If you’re a true Cincinnatian, you know the Taste of Cincinnati comes to the downtown area every Memorial Day weekend. Some people plan their weekend around it, knowing there is no chance they’ll miss it. Others plan their weekend around avoiding the area due to the traffic and crowd. I am one who tries to attend every year- even more now since moving to downtown. So how did 2019 compare to previous years? Read on to find out! Read more
I recently had the amazing opportunity to take a trip to Sydney, Australia and indulge in lots of what Sydney had to offer. Sydney is by far the most known place of Australia. It’s a city of laid back, friendly people who spend most of their time working out or at the beach. It’s a melting pot to restaurants of all cuisines. You can rest assure there is plenty to eat and you won’t go hungry. From the rooftop swimming pools at the hotels, small bars, stunning beaches, and cool wildlife that seems to only be dreamed about or seen in picture books; there is always something fun and exciting to explore in the wonderful city of Sydney.
**HELPFUL TIPS**
Before visiting Australia, there are a few things you might want to consider and plan ahead for to create a smooth and fun trip. I will use my actual destinations so, the readers (you), can get a true understanding of time and location.
ORIGIN – Cincinnati, OH (CVG)
DESTINATION – Sydney, Australia (SYD)
DURATION OF TRIP – All together Apr 12 – Apr 18. However, because Australia is 14 hrs ahead of Cincinnati, 2 days were spent for traveling there. You gain time coming back so we left on Apr 18 and arrived back in Cincinnati Apr 18. We left on Apr 12 and arrived in Sydney Apr 14. From Apr 14 7:30 AM (when we landed) to Apr 18 9:30 AM (time our flight left) it was 4 days actually spent in Sydney.
SEEING AUSTRALIA IS ONE THING, GETTING THERE IS ANOTHER! – Flights & Layovers, ahhhh! Getting to Australia you will endure long flights and layovers, but I promise it will be worth it!
PLANE TICKETS! – Australia can be costly to fly to. However, if you look at the right time you can get plane tickets for a good price per person. We paid $1000 per person. I have honestly not seen cheaper than this. Most of the time when I searched in the years prior to fly to Australia, I would see $1500-$2000 per person. I am also not a travel agent so there may be a much better deal on tickets and activities and/or hotels combined. Don’t forget Tiffany Dace, the other half of Tiff Squared, is a travel agent and would be more than happy to assist you with this. We booked our entire trip through Delta airlines because of the price and being the cheapest we saw, we did not want to pass this up.
PLAN AHEAD! – Although you do not need to plan out every step before your trip, it is a good idea to know what types of activities you would like to do. This is important in the case you want to do a day tour as we did. Some day tours can be 10-12 hours. We did a 12 hour tour that left at 6:15 AM and did not return till approximately 6:30 PM. I can’t stress this enough!! If you do not plan ahead, this will take up an entire day and depending on your schedule of how long you are staying you may have to rearrange or miss out on certain activities. I would also encourage looking into activities and booking before you go. Waiting till you are already there can be risky. We waited till we got there and almost missed out on the day tour.
PREGNANT?! – Yes, you can do this trip pregnant as I was, but it is not the most comfortable while flying. I was 25 weeks pregnant when I took this trip. You will have to get up and walk around on the plane every 2-3 hours. Also, drink PLENTY of water.
ETA – What is an ETA? – An Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) provides authorization to travel to and enter Australia and is electronically linked to your passport. We didn’t seem to need it, but we still applied for one just in case. I applied the morning we left as I didn’t realize I could need it. The cost is approximately $14-15 per person. You can find the website we used here ETA.
COMFORTABLE SHOES! – We did a lot of walking to sightsee, so if you want to save money and not take an Uber or cab everywhere, I would suggest bringing comfortable shoes to walk in.
WHERE TO STAY?! – Of course this is optional, but we stayed at the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour.
UBER?! – Yes, they have Uber in the case that you need it. We did use Uber sometimes if places were just to far to walk. However, most of the time we did a lot of walking.
SAVE UP! – Lastly, I would encourage having a good amount of spending money. While Australia is nice some activities and most restaurants are pricy.
