Being invited to New Orleans for a family vacation could very well be the highlight of our summer travels. After thoroughly researching the Follow Your Nola tourism site we knew we wanted at least a week to see everything on our list.
You can see our itinerary here.
We started our journey on an evening Southwest flight with no stops. We checked our stroller at the gate, which helped contain our daughter until we got on the flight. We packed several activities, healthy snacks and travel surprises to keep our energetic 3 year old busy. She did very well. Southwest was a joy as always.
TRAVELER TIP: I highly recommend night time flights for parents traveling with young children. A sleepy child is more likely to fall asleep on a dark plane at night and that makes for an awesome flight for the parents.
We arrived late and checked into the luxurious JW Marriott New Orleans and called it a night. The JW is absolutely lovely. Classic decor with old world charm. Our rooms were spectacular! The rooms are incredibly spacious.. Being we were staying a week this was really important. Not a detail is missed at this hotel. From the highly attentive and friendly staff to the nighttime turn down service and everything in between. We truly felt like royalty during our trip. Their concierge service never missed a beat, suggestions on where to find the best barbecue shrimp, suggestions for rainy day kids activities and even where we could find a last minute piece of luggage (because we bought so much). Munchkin still talks about the hotel.
After a fabulous night of sleep in our gorgeous hotel we
headed out to start our day. We strolled up Decatur Street and took in the sights. Outstanding architecture surrounds you as you walk the streets of New Orleans. Before we knew it we could see the Mississippi River and we were at Jackson Square staring at The St Louis Cathedral. It is quite a sight.
We decided to start the day off with at the original French Market coffee stand; Café Du Monde. What to order but, frozen café
au laits and perfectly fried beignets that are sinfully coated in powdered
sugar? That is exactly what we started with. Pure heaven and a spectacular start to the day. New Orleans is known for its chickory and Café Du Monde makes an incredible blend of french coffee and chickory. We loved it so much we visited several times during our trip and bought some to take home.
We sat inside the cafe the first day and then decided the outdoor covered patio was perfect for people watching. Once we were home I began working on a recipe for my own Frozen Café Au Lait and we are so thrilled with what I came up with. The recipe below is spectacularly reminiscent of the fabulously refreshing frozen drinks we enjoyed in New Orleans and I highly recommend you try it!
Back to Jackson Square to take in the city. The streets were filled with the upbeat music of a brass band that totally drew us in. We stopped in the square and popped a squat on the steps to take a moment and enjoy it. What a fascinating city.
We sat inside the cafe the first day and then decided the outdoor covered patio was perfect for people watching. Once we were home I began working on a recipe for my own Frozen Café Au Lait and we are so thrilled with what I came up with. The recipe below is spectacularly reminiscent of the fabulously refreshing frozen drinks we enjoyed in New Orleans and I highly recommend you try it!
Back to Jackson Square to take in the city. The streets were filled with the upbeat music of a brass band that totally drew us in. We stopped in the square and popped a squat on the steps to take a moment and enjoy it. What a fascinating city.
We stepped into the St. Louis Cathedral and it is certainly a sight to behold. You really need to walk inside and enjoy the grandeur of this holy landmark. It is the oldest operating cathedral in the United States. The entire building is a work of art. Breathtaking paintings, statutes and architecture is absolutely stunning. It is something you have to experience.
Just about time for our tour, we walked over to Johnny Po'Boys and grabbed a scrumptious hot roast beef and cheese po'boy to take with us. It was so big we decided one po'boy and a bag of chips would feed us. There were so many choices, I would love to try more next time we are in NOLA.
Next we boarded a 50 passenger motor coach for our Super City Tour with Gray Lines. TRAVELER TIP: If have to tell you that is always my favorite (i.e., most important) part of every trip. Touring the city you are visiting gives you a great perspective, inside tips from a local and a lot of history. After you have taken the tour you can adjust your itinerary to go back and see things that are intriguing and cross some off your list.
