Renowned DC attractions like the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, and the U.S. Capitol building pull in a majority of tourists, but there’s so much more to do and see! Arguably the best time to visit the Capitol is on the most American day of them all: the 4th of July. Just being in the city for the amazing patriotism that is showcased is enough to make anyone feel like a real American, but Washington D.C. pulls out all of the stops to make our Nation’s birthday one to remember for you and yours. Some 4th of July events are as follows:
Washington D.C.’s Independence Day Parade beginning at 11:45 a.m. proceeds from Constitution Avenue and 7th to 17th street.
4th of July at the National Archives beginning at 10 a.m. and going to 9 p.m.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (July 4th).
White House Visitor Center Family Events between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the White House Visitor Center.
Concert on the Washington Monument Grounds kicks off at 6 p.m. with the U.S. Army Concert Band right in the shadow of the Washington Monument.
The famous A Capitol Fourth Concert that goes from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (admittance begins at 3 p.m.) on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol.
Of course there’s so much else to do in the city that will be boosted up by the fact that it’s the 4th of July. There’s dozens of D.C. museums that it’s easy to fill your days to the brim of red, white, and blue. Over a 150 museums like The Smithsonian National Museum(s), the Newseum, and the National Museum of Crime and Punishment are all ready to let you see history up close and personal.
Amongst the most popular sites, including The Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial, there’s a large amount of activities and/or tours to engage in. This includes Ford’s Theatre Tour, Ghost Tours, Lincoln Assassination Tour, and Old Town Alexandria Tour; all of which are walking tours. Before, during or after, you may also want to check out places like The Capital Visitor Center, Whitehouse Visitor Center, or The U.S. Capital Building; all of which are highly popular amongst tourists.
All of these attractions are amazing but nothing compares to listening to “Stars and Stripes Forever” while the sky lights up over the city with hundreds of fireworks throughout the night. Independence Day is an amazing time to celebrate America, but with all these amazing events there’s no place better to do so then the Nation’s Capitol.
Lancaster County located in Pennsylvania, is the heart and soul of the Amish people. These people originated from Switzerland and Germany during the early 18th century and settled in Pennsylvania. Today they continue to speak their original language referred to as Pennsylvania Dutch.
They farm their fertile farming lands but not using any modern day equipment, in fact their beliefs are to keep their way of life as simple as possible and for this they are known as the “Plain People”. They wear plain, dark clothes, have no electricity or telephones in their homes, and use horse-drawn buggies and horse-drawn power for their farming.
This simple way of life encourages the people to pass on learnt crafts to each generation. The Amish people are well known for their fine quilts and quality furniture.
Lonely Planet Guide Book – Philadelphia & the Pennsylvania Dutch Country
The Traveler IQ challenge ranks geographic knowledge of cities such as: Punta Cana, Willemstad or Columbia by comparing results against 5,473,834 other travelers.
If you’re looking for inspiration for your next holiday, look no further than your favourite films. Whether it be an intimate tale of friendship and self-growth, a high stakes police chase thriller, or even a silly American teen fest, for decades road trip movies have thrilled and inspired us with the endless possibilities that come with travelling on the open road.
DO IT YOURSELF:
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