Now that you are excited to explore Sydney and have your handy dandy “tips” covered, let’s see what there is to do in Sydney, Australia:
1. Darling Harbour
There are many places to stay and visit while in Sydney, but one of the most popular is Darling Harbour. Darling Harbour is known for its amazing entertainment and delicious waterside dining. Darling Harbour is the perfect destination in the heart of Sydney. We enjoyed the sunny days and nice weather while walking around enjoying the everyday hussle and bustle of a harbour. You’ll find plenty to do and see. The waterfront restaurants are an amazing experience as well, and make for a fun night out or a good date night with the significant other. We dined at one of the waterfront restaurants, Crinitis, and the food was pretty good. It was mainly Italian cuisine with many options to choose from. Don’t forget the harbour is a large recreational and pedestrian precinct which means it is great for walking. We did LOTS of walking! Darling Harbour is also walking distance from other attractions, to name a few: Cockle Bay, Circular Quay, Chinatown, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanical Garden, and many more. We experienced the harbour first hand by staying at the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour. This was an awesome experience. Our room had a harbour view, so we could enjoy the scenery of the harbour as the sun rise and set.
2. Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge, in its beautiful harbour location, is a renowned international symbol of Australia. You cannot come to Sydney and not visit and take pictures of and with the bridge (in the background, haha). Its amazing through arch structure is beautiful, bold and present in appearance and can be seen for miles away. This bridge carries rail, vehicles, bicycles and pedestrian traffic. You can even book a tour to walk the arch of the bridge. It was a surreal experience to be able to see the bridge in real life, take pictures that I will have for years, all while creating memories of a lifetime.
3. Sydney Opera House
Another one of Sydney’s most iconic buildings, is the Sydney Opera House. Despite its name which suggest a single venue, it is known to be a multi-venue performing arts centre. Millions of people visit and attend performances a year. This structure like the bridge is bold and beautiful and makes for amazing pictures. Get your cameras ready, as there are some wonderful views from the Opera House. You can book tours to see the inside of the Opera House as well. While we did not take a tour, we had a blast walking around soaking in the everyday life of locals and tourist hanging around the Opera House. If you get hungry and want a bite to eat, there is also restaurant and bars open to the public located at the Opera House.
4. Royal Botanical Garden
Just a short walk away from the Sydney Opera House, is the beautiful Royal Botanical Gardens. The Botanical Gardens is a historic garden at Farm Cove on the eastern fringe of Sydney Central Business District. It was so relaxing to simply walk around, take in the fresh air, see people interacting, see the beautiful plants, all while the sun beamed down on us. The gardens are a great place to go to simply take in and enjoy life at a calm slow pace!
5. Bondi to Coogee Beach Coastal Walk
The sounds and the air of the ocean waves while walking the coastline was amazing! The beaches were such a beautiful view as well as the surrounding area. It was so relaxing yet a good mild workout, especially for me because I was 25 weeks pregnant. The path has some flat walking, downward inclines as well as upward inclines. I really enjoy outside hikes, so this was cool. We started at Coogee Beach and walked to Bondi Beach. It was about a 5-mile walk. The sun was out, and it wasn’t too hot or too cold. It was perfect. If you’re an outdoors person and love hikes and beautiful views, this is for you! Yes, these are more of the touristy beaches but even being a “touristy” location, it still made for a great experience and a great sight to see. It wasn’t overly crowded when I went in April, and I still had plenty of room to walk and enjoy the coastal path with the people I came with. The beaches also weren’t overly crowded.
6. Blue Mountain Day Tour
As I previously mentioned in the helpful tips section (located at the beginning of this blog post), there are day tours that you can take. A day tour is typically 10-12 hours depending on the tour and tour guide company. Hence the name “Day Tour” these tours will take up one full day during your visit to Australia. We were picked up from our hotel at 6:15 AM and we were dropped back off by boat to Darling Harbour at 6:30 PM.
My husband and I refused to come to Australia and not see Koala Bears and Kangaroos. We looked into what was the best option to be able to experience this opportunity and found the Blue Mountain Day Tour (Glenbrook). We booked through our hotel concierge which made it easy and hassle free. The tour was an amazing experience! The activities that we did while on the tour are as follows: 1) had breakfast with the kangaroos, 2) visited the Scenic World Blue Mountains Australia, 3) Lunch at Ivanhoe Hotel, 4) visited more kangaroos and koalas at Featherdale Wildlife Park, 5) had a small cruise ride back to either Circular Quay or Darling Harbour. Our tour guide, Sean, was amazing, super accommodating and very knowledgeable.
BREAKFAST WITH THE KANGAROOS – This was truly an amazing experience. We got to start the morning off by seeing kangaroos and kookaburras in their natural habitat while enjoying a “wildlife on-the-go breakfast.