Gray Lines Super City tour was absolutely fabulous. It takes you through New Orleans on a narrated tour of this history rich city with several photo stops. We even had a chance to get out at one of the cemeteries and look around. The history lesson is amazing and engaging enough to keep my 3 year entertained for most of the trip. Did I mention there is a bathroom on board? Our tour guide was Sylvester. I recommend you try and catch one of his tours. From Lake Pontchartrain to the Mississippi River and everything in between we marveled at the sights and stories that our driver shared. Did you know that back in the day they could tell if you were Creole by the color of your house? Do you know what Creole means?
After our tour we headed up Bourbon Street (which we will tell you all about on Thursday, so make sure you check back) to Bayou Burger. We order 3 ginormous burgers. My favorite part was this little dish of crab traps that we got as a free appetizer for checking in on Foursquare. Crab with cheese and jalapenos... Deep fried. Hello!
Back to our hotel room to collapse into our bed after a very fun filled day, we discovered a post card on the pillow and our beds turned down. What a welcome 'home'.
Wednesday I will share more of our fantastic vacation with you including our trip to the magnificent city park and more! Make sure you check back.
GIVEAWAY CLOSED - WINNER Heather Hayes Panjon
Now on to the giveaway: Click the Rafflecopter widget below to enter to win a fabulous travel pack
$100 American Express gift card
Digital photo frame
Sunglasses
I Love NOLA mug
I Love NOLA tote
==================================================================
Just about time for our tour, we walked over to Johnny Po'Boys and grabbed a scrumptious hot roast beef and cheese po'boy to take with us. It was so big we decided one po'boy and a bag of chips would feed us. There were so many choices, I would love to try more next time we are in NOLA.
Next we boarded a 50 passenger motor coach for our Super City Tour with Gray Lines. TRAVELER TIP: If have to tell you that is always my favorite (i.e., most important) part of every trip. Touring the city you are visiting gives you a great perspective, inside tips from a local and a lot of history. After you have taken the tour you can adjust your itinerary to go back and see things that are intriguing and cross some off your list.
Gray Lines Super City tour was absolutely fabulous. It takes you through New Orleans on a narrated tour of this history rich city with several photo stops. We even had a chance to get out at one of the cemeteries and look around. The history lesson is amazing and engaging enough to keep my 3 year entertained for most of the trip. Did I mention there is a bathroom on board? Our tour guide was Sylvester. I recommend you try and catch one of his tours. From Lake Pontchartrain to the Mississippi River and everything in between we marveled at the sights and stories that our driver shared. Did you know that back in the day they could tell if you were Creole by the color of your house? Do you know what Creole means?

Back to our hotel room to collapse into our bed after a very fun filled day, we discovered a post card on the pillow and our beds turned down. What a welcome 'home'.
Wednesday I will share more of our fantastic vacation with you including our trip to the magnificent city park and more! Make sure you check back.
GIVEAWAY CLOSED - WINNER Heather Hayes Panjon
Now on to the giveaway: Click the Rafflecopter widget below to enter to win a fabulous travel pack
$100 American Express gift card
Digital photo frame
Sunglasses
I Love NOLA mug
I Love NOLA tote
==================================================================
Yield: 2

Frozen Café Au Lait
Being invited to New Orleans for a family vacation could very well be the highlight of our summer travels. After thoroughly researching the Follow Your Nola tourism site we knew we wanted at least a week to see everything on our list.You can see our itinerary here.
Prep time: 5 MinTotal time: 5 Min
Ingredients
- 2 cups strong brewed Cafe Du Monde Coffee and Chickory Blend (or your favorite), frozen into ice cubes
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 2 tablespoons sugar (or your favorite sweetener)
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in a blender and chop until icy, then blend on high until you have your perfect consistency. I like mine pretty smooth, so I blend for a while. You may have to turn the blender off to scrape down the sides a few times and then turn the blender back on. If you have a high powered blender you may have to use your tamper to push the mixture around a little.
- Pour into 2 glasses, serve and enjoy!
