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06.06.18

The Emerald Coast

There’s a not-so-secret spot that almost everyone in Nashville likes to visit in the summer…it’s the “Emerald Coast”.

When I first heard it was called this I was a little skeptical that it was a popular destination for people in Nashville, let alone the US. It sounded like some enchanting place off the coast of the French Polynesian Islands. But the Emerald Coast actually much MUCH closer than that! It’s about a seven hour drive south from Nashville to a stretch of Florida called 30A.

My first chance to visit was several years ago on a long weekend. It was too cold to swim in the ocean, but not too cold to sit on the beach and take in the beauty! This stretch gets it’s name from the green blue water and the “sugar sand” beaches. What the name doesn’t tell you is about the stunning sunsets. Watching the sun set on the coastline is so serene and peaceful. Truly a beautiful way to end a day at the beach.

Having been here a few times now, I have a couple favorite spots and one of them is George’s. George’s is an adorable little restaurant in the beach community called Alys Beach. The menu centers around seafood, so if you enjoy good seafood add this to your list! We then went for a stroll along what can only really be called a promenade. It’s lined with towering palm trees that line the road and sidewalk.

After our little walk we headed to the beach to catch the sunset, which is maybe my favorite part of any trip to 30A. Some beach communities present themselves as a little more relaxed than others, but the view from the beaches is equal in my opinion. Which means, if you’re staying in Destin or Alys Beach, the view of the sunset is still going to be lovely.

06.04.18

Sucre baby!

I love a good treat, and especially a sweet one! Which is why I had to seek out Sucre!

Sucre is a bakery and chocolatier in New Orleans and they are WELL KNOWN for their eclairs, but I happen to really love their macaroons. Sucre is french for sugar, which is so fitting for a bakery in New Orleans that has combined southern and french flair. I stumbled upon this shop several years ago before this blog existed but when I found it again I knew I just had to share it because it’s absolutely worth stopping to take in.

Before you even enter the shop you can see fun and whimsy through the windows. The fun only continues after stepping inside. The walls are a beautiful medium between mint and almost lime. The entire atmosphere is like the children’s birthday party you wished for as a six year old adoring glitter and unicorns.

We got an eclair and the tea infused and flavored macaroons which were just scrumptious. There was another customer in the shop, who upon finding out we were not locals, gave us some great recommendations. The shopkeepers also chimed in with recommendations which only made the whole experience even better!

As our order was being finished up I noticed something large and sparkly on the back counter. After asking about it I was told it was a giant macaroon with confetti like decorations! Naturally I had to have one, and this ended up being my most favorite treat out of everything we got!

If you’re in New Orleans please do yourself a favor and stop at Sucre. Specifically the Magazine Street location. You will not regret it, and it may even be one of your favorite stops in the city!

05.25.18

I’m on a River Boat Cruise!

I love boating, I think it’s so relaxing to be out on the water. Especially on a river boat cruise!

I love boating on the lake, taking a ferry, or crossing the English Channel. It’s so peaceful out on the water and the view as you depart and arrive is just so beautiful, especially if you’re talking about a big boat or a city with a skyline like New York City. I’ve been on dinner cruises before, but this river boat cruise in New Orleans was such a great time!

It was so much fun, and while the food was decent, it was really the experience that made it worthwhile.

Actually, the gumbo on the cruise was DELICIOUS, the rest of the food was pretty typical. However, the stories from the captain, the views, the history of the city, it was all such a beautiful way to take in another side of New Orleans. The cruise is a couple hours long and you boat out on the Natchez River and then dinner commences in two sessions.

There is a Dixieland Jazz band that plays great music (as one would expect in New Orleans) while your out on the water. The captain also gives all sorts of educational information about landmarks and sites, one being the Domino sugar factory. The boat has lots of historic older elements that the captain talks about as well. However, the real gem of these tourist attraction is watching the sunset over the city of New Orleans. We were there in May and so the sun was setting behind the French Quarter which made for some stunning views of the city.

Once we were docked back at shore we were in the perfect location to talk the nightlife of the French Quarter; specifically Jackson Square and Bourbon Street. While the nightlife of the French Quarter isn’t my typical cup of tea, it’s still an experience that most should see when visiting New Orleans.

Have you been on a boat cruise? What was your favorite part?

05.21.18

Donut District Me!