SCENIC WORLD BLUE MOUNTAINS AUSTRALIA – This was another great experience and memory. We got the opportunity to see the Three Sisters rock formation from Echo Point Lookout at Katoomba. We also boarded the world’s steepest passenger railway and descend into an ancient rainforest. Last, we hopped aboard a glass-floored cable car suspended above the steep gorge to get a panoramic view of the mountains.
LUNCH AT IVANHOE HOTEL – We got the opportunity to have lunch at Ivanhoe Hotel, a local restaurant in Katoomba known for its pies (food item Australia is known for).
FEATHERDALE WILDLIFE PARK – If you didn’t get enough of the kangaroos at breakfast, here is another opportunity. Featherdale is a good way to get up close and personal with some of Australia’s native wildlife. My husband and I even took pictures with Archer the Koala. What is unique about this park is that some of the animals are actually out walking or hopping around while you walk around and see them. You can even feed some of the wildlife. This was pretty cool yet a little weird at first.
SMALL CRUISE RIDE BACK – At the end of the tour, we were transported back to Darling Harbour by boat. You can either be transported back to Darling Harbour or Circular Quay. This was such a good way to sit back relax and enjoy the view from the water as well as experience a small cruise.
7. Sydney & Bondi: Big Bus Open-Top Hop-on, Hop-off Tour
One of my mine and my husband’s “thing” to do when visiting another city or country is the Hop-on, Hop-Off bus tour if its available. We love learning about the history and culture of other places in the world. For me, this is the perfect tour. It’s usually automated whether it’s a recording or a live person speaking into a microphone giving facts. This is also another good way to sight see and be able to view most of a city’s known attractions all at the comfort of just riding and listening. Hence the name, you do have the ability to hop-on and off at the many stops provided for drop-off and pick-up. While my husband and I don’t hop-off, we enjoy the full tour and just ride the bus back to our original stop. During this tour we did both the Sydney route and the Bondi Beach route. Both are unique with many things to see.
8. King Street, Newtown, Sydney
King Street is the central access route of the suburb of Newtown in Sydney. It is also where artist, the LGBT community and university students reside. This street is good for walking, seeing murals, eating and shopping. As you walk the streets, you can feel the artist come alive through the different murals and paintings. These murals tell different stories and made us appreciate the history and culture of this area. If you are looking for a great way to appreciate art, this is the street for you.
9. The Rocks
The Rocks is a historic precinct on the southern shore of Sydney Harbour. It is also where many historic buildings and shops are located. Like many other small areas in Sydney, this is a good place to eat, sightsee, shop and bar hop. We came to The Rocks to walk around and explore the area. We also decided to grab a bite to eat. We enjoyed this area just as a simple exploring adventure.
10. The Birdcages on Angel Place
With such a charming name, the birdcages on Angel Place was a creative yet beautiful sight to see. While the birdcages are empty it lends to a unique way of getting history across to its observers. The collection of the empty bird cages is called “Forgotten Songs” designed by Michael Thomas Hill. As you stand underneath the cages, you can hear the sounds of the birds that once inhabited Sydney. It was a unique way to experience history while seeing such a creative design. While I am not a huge art geek, this made me appreciate the creativity and concept of the artwork.
This wraps up my 10 to-dos while in Sydney, Australia. As you can see this trip was a packed, fun-filled experience that I will never forget. I hope you enjoyed reading all about things, wellll – Sydney If you choose to visit Sydney after reading this post, I hope the helpful tips and suggestions of where to visit will make your trip a fantastic experience. Until next time, See ya! **Waves**
Recently, I went on a girl’s trip with my mom, sister-in-law, and mom’s best friend to Charleston, South Carolina. I will admit, when I heard the plan was Charleston, I was not overly excited. I figured it would be a nice, quiet weekend without many activities. I couldn’t have been more wrong! Charleston ended up stealing my heart for many reasons such as:
If you have never been, PLEASE read on to see why Charleston would be a great destination for your next domestic vacation. Read more
South America has quickly become one of my favorite continents to visit due to its liveliness and color. My visit to Cartagena was no different. From the moment we landed, we were immersed in the culture. The area was bustling with people, street vendors and markets were ready to accommodate your every request, the sun was shining, and music was playing everywhere. That is my kind of vibe! Although it is great to stay in the heart of the city the full time, below are sites within and outside of the city to make the most of your trip:
1. Tour Colombian City
There is such a rich amount of history in Cartagena. This is heavily influenced by the location being a main port for trade between Spain and its overseas empire, the Spanish culture in general, slavery, religious ties, and its strong military background. As you walk the streets, you can feel the history through the art and graffiti. When you think graffiti, you may think illegal tagging, but it is true art here. I was mesmerized by the murals on the walls and the stories they told. The area has developed significantly within the last decade, which has greatly increased tourism and global attention. If you are looking for a great tour guide, look up Freddy Paz on Facebook. He was so knowledgeable, patient, and well known in the community.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100014791723485
2. Visit Convento de la Popa
Behold, the highest point of Cartagena! La Popa Hill is on a 150m-high hill boasting, as you can imagine, an incredible view of the entire city. Legend has it that the Virgin Mary appeared to an Augustinian monk and instructed him to build a monastery at the tallest point in Cartagena. Whether true or not, I’m glad it’s there! It is a great location to take pictures and read more about the history of the area. There is also a charming flower-filled courtyard that I could sit in for hours!