Disclosure: We are working in partnership with the New Orleans Board of Tourism and we have been compensated with a family vacation to New Orleans.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Jealous! I haven't been to NOLA since I was a kid!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing trip! It looks like you had a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteI love NOLA...have been there a few times! I love the food and the jazz music! bjn1957{at}gmail{dot}com
ReplyDeleteI have loved NOLA ever since I started volunteering to help rebuild this wonderful city, following Katrina. I've been 11 times, and can't wait to go back in November. BTW, love your posts!!
ReplyDeleteI've never been to New Orleans but it looks like a very unique city.
ReplyDeleteName on rafflecopter: Mary Happymommy
Yum, I love a good burger! Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteJennifer Marie
lilnursejen at yahoo dot com
I enjoy the receipes and have told several friends about your blog. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great trip you had. In such a great city too. I've never tried frozen cafe au lait, so I'm glad you gave us the recipe.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your recipes and have told several friends and co-workers about your blog.
ReplyDeleteI've taken that tour as well. They do a nice job!
ReplyDeleteI love New Orleans especially during Mardi Gras!
ReplyDeleteOh, I have some of that coffee in my cupboard, will have give this coffee a try!
ReplyDeleteLooks delicious!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway! I would love to visit New Orleans
ReplyDeleteI really need a vacation...and this sounds wonderful. I am on disability at this time and appreciate any free things I can get...I try to register all the time.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the awesome giveaway!
ReplyDeleterounder9834 @yahoo.com
NOLA is one of my favorite travel destinations! I love going there!
ReplyDeletelizzyallen123@gmail(dot)com
Thank you for the giveaway. New Orleans looks beautiful!
ReplyDeletename on rafflecopter: Amanda Sakovitz
Your recipes are always so tempting and so simple! Your lemon bars are absolutely amazing and luscious! I can't wait to try your frozen café au lait because good iced coffee is my favorite summer drink!
ReplyDeleteLove that city...try to get down there every year or two and still so much more to see and do!
ReplyDeleteI have always wanted to go to try out the jamabalya
ReplyDeleteI have never been to NOLA but maybe some day.
ReplyDeleteI visited New Orleans several years ago but I would love to go back with my husband.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Love the energy of NOLA
ReplyDeleteMy fiancé and I plan on going to NOLA for our honeymoon. We love how beautiful it is of course, but most of all what pulls us down there is the food!
ReplyDeleteI used to go to New Orleans with my parents but haven't been there in a while. time to plan a weekend getaway?
ReplyDeleteLeidy R - rafflecopter
Sounds amazing! Our son is a Jazz musician and would LOVE this experience!
ReplyDeleteI Have Never Been To New Orleans! On My List For Sure!
ReplyDeletehthr83heather at yahoo dot com
Looks like a beautiful fun city! I'd love to go there one day! Thanks for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a dream vacation for out family, New Orleans. We are all foodies and we have wanted to make a trip there!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great vacation!! I've always wanted to go - the frozen cafe au lait look delicious :)
ReplyDeleteMary x
New Orleans is one place I'd love to visit. Looks like a wonderful trip. Going to make that cafe au lait.
ReplyDeleteNew Orleans is on my list of places I'd love to visit. I'm going to go make that cafe au lait now.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to visit New Orleans one day, I've heard wonders about their restaurants, especially seafood!
ReplyDeleteOh I really want to visit New Orleans someday! That looks so beautiful and like such a great time! Oh and that recipe for the Frozen Café Au Lait looks so good!
ReplyDeleteThanks for "taking us with you" on your trip. NOLA is such a special place. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Donna Sorise
ReplyDeleteThank you for "taking us along" on your trip. NOLA is such a special place. I'm glad you enjoyed yourselves.
ReplyDeleteI love New Orleans! That's where I'm from
ReplyDeleteI have never been to New Orleans! This really makes me want to take a trip there!
ReplyDeleteI love new Orleans - live in Mississippi and love shopping there - livivua
ReplyDeleteHaven't been to New Orleans yet - on my bucket list!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
great trip!!
