Little things I love to do in New Orleans’ French Quarter

Last month, when I joined several of my friends on what we dubbed the Illinois Street New Orleans Road Trip, part of what made the trip so enjoyable was being able to share my love of the Big Easy with both people who were going there for the first time and those who are veteran travelers to the city. 

As such, we spent much of our four days simply exploring – or re-exploring – the French Quarter without an agenda.  And aside from a few aggravations over car troubles, the overall lack of schedule really made the trip incredibly relaxing and enjoyable.  So, rather than provide a day-by-day log of how we went from Point A to Point B, I decided to focus this entry on the many things about the French Quarter I love to experience and share with others every time I go.  For example ... 

Making my first stop of the trip at Pat O'Brien's to enjoy a hurricane while sitting by the flaming fountain in the courtyard.   

It's pretty even in a light rain.

Grabbing a $2 Abita Amber in a go-cup from Sidney's Market on Decatur Street.  

It's never hard to find a spot to take a sip.

Finding a bench on Jackson Square to sit, listen to the local musicians, and watch the artists and street performers ply their trades.

Finding a quiet balcony to sit on, beer in hand, and watch the world go by from an entirely different vantage point.  

After an afternoon rain, walk through a French Quarter courtyard and experience the sun shining through the newly washed foliage.

Getting beignets and cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde -- be sure to wear light clothing, so the powdered sugar that blows on your clothes isn't so noticeable.

Spending much of the morning browsing through the French Market (the produce/food section is a lot more fun than the flea market section -- on my last trip, I got a jar of picked quail eggs).

Stopping by Molly's at the Market for local ambiance and a frozen Irish coffee, complete with coffee grounds sprinkled on top.  

Ken and Michelle at Molly's with the pope watching over them.

Grabbing a half muffuletta and a Barq's root beer at Central Grocery, then grabbing a bench on Moon Landing to watch the boats navigate the Mississippi River.

Making a beer and Zapp's potato chip run at Rouse's Market, then returning to the hotel to recharge the batteries for a night on Bourbon Street.

I couldn't resist trying the new flavor.

Browsing through the Louisiana Music Factory's vast selection of CDs by local and regional artists ... and trying not to walk out of there with too many purchases.

Taking a spin at the Hotel Monteleone's famous Carousel Bar while enjoying a classic New Orleans cocktail.   

I still plan to devote a number of upcoming blog entries to specific places and excursions we took on this trip, including the day we spent on Magazine Street and in the Garden District, as well as a couple of bar and restaurant reviews.  Stay tuned.