3. Dive into the Totumo Mud Volcano
Get ready to get muddy! I’d seen the pictures, but actually going to a mud volcano is a one of a kind experience! El Totumo is a bottomless, active mud volcano located near sea level in northern Colombia. It supposedly has many healing properties that will leave you feeling light and refreshed afterwards. It’s a heavy tourist location so I’d suggest taking a tour rather than taking a cab.
A few things to remember before diving in:
Bring an old swimsuit– I did not, which prevented me from getting in. I kick myself when I think about how I should’ve prepared properly for this.
Bring cash– There will be workers everywhere that will give you a massage, rinse you off, hold your camera, watch your shoes, etc. They all expect 1 peso for each service they provide.
Be prepared to get close!- It gets pretty packed in there so expect to rub shoulders with whomever you came with and strangers!
Go Early- Lines will begin to form around 10:30/11am. Try to get in and out before then or you’ll be baking in the hot sun for a while.
After you climb out of the mud, you will be able to wash off (with help if you’d like) in a nearby lagoon.
4. Visit and dine in Galerazamba
This little town is located about 10 minutes away from the volcano and is where many of the employees’ work. We first stopped at the Etnoindustrial museum, which is dedicated to the indigenous history. It is located seaside and has a peaceful beach. We also dined here, eating fresh fish, rice, and salad. You have the option of ordering chicken or vegetarian if you don’t like/eat fish or can’t deal with eating a fish with the head still on . After dining, us ladies danced with an instructor, which ended up being quite the workout! It was fun to experience how their subtle movements can make for powerful dancing.
5. Walk in the Pink Sea (El Salar de Galerazamba)
This was one of my favorite parts of the trip. During certain times of the year, the water at this location turns pink due to the salinity in the water. We were lucky enough to visit at the perfect time of year when the pink was nice and vibrant. Most don’t know the level of salt in the water is just a few points behind the dead sea, which means no wildlife swimming throughout. It was amazing to see the large salt rocks washing ashore. This was definitely one of those moments where I was so thankful to be able to travel and see all of the beauties of the world.
Side note: The three activities above can be combined into a single tour. That is the best bargain and a great way to meet strangers. If you’re looking for a suggestion, book through Book Back Packers. They were great!
6. Relax at Baru island
Baru Island is a nice beach once you get past all the tourist traps- and there are many! I would encourage you to just keep walking until you find a nice quiet space. Otherwise you will be surrounded by vendors the whole time. We used Book Back Packers again for this which covered our transportation from Cartagena (about an hour) and provided us with a private space and lunch. It was a really nice experience if you can get past someone coming up to you to sell you something- not as bad as the public space, but still a bit interrupting. Don’t be surprised if someone (or multiple people) touch you to give you an idea of what their massage will feel like. This is something that you can’t quite get away from in Colombia. Outside of this, the beach has clear water, nice sand, and offers excursions!
7. Take a night cruise with a 4 course dinner
The night cruise was a great way to cap off our final night in Cartagena. Our cruise was about 3 hours and included a four-course dinner and a bottle of wine while sailing across the sea and viewing the beautiful evening sites. It was such a great way to connect and reflect with the group while eating delicious food. There are many cruise ship options you can find that are both during the day and at night. From researching, you can’t go wrong with any of them!