ReplyDeleteThat was awesome! I can't wait to do my own trip there!
ReplyDeleteThat was awesome! Felt like I was there too! Hopefully one day I can go there!
ReplyDeleteThe Cafe au Lait sounds fabulous for hot weather and the whole trip looks awesome! I'm thrilled that you were able to take this vacation!
ReplyDeleteJust visited NOLA a couple of months ago, my 4th visit. Something about the place just keeps calling me back. Enjoyed reading about your trip!
ReplyDeleteI have always wanted to visit the Big Easy! I'll get there someday. Glad you had a wonderful, memory filled trip.
ReplyDeleteI love going to New Orleans!
ReplyDeletethank you for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletemerleandtina@yahoo.cm
it's been so long since I've been there...I need to go back!
ReplyDeleteNew Orleans looks beautiful! I want to go someday soon!!
ReplyDeleteMmm I want a frozen cafe au lait right now!
ReplyDeleteNew Orleans sounds so fun! I would love to go there and I hear they have great food too!
ReplyDeleteNever been to New Orleans but its definitely a place I'd love to visit
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a great trip!
ReplyDeleteYour Frozen Café Au Lait sounds delicious! My son-in-law is from Louisiana, so I'd love to win this fabulous prize and share with him. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteYour trip looks awesome. Thanks for the chance to enter.
ReplyDeleteAndrea D.
short74717@msn.com
I would love to visit New Orleans and do some haunted tours. The Frozen Café Au Lait recipes looks so good! :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I was close to being able to visit during a road trip by I had 3 days and $1000 cut out when my car broke down. I will visit one day though.
ReplyDeleteLoved this whole post! I'm actually visiting NOLA for the first time next month!
ReplyDeleteCrystalW07 (at) aol.com
Love New Orleans. Fabulous history. Carriage rides a must. Shouldn't the recipe be chicory instead of hickory.lol
ReplyDeleteLove New Orleans. Fabulous history. Carriage rides a must. Shouldn't the recipe be chicory instead of hickory.lol
ReplyDeleteI dream of going to New Orleans, New Orleans is so full of history, beautiful architecture, Unique landscape and wonderful, colorful people.
ReplyDeleteI do have a question. Where can you buy the Cafe Du Monde Coffee and Chickory Blend? Thank You, Maureen
They have an online store - http://shop.cafedumonde.com/mpr/mdb-cafed?cfg=cafed&fnc=3&style=4&form=detail.htm&header=coffDetailHead.htm&footer=detailFooter.htm&rno=14
DeleteEnjoy!
I have been there once, want to go back someday.
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing, and so easy! The frozen cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde is amazing. I lived in New Orleans for two years and miss it all the time. I can't wait to try this out and relive some memories!
ReplyDeleteI've save your wonderful page to my "Dream Vacations" folder. I'm sort of a tourist dufus, I never knew NOLA had so much to offer beyond good food, music and wild parties. Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for enlightening me!
ReplyDeleteFirst off, hi ya'll! I myself am from New Orleans and love to hear how people love touring our city and sampling our food. ;)
ReplyDeleteAlways seeing the (very long long looooong) line at the Cafe du Monde in New Orleans makes me pretty happy to see so many people taking interest where I live everyday.
But there are always those times I go with my family to play 'tourist' maybe about twice or thrice a year.
I remember many times at Mardi Gras parades many people hold up signs stating they're from Norway or Britain or Canada. (They always get the good throws -_-) But hearing bout their experience here is pretty awesome.
I've got to say, I just went to Cafe du Monde and just finished my frozen café au lait... it disappeared pretty quick.
I like your recipe though and it seems great to use in a rush. Just pop some ice cubes and milk and sugar in a blender. Press my frozen dessert setting and walk off to get ready quickly knowing I'll come back to a delicious frozen chickory coffee.
Whew long comment, long story short, hi I appreciate your recipe and thanks ya'll for visiting NOLA!