French Quarter Fest
For my first trip to NOLA, I got to check out the French Quarter Festival. An annual four-day music festival held in early April. According to many locals, it typically rains and floods every year during this festival, so I definitely lucked out with 75-degree weather and sunny skies during my visit.
The Quarter
I stayed at the Moxy French Quarter, part of the Marriot chain of hotels. The Moxy is a fun and eclectic boutique hotel located minutes from Bourbon Street. I loved the novelty of checking-in at the hotel bar and the complimentary drink upon arrival didn’t hurt at all. The rooms are well appointed with novelty features to maximize storage. There’s complimentary coffee in morning and a 24hr snack bar. I highly recommend Moxy French Quarter, fun vibe, charming and close to everything but away from the hustle and bustle.
My first stop was the famous or infamous Bourbon Street, which wasn't nearly as rowdy as I was expecting. I've heard all the stories from friends who've visited in the past, about the noisy, rowdy drunks and odor. I can safely say that I didn't experience any of that, maybe it was the time of year, or just a different type of crowd attending French Quarter Fest.
The Festival
Prepare to be entertained and stuffed at end of this four day Festival! This vibrant event lights up the historic French Quarter district with live performances on designated stages and mouthwatering food & drinks scattered throughout the area. Best of all, entry is completely free, so you can easily immerse yourself in the festivities. Make sure to check out the full schedule to stay in the loop with all the exciting events happening each day.
The French Quarter really comes alive during the festival, with local artists filling the streets with music and creating an atmosphere that's simply bursting with energy and joy. Strolling around Jackson Square, I stumbled upon a group of talented jazz musicians and several other artists. The sheer amount of talent in this city is truly amazing!
I spent the next three days exploring the festival grounds, sampling the amazing local food and listening to great music and soaking up the NOLA vibes.
For my last night in the city, I had dinner at Drago's Seafood, a very popular seafood restaurant at the Hilton hotel known for its charbroiled oysters. I'd recommend making reservations to avoid the wait. Following dinner, I discovered an amazing gem - The Vampire Apothecary, a cozy and eclectic cocktail bar tucked away on St. Peter's Street. The decor is very Victorian goth, and as a lover of all things Anne Rice, I knew I'd found my happy place!
After drinks and a late night stroll through Jackson Square I made it to Cafe du Monde for their famous beignets and they did not disappoint. Freshly made and covered in powdered sugar, the combination of the sugar and flavor of the fried dough was perfection!
Summary:
My first visit to NOLA was amazing and I absolutely fell in love with the city, the architecture and the food. The architecture especially is very reminiscent of the Caribbean, from the shutters on the windows and the intricate ironwork fences. French Quarter Fest is a must do, especially if you're looking to explore the city without the bigger crowds that the other festivals draw. April is also a great time to be in NOLA as temperatures are milder, but definitely bring good walking shoes because you'll be getting your steps in, as there is so much to explore during the festival.