8. Find a way to give back
You will find many beautiful areas to visit, great restaurants to try, and history to explore, but Cartagena is a very, very poor area. You may get a bit turned off by the number of people who approach you trying to sell something when you are trying to have a peaceful time. As frustrating as this might be, try to overcome it by remembering that while we are enjoying the beauty of their land, they are trying to provide for their families. You can find opportunities to serve the community if you’d like or you can do simple things like tipping beyond what you normally would (our dollar goes far there) and giving money to the performers on the street. Often, we watch their entertainment and forget they are doing this as a profession. This is something I am going to remember everywhere I go!
I’d like to give a quick kudos to The Flight Life group, who coordinated the entire trip. You can find additional information about Cartagena and the many trips they have coming up here . Whether you want to go on an organized group trip or with a small group of friends, these suggestions will hopefully make your trip a spectacular one!
Cheers!
I recently enjoyed a baby mooning trip with the hubs in New Orleans. New Orleans has been on my bucket list to travel to for a while. I have heard so many good things about its culture and food and wanted to have my own experience down in the Big Easy. I thought what better time than now to experience the strong French and Roman Catholic background of New Orleans. I am so glad I did. A city so full of history. This was an exciting trip with lots of laughs, good food, sightseeing, culture, history, and overall fun!
Let’s have a little fun and start by talking that New Orleans Talk. Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler !! That is French for “Let the good times roll”, and for certain we did. During this trip we did lots of walking on the Banquette. My Boo and I love to walk when on vacation and there is plenty of walking on Bourbon Street and the surrounding areas. We stayed dehydrated with a Cold Drink or maybe my husband had a Slush Frozen Cocktail or two. LOL! No need to worry, we had our fair share of water as well. After walking and burning some calories, we had to eat. My husband couldn’t leave the Big Easy without a Dressed Po’Boy and I couldn’t leave without Jambalaya, Etouffee, and Gumbo. Maybe a Beignet or three! We took a city tour and amongst seeing lots of what New Orleans has to offer, we also visited some of the different Wards and saw a few Shotgun Houses. Oh yeah, you can’t leave without riding past the Mercedes Superdome and yelling “Who Dat”! Now that you are a little familiar with the New Orleans Talk, I’m fixing to tell you about the highlights of the trip 😊
**New Orleans Talk Legend:
****THE ADVENTURES****
Bourbon Street
If you don’t know by now, New Orleans likes to stay up late. Of course, you heard Bourbon is famous for its bars and strip clubs, and it is. However, since I was baby mooning my experience was a little different. Yes, you can still enjoy Bourbon Street and be pregnant or with family. In fact, we went during Spring Break and there were quite a few families or couples with babies.
We walked up and down Bourbon and the surrounding streets people watching, eating, and simply enjoying the culture. At nights, Bourbon is very lively. The city certainly comes alive at night. Come sundown, the night lights shine in the clubs and on stages. The dance floors are full of people ready to have a good time. Although I did not party and drink, I enjoyed being in the heart of the French Quarter taking all my surroundings in. Conveniently, we stayed at the Four Points by Sheraton French Quarter on Bourbon Street. Right in the middle of all the fun and night life. I will also say staying on Bourbon Street is great for access to other areas and activities.
Jackson Square
Jackson Square is a historic park in the French Quarter. It is also where the St. Louis Cathedral and Andrew Jackson’s Statue are located. The St. Louis Cathedral is the oldest ran Catholic Church and still conducts mass today. My husband and I found ourselves walking here everyday. It is so full of life and always has something to see. From tons of artist being set up with their crafts, mules waiting to take people for a ride with carriages attached, local people putting on street shows, the sounds of cars zooming by, people talking, and the many shops and restaurants; you will surely find something you enjoy! We certainly enjoyed Jackson Square! Oh yeah, did I mention Beignets and Café Au Lait? There is also a Café Du Monde located right across the street! 😉
VIP City Tour
I don’t know about you, but I love going to a city and learning about the history and culture of that particular city. Almost everywhere my husband and I travel to, we always make time for a city tour. Whether it’s a private tour with 20 people or a hop-on, hop-off bus (Yes, the big red ones. Lol) we always experience a tour. We both like history but in different forms. I love guided tours such as the VIP City Tour and my husband enjoys museums. The tour lasted about 2 hours and the tour was very informative. The places we saw while on the tour were The Upper and Lower Ninth Ward (biggest areas where Katrina hit), Lake Pontchartrain, Super Dome, St.Louis Cemetery, Canal St, French Quarter, French Market, Cafe Du Monde, Levees, Seventh Ward, Eighth Ward, St. Louis Cathedral, Pumping Stations (drain canals & levees), Ellis Marsalis School In Musician, Shot Gun Style Homes, Esplande Ave, Xavier University (known for pharmacy school), World War II Museum and the Garden District.