I read about District Donuts from a New Orleans guide and then discovered I was only about a five minute walk from the location while I was in the Garden District!

The Donut District was very unassuming from the outside. But inside it was such a cool, funky, and vibey little spot. It’s the first time I’ve been to a donut shop that was also a bar! They didn’t have a ton of donuts, but like Five Daughters Bakery in Nashville, they seem to specialize in seasonal really unique and delicious flavors!

I had been told that certain parts of Magazine Street were a cool spot to wonder around, and this little corner did not disappoint. As a musician I found so many little nods to the musical heritage of the city. Not just in the typical spots; the restaurants, the bars of Bourbon Street, but also in little places like District Donuts where they had a deconstructed piano as a light fixture!

We chose four and brought them with us, because it was still a little early for consuming THAT much sugar. As I’ve mentioned before I’ve developed a sensitivity to gluten, which as someone who could eat all sorts of baked sweets before can be VERY hard in moments like these.

So I had to just try a bite of one of the donuts because anytime I have regular flour it can cause a reaction. I’m working at trying to cut it out completely, but it can be a challenge when it comes to DONUTS. However, I am able to report that the other donuts were delicious because I was fortunate enough to have people who are not sensitive to gluten with me!

So while you’re exploring the Garden District do yourself a favor and find your way to District Donuts!

05.18.18

Garden District

There is a section of New Orleans that is definitely my favorite…the Garden District.

I found myself returning time and time again to the Garden District. To get lost in the gothic romanticism. The drama of the history. The architecture, the sweltering (already) summer heat, and the beauty. The homes and streets tell stories of Mark Twain and Degas. The blooms on every street can easily convince you that you’ve been transported in time. The trees are showing their age by uprooting the sidewalks right beneath your feet. It’s easy to get lost in time here.

The garden district is full of historic mansions that have a unique architectural nuance that is an amalgamation of many styles.

One feature that is prominent in much of the historic architecture around New Orleans is the wrought iron work that was handcrafted. This is especially true of the Garden District. We visited the Buckner Mansion, Anne Rice’s previous home, and several homes remarkable homes. We just happened to stumble upon so many while taking in all the beautiful buildings.

The stained glass in the windows was so reminiscent of a bygone era. It recalls memories of a jazz age that still lingers in the air. It’s a similar feeling to watching Midnight in Paris, but if you transported the entire film and story to New Orleans. One of the houses that we spotted was rumored to have hosted parties for the elite and intriguing of the early 20th century. I have a feeling there were more than just a few lavish parties thrown with many iconic people in attendance.

So if you’re in New Orleans do yourself a favor and make sure to visit the Garden District. Watch for my next post on a great and unique little donut shop in the Garden District you don’t want to miss!

05.16.18

Lafayette Cemetery #1

I had read about Lafayette Cemetery #1, or #3 if you haven’t yet learned, and that it was full of history.

It was also located in a beautiful part of the city. What I found to be the coolest about this cemetery though was that while I was there and trying to find a wikipedia page with some history about it I stumbled across an amazing resource. It’s called Freetoursbyfoot.com and it has SO many tidbits of information that you can read it while your at the location! (This is how I found out why it’s actually Lafayette Cemetery #1 not #3)** It also has guided tours so it will give you step-by-step instructions to guide you to a a landmark and then tell you about it! I found this to be a great way to learn about New Orleans, because our schedule while we were there was too hectic to fit a guided tour into.

Back to the cemetery and why you should visit.

It’s beautiful. The tombs are all above ground so they are like small shrines to individuals, but really to whole families. We were curious about how this actually works, if you are to, you can read how that works here. The tombs were so ornate and beautiful, and this is really where I discovered the Free Tours By Foot to be such a hidden asset. It guides you to notable and interesting tombs and artistic aspects of tombs throughout the cemetery.

I thought the cemetery would feel spooky, but it really felt more like an educational museum. There was so much history about the families who lived there. If anything, the French Quarter felt spooky, but perhaps Lafayette Cemetery #3, even though the sign said Lafayette Cemetery #1, is located in the beautiful Garden District. I’ll tell you more about that in a very soon to be posted blog because I LOVED the Garden District. It was so rich in architectural beauty and truly earns it’s name as the “garden district”.

** When they filmed Double Jeopardy in this cemetery they changed the #1 to a #3 but there is no Lafayette Cemetery #3 as of yet.