French Market
The French Market was a fun local experience. It is basically their flea market located in the French Quarter. Like with many nationally known flea markets, it is filled with lots of history, artist and their crafts. From food, to paintings, to clothing, to jewelry, to other good finds there is tons of cool things that can be found at the French Market. They also have café and bars located through the French Market. Sometimes there are different groups there playing live music. One of the days we went, there was a band playing live music while people watched and ate outside.
World War II Museum
The National WWII Museum is packed with lots of history. Whether you’re a history geek or not, the WWII Museum is a must see. From a non-history geek standpoint, you will still enjoy and appreciate the history and the work put into putting the museum together. There is a lot to see and learn if you do not already know. From a history maniac standpoint, you will love the museum.
Frenchmen Street
New Orleans is the city that is the birthplace of jazz. Music here is the local language any time of the day or night. Every corner you turn to, you will find some form of music. There are plenty of opportunities to listen and dance to live music. The beats of the music are irresistible, and you will find yourself dancing till the sun comes up. Frenchmen Street is where the locals go to party. It’s a street for live music only. No DJs!
Vaso
Vaso, a super lounge located on Frenchmen Street is the place we stopped in for some good live jazz. You will find there are plenty of lounges to choose from, but you have to gravitate towards the lounge that’s playing the music that moves your soul. The musician and his band that were playing here the night we went were very good. The vibe was nice, and the dance floor started to fill up with people dancing the night away. My husband and I enjoyed ourselves and had some good laughs and quality time.
****THE FOOD****
Andouille, Beignet, Café Au Lait, Cajun, Chickory, Crawfish, Créole, Étouffée, Flambé, Grillades, Gumbo, Jambalaya, Jazz, Po’Boy, Pralines, and Roux. Are you hungry yet? The list could go on. These are some of the foods I got to experience while visiting the Big Easy. You surely can’t come to New Orleans and not try any of the food. You’d be missing out!
Gumbo Shop
Gumbo, mmmm yum! One of the many dishes New Orleans is known for. My belly just got happy all over again. On the first night in New Orleans we stopped by the Gumbo Shop. We experienced first hand some yummy Gumbo, Jambalaya, Crawfish Etouffee, Red Beans & Rice and Alligator Sausage. My husband and I wanted all the good stuff so we both ordered what they call the Complete Creole Dinner. You pick an appetizer, entrée, side, and dessert from a list of choices in each category. Yes, we had a feast! All the New Orleans classics in one dinner! Who could say no to that?
Willa Jean
This was where I had my first Latte! EEK! Willa Jean is a small cute eatery with a small cute bakery counter inside the eatery. The pastries here were amazing. We had a Chocolate Chip Cookie and an Oatmeal Cookie both topped with Sea Salt. Those paired with the Latte, talk about a good pre meal. The food is southern inspired with a New Orleans spin. We tried the Hangover Bowl and the Fried Chicken + Tabasco Honey. Talk about yummy food, and that biscuit on the Fried Chicken Sandwich was the bomb diggity! You could tell the love they put into their food and pastries.
Café Du Monde
OMG, OMG, I FINALLY got to try Café Du Monde. The most talked about and famous Beignet place in New Orleans! I loved this place! I have a sweet tooth and these smothered in powdered sugar French donuts hit the spot. I also tried Café Au Lait for the first time. You may be wondering what Café Au Lait is. This is New Orleans traditional coffee. Cafe Au Lait is made from coffee and Chickory mixed with boiled milk. I will admit I’m not a true coffee drinker and had to add a lot of sugar. However, when I got my coffee right, it paired perfectly with the Beignets. The best part of it all is 3 Beignets (considered 1 order) and 1 Café Au Lait is all $6.00 including tax, TOTAL!
Oceana
Po’Boy and Crawfish Etouffee?! Yes, please! You can never get enough Etouffee while in New Orleans, and you can’t come to New Orleans and not try a Po’Boy. Oceana is where we had both! Both dishes were good! Don’t forget to get your Po’Boy DRESSED – lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, mayonnaise. The only way to eat a Po’boy.
Stanley
Conveniently located on historic Jackson Square. If you travel to New Orleans and stay close to Jackson Square, I would highly suggest at least experiencing one of the restaurants located on Jackson Square. The view from Stanley’s elegant dining room provides a beautiful back drop of the St. Louis Cathedral and downtown New Orleans. If you’re looking for a good breakfast dining spot, this is it! Definitely order the Stanley’s Classic and Bacon & Cheese Grits. They are simple but both classic New Orleans comfort food at its best.
Loretta’s New Orleans Authentic Pralines
Pralines is all you hear about from people from Louisiana. I had never tried a praline until this trip. I would have never considered pralines. However, after a friend suggested I try Loretta’s Pralines, I figured I couldn’t come to New Orleans without trying one. I asked a friend who is from New Orleans on food suggestions, and this was one of the places on his list. Thank goodness I did. Loretta’s has some of the yummiest Sweet Potato Cookies and Pralines. I can’t speak much on the pralines as I have nothing to compare it to. Although from what I tasted I was pleased. However, those Sweet Potato Cookies with the mashed sweet potato filling in the center was divine. If you want a good praline (in my opinion) and a bomb Sweet Potato Cookie, go to Loretta’s.
Creole House Restaurant & Oyster Bar
This location is located on the famous Canal Street. Coming to Creole House is a good way to eat good food and explore Canal Street. During the VIP City Tour, our tour guide referenced a few places and this was one of them. If you like fried fish, I would encourage you to give this place a try. They have some of the best fried fish and hush puppies I have had! They also had really good Jambalaya and Red Beans & Rice. We enjoyed some of the New Orleans classics, while sitting in the outside seating area soaking up the sun and people watching.
The Ruby Slipper Café
If you know Tiff Squared, you know we are brunch maniacs. We live for a good brunch! I could not leave New Orleans on a Saturday without brunch. It just would not be true Tiffany fashion. The funny thing is I had been eyeing this café the entire trip and almost passed on giving it a try. Thank goodness I didn’t. This was certainly a delight. I grew up on Catfish and Grits. My mom use to make this meal once a week when I was younger. When I saw it on the menu, I immediately knew what I was ordering. I’m glad I did. It touched on my childhood memories. Also, besides having a childhood dish they had Banana Foster French Toast. Flambé Bananas in a butter, brown sugar, and rum sauce. This is also a New Orleans classic you can’t pass up on. My heart and belly were full! A childhood memory and a New Orleans classic for my fav meal – BRUNCH, it doesn’t get much better than that!
By now I’m sure you can tell I thoroughly enjoyed New Orleans. My experience was everything I wanted. I explored a city full of history and ate all the New Orleans classics I could dream of. I felt like I was surrounded by the love and good vibes the locals have for their city, and wanted others to see and take in. I would highly encourage visiting the Big Easy and creating your very own memories.
Until the next travel expedition…See ya!
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Jordan thanks to meeting a new friend in Brazil (read about that adventure here), who happens to be stationed there as a US Diplomat. I never would have considered exploring this area, but I believe we meet people for specific reasons. When the offer was extended to visit, I said… WHY NOT?! Thank goodness I did. This has now become one of my top destinations for many reasons. Read on to see why… Read more
Sunday Sunrise
While Cincinnati and the surrounding areas are known for up and coming restaurants, we can’t forget about the oldies that started this restaurant thing many years ago. Many years ago, like 43.5 years to be exact. That’s right, Grand Finale opened in August of 1975. Grand Finale has serviced many clients over the years. In fact, their clientele is generational. Families who have discovered Grand Finale, introduce their children to the restaurant who in turn introduce their children. It is a unique phenomena. Pursuit of Delights is no stranger to the new kids on the block, but interesting enough we wanted to see how the old heads do it. We had a chance to give Grand Finale a try and wanted to give you a quick behind the scenes look at what they have to offer. Let’s take a walk through this old yet charming establishment.
The Puff
Warm Mixed Berry Cobbler
Why should you even stay for the Grand Finale? That’s an amazing question! The Grand Finale Restaurant started out as a dessert restaurant. Hence their name “Grand Finale”. I guess the saying “Save the best for last” holds true in some cases, especially this one. You have to save room for their dessert. They are a nice portion and their desserts are pretty tasty. The originators, Cindy & Larry Youse, retired in 2006. At that point in time, they sold the business to their tenured management team. In which the current owner, Virginia Chambers, started working for them in February 1977. She has taken pride in the restaurant’s original European concept as well as the buildings Old European charm. She has kept many things the same as when the restaurant first opened; as well as, adding a few new things to help keep the interest of the younger crowd. Hospitability, Old European charm, and great food are the key elements that Virginia and her team stand behind to continue the legacy started almost 44 years ago.
In most up and coming restaurants, they have more of a new century modern vibe with little to medium space to accommodate large groups. However, Grand Finale provides a spacious dining area where generational families can continue to enjoy a dinner together. Don’t have a large group, that’s ok because they can also accommodate date night for 2 people, or a couple’s date night for 4 or more. Grand Finale prides itself on its ambience and décor dedicated to the originators’ influences of their travels in Europe but mostly maintaining the actual history of the building. The building was built in the late 1850’s. During that era, it was a Saloon and a grocery store. The tin ceiling in the main dining room is original; the back bar in the main dining room came from the Florentine Inn in Germantown, Ohio; the back bar in the cabernet room came from a barber shop in Hyde Park; the chandelier in the tea room came from a West Virginia mansion. They built the brick garden room with a touch of 
New Orleans in its design. The décor reflects a country French flair with antique furnishings.
Their menu has something on it for everyone! Larry’s passion in creating the menu was all about the sauces. In 1975, as their menu evolved from desserts to light country French foods; Quiche, crepes, soups & homemade breads & desserts. Over the years, their scratch kitchen, has expanded the menu to include steak, chicken, fresh fish & pasta concepts. We had the pleasure to sit down and try multiple menu items they have to offer as well as a few drinks. We tried the Bacon, Lobster & Sundried Tomato Deviled Eggs, the House Salad, the Bleu BLT Wedge, Kielbasa & Lentil Soup (special), Steak, Chicken Ginger, Rosemary Potato Gratin, and of course the GRAND FINALE – dessert, The Puff and the Warm Mixed Berry Cobbler. Talk about having to be rolled out of there. We left stuffed! They also have fun and tasty drinks. We tried the Sunday Sunrise, Pomegranate Margarita, and the Blue Cranberry. We also hear guests travel far and wide for their Chicken Ginger, Spinach or Mushroom Crepe, Avocado Salad Dressing & The Puff. Also, if you love brunch as much as we do, you can join them for Sunday Brunch on Sunday’s from 10:30 am – 2:30 pm. It’s a buffet, so come hungry!
We asked Virginia what makes Grand Finale unique. Her response was, “I’m not sure it is any one given thing – devoted customers, loyal staff (we have a ten+ year team member list on our menus), recipes that have stood the taste test of time, and consistency to name a few.” While Cincinnati does have a lot of new kids on the block, we can never forget about the legacies that are still around. Even though they have now been in business for over 40 years, reminding people that they are here is important. With that being said, remember it’s always polite to pay homage and “Respect your elders” 😉! Go give them a visit!
Warm Mixed Berry Cobbler & The Puff
I’ve always heard Sedona, Arizona was a magical place, but couldn’t quite understand why, as I’d never been and could only view others’ photos. Of course, it looked beautiful from afar, but magical? I assumed you just had to experience it to understand. Finally, …experience it, I did! In January, I took a trip to this well-known area to learn more about the history of the town and what makes it special. In short, I was blown away by how peaceful I was and by the constant surroundings of beauty. It is not a large area, but it is filled with many great things in town and nearby. If you’ve been thinking about visiting, here are 8 suggestive tips to make the most of your time.
If you live in Cincinnati or the surrounding area, surely you have heard of LouVino, one of Cincinnati’s newest restaurants. If you haven’t heard of them or dined in… where have you been?! :) For those who might not know, LouVino is a Southern inspired, small plate restaurant and wine bar located on Main Street downtown. They are originally based out of Louisville, with their name deriving from a combination of Louisville + Wine. Although they have only been opened locally since August, their reputation has spread like wildfire. Cincinnatians began flocking to their doors as soon as they opened and have not stopped.
Biscuits and Gravy
I’ve been to Chicago many times and can offer suggestions on the traditional, delicious restaurants to dine in. You would surely leave satisfied with a full belly from each. On our recent trip to the Windy City, we were set out to experience something different than your typical Chicago Dog and Deep-Dish Pizza. Our mission was quite successful, which makes me happy to share it with you. Whether you live in Chicago or are visiting for a short while, below are 3 dining experiences that will leave your mouth watering for more! Read more
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